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Timeout 4, Reel to Real: A Whateley Academy Fan fiction [message #6242]

Fri, 27 October 2006 15:46

John in Wauwatosa
Messages: 869
Registered: September 2005
Location: Wauwatosa WI

Timeout 4, Reel to Real: A Whateley Academy Fan fiction

This is fan fiction for the Whateley Academy series. It may or may not match the timeline, characters, and continuity, but since it's fan fiction, who cares? To see the canon Whateley Stories, check out either Sapphire's Place,

(http://www.sapphireplace.com/stories/whateley.html) or the Big Closet (http://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/taxonomy/term/117)."

Here�s the first chapter in part four of my TG/sci-fi/superhero/magic and anything else that comes to mind epic. It�s not that bad; I do have an overall story arc in mind, honest. I�m much better than when I started this, though my gramar and spelling remain flawed; ask Itinerant if he is still coherent. Your constructive criticism and advice continues to help. This is an exercise in the joys of creativity and in appreciation of the wonderful Whateley Universe. Any violations of copyright, trade mark or use of real people or incidents are purely for purposes of humor or parody and done solely for the free enjoyment of the reading public. All rights reserved in perpetuity, John from Wauwatosa WI, 2005-2006.

Adult content advisory: this chapter containts situations and topics unsuitable for young minds or your sanity. If you survive that pap, there is some adult content too, so be warned.

Timeout 4

By John from Wauwatosa
Jade/Jinn "special consultant" and additional dialog by Babs Yerunkle
Infinite patience by Itinerant

Chapter 1, Welcome to Adulthood 2, This Old Farm House -- A Blast From The Past 1, Congratulations, It�s A Girl 3, You BET Your Life 1

Whateley Academy Dunwich, April 30-May01, 2007

April 30, 2007, 3:30PM

Pinky and I fed George and Gracie, cleaned their box, and did the usual stuff you do for a pair of vicious predators -- flipped them on their backs and trimmed their claws; put their collars back on after brushing them and breaking out the oversize ballistic-nylon catnip mice, one per carnivore, no fighting. A cat-fancier friend of Cindy's, who was in the same costuming class, had made some up a few days ago in exchange for a chance to pet them. They -- the catnip mice -- showed signs of, um, wear.

~Uh, half-shredded already, I�d better see if she can make these in stainless-steel mesh, like those shark-proof suits. Nah, that�s too harsh on their teeth; maybe rawhide backed with Kevlar?~

We left for the King Annex and the Saber�s practice.

I�d called Tina and Chris Anderson, and they got hold of Lonnie and Cheryl for me so they all knew about the Smith�s parents. I also made a quick call to Madison for the latest update; Mrs. Smith�s condition had not changed, but it was no worse. The NC supers were taking guarding Suzy�s close family as a debt of honor -- GG informed them that �Joanie� had saved the life of their daughter, one of the Wisconsin Ultra-X-Amine victims, and was a close friend to all the victims. My cousin Christine was right; my reputation was not just a Midwest thing. I was warned by GG that more autographed copies of that certain magazine would be needed. I may need to invest in an autopen at this rate.

I�d managed to catch Jenny as Pinky and I left Poe, and she promised to warn Cindy prior to the band practice. She�d offered to help Cindy move a marimba from the main concert hall to our practice room, which was not exactly a one-woman job. Frankly, I think Jenny has her eye on Cindy -- lucky Cindy. I�d hoped to intercept Suzy earlier, but she had raced from her last class to a rendezvous with Tom to swap spit; it had to be, given what they were busy doing when Pinky and I arrived at the annex.

�How long have you two been at this?� I asked.

�It�s four, now, so about an hour,� admitted Suzy.

~ They look so cute together. I have got to talk with those two. ~

Eric and I are above such lewd public displays of affection, preferring to hug, snuggle, and then subconsciously ...... ah-hum each other to the brink of intercourse as nearly happened on Easter Sunday morning. On second thought, dear d/j/w, Tom and Tina are doing okay; it�s Eric and I that need the talking to. For a girl who said to take things slow; I�m moving awful fast. ~

~A full hour of kissing unsupervised, their teen hormones surging, and they didn�t lose control -- amazing. An hour of �that� with Eric, and I�d be buying one of those home test devices in a few days and praying it�s not �positive�. Maybe I�m not ready for the boyfriend/girlfriend dynamic, but if I don�t snag him now some other cutie with capture his heart and ... Damn! Am I one of those girls who gives it up to her boyfriend to deliberately get pregnant and thus �he has to marry me�? I have got to think this over. As to my �kissing� cousin and Tom, with all those endorphins in their systems at least they�ll be cushioned for the bad news. I hope Tina has something to fall back on. ~

Everyone took their seat and got their instruments ready. I plugged in my guitar and powered up my amp to make things look normal. I received a telepathic message from Tina and Chris Anderson that they were in the hallway outside the practice room waiting as backup.

�Thanks for being here today. Before we start, I have an announcement,� I said placing my guitar in a stand as my co-conspirators moved into position.

I turned to face the Smiths, Pinky moved next to Tina, and Lonnie moved in next to Tom and Suzy. Cheryl, Jenny, and Cindy positioned themselves to intercept and tackle Tom and Tina if needed. Tina and Chris Anderson were the deep safeties. Maybe I should diagram this play? I apologize for the humor dear d/j/w but the next few minutes were not pleasant.

�Tom, Tina, my friend Janice from Madison -- Glacier Girl: tall, Nordic, breasts like Lara Croft after implants? -- called today with word of your parents,� I said, forcing myself to stay professional.

~That sounded stupid, but I hate telling them this. ~

�They found Mom and Dad?! Can we talk to them? This is great!� Tom and Tina yelled out alternately.

Tom�s face dropped into a frown when he saw the expression on my face. Suzy hugged him tight and Pinky grabbed Tina�s hands in both of hers. I could barely stand to look them in the eyes. Tina stared to sniffle.

�The kidnappers beat your mom savagely, trying to make her say where you�d been taken. She�s in the Mutant Wing at the University Hospital in Madison now. Your mom�s under the care of the same doctors that saved you. It�s not that she�s a mutant; it�s for her safety. She�s in poor shape, we won�t know for a while if....� I left it at that.

�How�s Dad?!� Tina demanded loudly.

Her expression was wild; she was near panic, and her face was streaked with tears. Pinky shifted to hug her tight while the rest of the crew in the room moved in closer to comfort the twins. Tom was fighting back tears; Suzy held on tight � this could as easily have happened to her parents. Tina Anderson sent me a telepathic message to continue, and that they had our backs.

�They beat your father far worse; he died three days after the kidnapping. I�m so very sorry,� I said, not noticing I was crying.

Tom�s reaction surprised me, though maybe it shouldn't have; he is a tough kid. He smiled at me despite his tears while he hugged Suzy as if she was a lifesaving ring and he was a drowning man.

�How is Mom? Can she talk to us? Can we speak with her? Did the ... bastards leave any clues behind, Joanie?� he asked in a remarkable display of self-control.

I could see he dearly wanted to cry in outrage, but he willed himself to be brave for his sister and Suzy. I�d liked him from the start, but my opinion of him as a man rose greatly this day.

~You�re a good man, Tom, being strong for your sister and girl friend when your soul wants to scream at the heavens. You�re far more mature than I thought.~

�I approve of �bastards� in this case, Tom,� I said, and giggled nervously.

~Ghods, I�m more like my dad than I thought -- laughing at an inappropriate moment. ~

�GG wasn�t sure, to answer your questions, Tom. Your mom has a broken jaw they will have to set surgically once she�s stabilized. She has many other injuries; they may not be able to fully treat them all at once. It will take time before they will know when she can have visitors. As to the investigation, I don�t know what evidence they found. I wish I knew more but I don�t.�

I didn�t like lying, but it was a white lie; I had every confidence in my friends� ability to heal Mrs. Smith -- I hoped.

�Your mom�s doctor is Dr. Sara, the same doctor you and I had. There is no one better in the whole state. She�s an empath, and one of her nurses is an empath/telepath. That nurse �talked� with your mom; it was difficult as she�s not fully conscious. Your mom knows her husband is dead, but she knows you�re both safe with me at Whateley. They beat your parents to make them tell where you�d been taken, but they never cracked. They must have loved you very much.�

I paused to compose myself. Tina was weeping but watching me intently, Tom kept glancing from his sister, to Suzy, to me.

�The hospital is doing everything possible to save your mother; Gin has called in several magic experts to see if they can help. GG knows to call me any time, day or night, with news of your mother. I promise you will know minutes after I do, even if I have to run fresh from the showers wrapped in only a bath towel to do it.�

�Joanie, why would you have a phone in the shower?� asked Cindy as she held in a giggle.

That got a small snicker from Tina. I smiled despite my sadness; I needed to boost their confidence, not undermine it. They seemed to be settling down when Suzy got this look of fear and hugged Tom hard.

�What of my family; are they safe, Joanie?� she cried out, as Tom hugged her back.

�GG told me the FBI is watching your parents and close family 24/7. The Ultra-X-Amine homolog case is a top priority; it�s considered a threat to national security. Some North Carolina supers are watching your family, too; they are friends of our MSG pals. MSG and the Greater Milwaukee Mutant Group are keeping a close eye on your relatives in Milwaukee and my family, too -- they won�t fail us,� I said. �The NC supers know your parents are close friends of a �nationally prominent super�,� I pointed at myself, �so they consider them �family�. No one threatens family,� I emphasized.

~Especially my family, Suzy. ~

�Thank God, Joanie. I was so worried. You will tell Tom and Tina soon as you know anything more?� Suzy asked excited but relieved. I walked over, gave all three of them hugs and they calmed down.

�What we need tonight is cheering up, and I am the head cheerleader,� I said.

I waved my arms in the air and jumped up and down. Not much of a routine, but I never was a cheerleader -- so there! At least I was perky and bouncy, very bouncy, with my figure. Tom seemed to enjoy it, for a while.

-- THWACK! -- Suzy�s hands slammed together in front of Tom�s face like a cymbal crash.

�Tom, if you are serious about being my boyfriend, �that� had better not happen again. I�m not a jealous girl by nature, but I�m not some cheap slut to be ignored and insulted, got it, Mister?� Suzy said VERY deliberately.

~SUZY!? Where did this spitfire come from? ~

�But what did I do wrong?� Tom asked, clueless.

~BIG mistake, you�re on your own now, buddy. ~

�If �you� don�t know, then I�m not speaking to �you�, PIG!� she growled sardonically. Tom looked heartbroken, even scared. �And as for you, Ms. Joanie Brown �� she said, paused and moved next to me.

�Yes?�

�Can you show me that move because it, like, totally rocked!� she said, laughed and gave me a flamboyant hug. The rest of the gang looked at Tom and broke up.

�Do you want to have our band practice today, or should we have a sleep-over in Tom and Tina�s room? I figure everyone will want to talk tonight or just hang out,� I said and smiled. �You�re not in this alone.�

* * * *

We voted to skip the practice for the night -- our hearts weren�t in it -- so we packed up, and walked to Hawthorne. Chris and Tina Anderson explained to the house-mother what was going on while I got Security on my special cell phone and filled them in on the details. We got comfortable in Tom and Tina's room and ordered pizza delivery. We decided to skip the cafeteria this night as we weren�t hungry at first, and it seemed the right thing to do.

�Quiet, now, I�m on the phone. Okay, that�s two large cheese,� I said.

�Three,� one of my friends called back.

�Sorry, three large cheese, two large cheese and pepperoni, one large deluxe deep-dish, two cheese and sausage with bell pepper, a large Hawaiian pizza and one large heartburn special with extra onions, garlic, hot peppers and anchovies ... Yes, every one is a large .. We�re growing girls, that�s why! -- �I�m sorry, Tom�, I mouthed -- ... We want eight cold two litter sodas, that�s four Pepsi and four root beers.... What? ... Sorry, no Pepsi, Coke,� I said in a vaguely Slavic/Middle-eastern accent.

They all nodded, they�d learned not to question my �asides� too often for fear I�d do more.

�Yeah, cold Coke and root beer will do, send some cups and napkins, please. Oh, add a half-dozen big bags of tortilla and potato chips and assorted dips ... Perfect ... That will be HOW much!? .. You�re charging for delivery because it�s too small an order? Ten large Pizzas plus extras is a small...? They ordered what? ... I guess this is �small� by that standard; we�re feeling a little �down� tonight ... Can�t we get some sort of discount, please?�

~Like �I� need the money, but it�s the principle of the thing.~

�� Yes, go on ... Are you ef�n crazy? You do know who I am? ... Yes, I�m her ... You�ll do what if I? ... You have got to be kidding! ... For �that�, this had better be at cost and on time ... If I do what, it�s free? I�ll say this only once: I�m also a Whateley Security officer; do you want to rephrase that? ... Better,� I hung-up and snickered.

~I sounded like that old Saturday Night Live restaurant skit or Bob Newhart. Why does the Pizza Pit have only Coke products while the menu listed Pepsi? Come to think of it the school cafeteria changed over to Coke recently, too. They have the low bid? ~

They�d all crowded around me as I ordered; now they scrambled for the best seats. Several appropriated the beds, then the couch, all the chairs were quickly occupied followed by much of the modest floor space -- with nine of us we were crowded, but cozy.

�Okay, what do we want to do? I�m up for anything ... legal� -- that got some snickers -- �except strip-poker, that�s out. With only one guy it hardly seems fair,� I argued.

The pizza came in under 25 minutes. The pies were hot, tasty and generously topped, the soda and dips were cold, the chips were unbroken and they include knives, plates and lots of napkins -- even free breadsticks and dipping sauce.

I, um -- I was scandalously brazen -- I hugged the delivery boys. You thought I was gonna boob flash them or strip, didn�t you? I drew the line on anything even approaching French kissing -- who knew where�d they�d been, or if they were 18 and over? For the tip, I kissed them each on the cheek -- like their grandmother. They left woefully underpaid and blissfully happy.

�The things I do to save a buck!� I said.

I closed the door and giggled as my friends laughed.

~Good, they�re laughing. If it takes Tom and Tina�s minds of their troubles, it�s worth it. ~

We ate and talked for several hours. Tom and Tina cried a few times, but we soon had them smiling again. It wasn�t always easy, though.

We were talking casually after we ate, shooting the breeze. We started talking about what we would do after the end of the spring term.

�I�m going back home and work in my parents' accounting firm; they always need help with the files,� Cheryl said.

�My parents are taking me to Disney World to meet with my cousins,� Cindy spoke.

�I�m staying here and working on Joanie�s construction projects as long as I can. I was raised by a single mom, and money is tight this year,� Jenny said.

�I�m stuck here or with Joanie, if she�ll have me,� joked Pinky, I smiled.

If I�d been paying closer attention, I would have made more of Tom and Tina�s eerie silence -- it would have saved us some grief.

�Until this Ultra-X-Amine homolog trouble changed my life, I was supposed to go to Paris with my old French class and later to Wisconsin with my mom and dad. I really miss them,� Suzy said wistfully.

�I was lucky my dad could come and....� I began, then stopped as Tina collapsed on the bed sobbing, followed moments later by her brother.

�What�s wrong?� Suzy asked and tried to hug Tom; he pushed her away.

~Oh shit! Stupid, stupid, stupid Joanie! ~ I recovered fast.

�That�s okay; there is nothing wrong in grieving for your dad, Tom. That goes for you, too, Tina, dear. We forgot; please forgive me for not realizing it in time. Go ahead and let it out; it doesn�t make you any less of a man or woman to cry when you lose a loved one. I cry for my mother sometimes, and even my long dead cat Charley,� I said in a soothing tone as I gently held Tina. I wept too: for mom, my sister, my grandparents, aunts and uncles and even Charlie, my cat.

�Oh, Tom!� Suzy cried, then she hugged him so firmly he couldn�t push her away. After a while, he put an arm around her.

We all let a lot of pent-up stress out that evening; I lost track of who hugged who or provided a shoulder to cry on. More than one individual helped me out; I remember that much.

It took a while -- most of an hour -- but the long cry seemed to ease their pain. I know I felt better. We started a game of cards to take our minds of things for a while; it evolved or degenerated -- take your pick -- into strip-poker. I guess I inspired them through reverse psychology. It did keep our minds off the bad news, and we did set a loss limit of no total nudity.

After playing for a couple hours, I noticed a disturbing trend.

�Pinky, I think you are cheating,� I accused her, but grinned happily.

�Why do you say that?� she asked innocently as she absentmindedly rubbed one of her bare feet.

�Let�s see: I�m down to a bra, panties and half-slip; Tom is in his briefs T-shirt and socks; Jenny and Suzy are both out of the game as they have only their bras and panties on. Shall I go on, Ms. Empath? Skill and luck have their role in card games, but be real,� I explained.

�Busted, Pinky!� Cheryl said -- looking cute in her tiger-striped lingerie and Hello Kitty socks.

�I think Joanie is the �busted� one here,� Tom said and pointed to my chest.

That got him a playful slap up the back of the head by Suzy. That also got giggles from me, and I shocked myself with a thought.

~Strange, I�m in intimate contact with all these attractive, half-naked teens and I�m not aroused? Wow! I finally have some control -- about time too. ~

�Tom, stop ogling my aunt,� Suzy admonished. �That�s not polite, and I have plenty to keep you interested,� she said, winked and giggled while pointing at her own curvaceous body.

To put it bluntly, Suzy is stacked. Not as amply as I am, but for a still growing girl she had nothing to be ashamed of. We played one last hand; I had three of a kind.

�I call, Joanie,� said Pinky.

�Three jacks, read 'em and weep,� I said in a Western saloon drawl.

Pinky laid down a full house.

�Pay up,� she grinned.

�Fine,� I said and began unhooking my bra.

Pinky laughed so hard she got dizzy.

�Don�t you want to see them?� I said and pointed at my now loose bra.

I was barely decent, but my silly antics kept the Smiths cheerful.

�I�ll accept a hug instead,� Pinky said.

She hugged me and re-hooked my bra tenderly. We all got dressed and decide what to do next.

�It�s getting late; it's almost eleven. Do you want us to stay?� I asked Tom and Tina. I preferred they thought our watchdogs were their own idea.

�It�s crowded, but fun; please stay. I don�t want to be alone tonight, and Tina doesn�t either,� said Tom smiling through his pain.

�I was so scared earlier; it helped having my friends with me. Stay,� said Tina and she sniffled.

�It�s official! Sleepover, gang,� I declared.

* * * * *

This was not going to be as easy as we thought. No matter how we lay down -- even with two to a bed -- there wasn�t enough room ...

�... unless we start stacking bodies, Joanie,� Chris Anderson observed.

�That could be fun depending on who�s stacked on who or whom,� I said and giggled; I was in a good mood.

�Joanie, are you blushing?� asked Tina Anderson. She whispered in my ear, �Hon, your �headlights� are erect. Are you getting aroused?�

~Damn! I knew it was too good to last. ~

Pinky must have overheard, because she started snickering and blushed -- cute really.

�I�m 17, I am. I can�t help I�m a healthy littl� girl, Gov�ner,� I said in a bad Cockney. The Andersons broke up, but everyone else stared.

�I�m heading to my own room; no one appreciates my Eliza,� I said and pouted. �At least my smilodons love me.�

�And they won�t inflame that pesky libido of yours,� Tina Anderson smirked.

I smirked back with a vengeance.

�Oooh, I get to play with my....� I cooed, but was interrupted.

�Don�t you dare, Joanie! You�ll warp our innocent minds with your filth,� Pinky snapped and laughed.

�Awh, I can�t even say the punch-lines to my groaners? That�s not fair,� I pouted again while several girls high-fived Pinky.

�You�d better go, Joanie. If you stay we�ll never get to sleep,� Cheryl said.

We voted, and the kids would all stay; we �adults� -- the Andersons and I -- would go back to our own accommodations. That left the four girls -- Jenny, Cheryl and Cindy, plus Suzy -- to watch the Smiths.

�I�ll go; I know when I�m not wanted,� I sniffled. �If you need me for anything, call, okay?�

I knew the Smiths had their Whateley Security supplied emergency devices and I�d recently bought Pinky a cell phone so we could stay in touch as the farm housing project picked up speed.

The Andersons and I said our goodbyes and left.

* * * *

�I owe you for this, girls,� I said.

�Our pleasure, we didn�t have to do much. We monitored the twins and were prepared to �send� some gentle �calming� thoughts a couple times, but didn�t. The presence of their friends did the trick; good job, Joanie. And we wouldn�t have missed that poker game for anything,� Tina said, grinning hungrily.

�Can�t you wait until Playboy comes out? You can ogle me all you want, then,� I complained.

�But it�s so much better in person. Are you sure you don�t want to stay with us tonight? We could carry on from where the poker game left off,� suggested Chris.

�No, I�m an old-fashioned girl, I guess. I�m no prude -- things were hot and heavy between some of the gals at MSG and me -- but I owe it to myself to try and be faithful to Eric. I�ve found someone special who will only become more so over time. I won�t risk it, even for such fine women as you,� I declared.

�Understood, but that doesn�t mean we won�t keep trying, dear,� Tina said.

She embraced me, kissing me with her tongue while Chris deftly stroked various areas on my body.

�No, I ... please ... Oooohophf!� I moaned exuberantly, though it was muffled by Tina�s talented mouth -- I could hardly stand after that.

�That�s a taste of what you�re missing out on, Joanie. Goodnight,� Chris said as they got on her Kawasaki and road off.

�Damn, those girls are hot. You�d better be worth it, Eric,� I said out loud to no one.

* * * *

I tended to my smilodons, stripped to my undies, and threw myself onto my bed. Dreams did not come quickly as I spent much of the first hour bursting into tears sporadically -- the day�s events had finally caught up with me.

I woke to the annoying sound of my cell-phone. GG was true to her word and called me with important news regarding Mrs. Smith. I was not grateful, at first.

�Joanie, wha� the fuck d�yah want? ... It�s three-thirteen in the morning, moron, and I�m tired and cranky -- what gives, Einstein?�

On hind-sight, that was not a polite way to answer the phone. GG was diplomatic.

�My aren�t we little Miss Sunshine, Joanie? You said to call if there was important news about Mrs. Smith,� GG said cheerfully.

�Oh Ghod, GG, I�m sorry. You said Mrs. Smith -- good news, please?� I pleaded, shocked wide awake.

�Donna -- that�s her name -- is responding better than expected physically. She regained full consciousness for most of an hour before she had to rest. Dr. Sara thinks Carrie�s empathic conversations have inspired her to fight for her life and her children. She wouldn�t have made it this far if she wasn�t a stubborn girl. Mentally she�s distressed, but she's showing resilience. We�re keeping an empath on hand round-the-clock to assist her. She�s been upgraded from critical to guarded,� GG said.

�Can she communicate normally?� I asked.

�She can squeeze your hand with her one good hand -- one for yes, two for no, three for I�m not sure/I don�t understand -- and she understands when the nurses talk to her. Until her jaw is fixed it�s intensely painful for her to try and speak. Carrie confirmed that Donna knows her kids are safe at Whateley, and that she�s a widow,� GG explained.

�How�s her condition?� I asked.

�They think her vision is okay, but she suffered abrasions to her corneas. One has an infection, but the infection is responding to the latest genetically engineered antibiotics. Once she�s stable enough, they will operate on her jaw, pelvis and other broken bones. After that it�s a matter of clearing up any infections and rehab. How soon she can have visitors is unknown; she�s not pretty to look at for now,� GG said, and sighed.

�You see she gets the best, and don�t let the insurance people give you fits. Anything they won�t cover, I will -- no limit. If they give you a hard time, call me,� I said forcefully.

�We have, that is, Senator Joe called Mrs. Smith�s insurance carriers; all her bills will be covered. We have a direct line to the CEO of her primary insurer; Senator Joe scared them shitless,� GG said with a hint of a chuckle.

~The Senator�s involved, I wonder why? � Duh, Dr Sara spoke with him � clever girl.~

�Keep me informed; Tom and Tina are desperate for news of their mom. Can I get some sleep now, Brunhilde?�

�Bad jokes? You are feeling better about this, Barbie. Say hi to Skipper and Ken,� GG said, then hung-up.

I considered waiting until a decent hour, say 7AM, but I�d promised, and if I lost sleep, so should the others.

�Timeout to Security ... Leaving Poe for Hawthorne -- the Smith�s room, ETA 15 minutes, on personal business, Timeout, over,� I radioed.

�Acknowledged, Timeout, Dispatch out.�

I slipped on my runner�s warm-up suit, and my trainers, and jogged over to Hawthorne. My set of keys and codes could get me into most places on campus, so I used the side entrance and stairs nearest their room rather than the main entrance. I quietly walked to their room and knocked; a bleary-eyed Cheryl opened the door carefully. She looked worried until I smiled. I entered, and she closed the door behind me.

�Joa ... nie,: Cheryl yawned ,�what�d you wan�,� she said, yawning again.

�I have good news. Why are you up, Cheryl?�

�I took guard duty and slept in front of the door. Remember I�m a night person, not a morn� person,� Cheryl said and yawned, clearly exhausted.

�I owe you an automatic coffee maker for this, Cheryl.� I heard the others stirring.

�Someth�n wrong?� murmured Pinky. I made sure they were all awake.

�I�ve good news. GG called from Madison, and they upgraded Mrs. Smith from critical to guarded. My old Dr. Sara thinks she�ll recover -- though it will take months,� I said in a soft, measured voice.

�Mom�s okay?� Tina gasped.

�GG wouldn�t lie to me; she wants to get in my panties. She�s a great gal, oversexed, but a good person."

�Mom�s getting better?� Tom asked nervously; Suzy held his hands while resting her head on his shoulder.

�She�s regained consciousness -- they plan to do some surgeries to fix her jaw, hip and limbs. She�s still in bad shape, but she�s much stronger. Maybe in a few days you can talk to her, though speech won�t be easy for her for some time. I can pass messages on to her if you like. If you oversleep, don�t worry. I�ll clear it with your instructors; this was a family emergency after all.�

They all grinned despite their sleepiness.

�Don�t use it as an excuse to skip classes deliberately; I�m not in that good of a mood.�

I gave everyone hugs, then skipped back to Poe; it felt so good to be alive.

* * * *

May 01, 2007

I woke, reluctantly, to two bundles of fur and claws gently pawing my eye-lids and rubbing against me to get my attention. It was fully light out, but being the first of May, this made sense.

"Alright, be patient little ones; Mommy will feed you.�

I rinsed out their water bowls and food dishes and gave them their morning feed which they ate with terrifying eagerness.

�Sob!� I said as if acting in a camp melodrama, �Those poor kibbles didn�t stand a chance.� Then I saw the time. �Crap! It�s twenty to eight and I haven�t showered or anything!�

The residents of my floor were treated to the sight of Joanie in full panic mode. My entire shower -- transit included -- took less than five minutes including my hair which I wrapped in a towel to dry. I was dressed and out the door ten minutes later, my hair slicked down and heavy with moisture. I ran to Hawthorn, flashed my Security badge at the housemother, and ran to Tom and Tina�s room. I pounded on the door.

�Everybody up! It�s nearly eight AM!� I shouted.

I was greeted by an owl-eyed Cheryl and no one else.

�Why all the racket? Oh, it�s you, Joanie. What time did you say?�

�It�s two minutes to eight in the morning; where is everybody?� I asked.

The room was clean and neat except for a blanket on the couch where I presumed Cheryl had moved when one of the others took over �guard duty�.

�They got up at six-thirty, I think, and left for their respective dorms to clean-up and dress. I was out of it, so they let me snooze. I�d better hustle, or I�ll be late for class. Sorry about missing the farm stuff today,� she said.

"You earned it protecting our friends; I�ll still pay you, Cheryl. I�ve got to go, you�ll be okay?�

�Go, Joanie, I�m too awake now to fall back to sleep even if I wanted to, and I so want to,� Cheryl said and stretched her body.

* * * *

I rushed to toward the Crystal Hall, noting a few of my crew waiting at my truck over at Administration.

�Be with you in five!� I shouted to them. The rest of the crew, most from last night�s sleepover, were at my favorite table. I was assaulted with some sort of breakfast sandwich, and an insulated cup of coffee so large Cheryl would have approved.

�Ice, milk, a touch of sugar and regular coffee, gack! Just as you like it, Joanie,� said Tina looking happier and almost motherly towards me.

�You didn�t have....�

�I did. I got the coffee; Tom figured an egg sandwich would fill your tummy. Thanks for last night. You didn�t have to wake us with the news, but thank you. We all slept much better after, even Cheryl. Where is she?� Tina asked.

�She's frantically getting ready for classes. I found her asleep in your room at two minutes to eight,� I explained.

Tom looked guilty, and the girls looked cross.

�I thought you were supposed to wake her, Tom,� Tina asked in an accusing tone.

�I tried, but she was out of it. She looked so peaceful, and she had stayed up most of the night for us -- I couldn�t,� he explained.

�That�s okay, I couldn�t either,� said Pinky. �Ready, Joanie? We�re late in leaving for the farm already,� she added.

We hurried out the door, I did so half on autopilot. I heard someone call out to me.

�Party too much, Blondie? Wet hair, how tacky,� snarked a vaguely familiar voice.

�My friend was up much of the night consoling two of our friends; what�s your excuse, bitch,� Suzy snarled at the rude girl.

I was shocked at the anger behind her words. Then again Suzy is a blood-relative, and you know the rest.

��Your friend got my sister suspended from Whateley by tricking her into a fight,� the semi-Goth girl said with venom; it dawned on me who she must be.

�Your sister isn�t possibly the witch who hung with the Omegas last semester, is she?� I asked.

�Damn right, Ms. Silicone. How much did you pay for those ridiculous boobs of yours? You tricked my sister into fighting, and now she can�t find a school that will take her until Whateley rescinds her suspension!" The girl�s face was red with fury.

�I do not have time for this now, Miss. Ask Chief Delarose to show you the security tapes of the incident. Tell him Timeout referred you to him. Your sister fell in with a pack of bullies and thugs. If she straightens herself out, I have no quarrel with her or you. If you believe that bitching at me helps her, fine, be my guest, but it�s a waste,� I said and walked out the door as she stared at us.

�Joanie, why�d you let her off the hook?� Pinky asked.

�That was nasty stuff she said; I�d have had it out with her,� Tom argued as we hurried to my truck.

�I�m staff, I can�t beat-up students, and if she does as I suggest she�ll know her sister is wrong. Then, maybe, both of them will be better off because of me,� I said as we reached the truck. �Everyone in! Sorry I�m late, some friends needed help last night,� I explained, -- not all the crew was at the sleepover -- and we shot off to my farm.

We were short on space, so Suzy graciously sat on Tom�s lap to make room.

~They�re flirting in public now; Cousin Christine will kill me if this gets out of hand. ~

�Hands and lips to yourselves in back, Mr. and Mrs. Smith,� I barked, and everybody laughed.

* * * *

Harry and Fran were there with Jade and Jinn as were several staff members from the Operations department. We met with them as I scarfed my remaining coffee and sandwich. Dainty I was not.

�Sorry we�re late; several friends of ours needed help last night,� I explained.

�No need to explain; the Andersons called on us this morning on their way into Whateley. Fran and I finished the mini-rail system; do you want to see it?�

�Okay, but remember; I�m building a home here, not a mini-theme park,� I said and snickered. Harry and Fran laughed.

�Its purpose is hauling construction debris out and supplies in to the building site as needed, silly girl,� Harry said and immediately appeared upset with himself. �That was rude and inconsiderate. I apologize for my insensitive comment,� he apologized charmingly.

�It�s okay, big, furry guy, and I did put my foot in it. I mean the mini-rail thing had to be for the remodeling, duh!� I said and gave him a big hug -- hey, he�s a big man.

~It feels like I�m a toddler again, and I�m squeezing a giant Teddy bear -- a rather handsome one at that. ~

�You seeing anyone special, Harry?� I asked in my sex goddess voice, which is frighteningly like most of my other voices.

�There�s this girl from Poe, Billie Wilson, and she has the cutest blue anim� hair. Lots of people think she�d dangerous, but she�s a real sweet young woman,� he said, wistfully.

�Oh, she�s the flying girl who�s part of Team Kimba, Chief Delarose thinks a lot of her. Ms. Hartford had it in for her, but then she�s a strange woman. This stays between us, but I think there is a normal person buried under all the layers of efficient bitch. There must be. Ms Carson stands by her, and I get along with her and I hate bullies. Sorry, I had a Disney moment,� I said and giggled.

�Not a blonde moment?� asked Fran.

�I�m a strawberry-blonde, thank you very much. That makes me sexy, stupid, and ill tempered, so watch it, Frannie-poo,� I said to Fran and my band members broke out laughing. �Now that I�ve insulted everyone, please show us your mini-rail so we can get to work.�

There was this narrow, low railway track, like someone shrunk an amusement park or zoo railway down in scale. It went in though a door on one side of the wrap-around porch and came out on the other side. The track passed by several 30 cubic yard dumpsters before returning to the farmhouse. It made for one big loop of track.

�Don�t let it confuse you. That is a type of railway they use in some underground mines and back-yard railways but with the latest improvements. The steel rails act as a brace and a core for the maglev system,� Harry said.

�Magnetic levitation? I know it works, but the superconducting magnets are cumbersome, and it�s too expensive for wide-scale use or so I thought,� I said.

�This combines the latest in room temperature superconductors, high-strength steel, laminated rot-proof ties; it's utterly reliable. They�ve been using these in mines for a decade. Maglev is more for braking and propulsion than lift but it assists with that, too. This spreads the load out over a greater surface of the track, reducing wear over conventional rail but at a fraction of the cost and complexity of a full-blown maglev system. The rail-cars use old-fashioned heavy gyros to hold them level and balanced over the narrow track at all times. Not your glamorous high-tech, but efficient and reliable; 'anti-grav� is nice stuff but troublesome; mines want bulletproof and simple. The prefabricated mini-rail track segments simplify the design, making it easier to position and avoiding the alignment problems that occur with laid-rail systems. The track pieces together like a fancy version of a toy train set

"With this we can move all the debris out of the house easily and safely. We can use the system to bring in heavy tools and materials as well. The rail-cars move automatically when full, and are equipped with every proven safety feature so they won�t hurt people. You can push them by hand, too, which is what we�ll do most of the time as an added precaution. It�s easy to move and set up. We�ll soon have a loop run out to the barn so Fran can start her work on the foundation and restoration of the timber frame,� Harry said with pride.

�Fran, you haven�t said much,� I commented.

�Didn�t have to; Harry covered it all. I did some tests on your rock ledge under the barn, and on the old timbers; I should have little difficulty �flowing� the materials as required,� the willowy girl said.

�This is a slick setup, thank you. Harry and Fran, please carry on as Operations instructs. I have my light demolitions and clean-up crew to check on.�

I got the crew started on removing any remaining furnishings in the house, as well as any trash, debris, and other junk. I reminded them that if they weren�t sure what it was, they were to call for an expert -- one of the Operations people -- to identify it.

�On an old farm, Lord knows what kinds of chemicals and livestock drugs were abandoned, and they might be dangerous to handle. Be careful; some farmers were known to use dynamite to blast stumps and rocks. You see anything labeled Hercules, or DuPont, or, if we're lucky, explosives, don�t touch it. Call Ops or Security; got it?� They all agreed. �Odds are the worst will be lead-arsenate based orchard sprays and DDT,� I said.

�Ms. Brown, I mean, Joanie?� asked Jade. �My sister, Jinn, would like to volunteer to examine the walls and other hard to access area on the project, for a cut of the loot,� Jade said and grinned.

�Huh?� I asked intelligently.

�Operations scanned the walls, but you can only tell so much from that. An old building was likely remodeled many times; sometimes people hid stuff in the walls. The effects of leaking pipes and roofs, or animal and insect damage, don�t always show on a scan. Jinn can make herself small, enter any suspicious wall cavities or crawlspaces, and check them out. We have a pair of mini radios so we can talk while she�s in the cavities. Jinn and I need the extra pay. This may save you money over time. As Mr. Anderson says, lack of knowledge can be fatal,� Jade said confidently, yet polite.

�That is a sound argument: locating rotting wood, bad utilities, or structural deficiencies would be valuable. A while back I helped Operations identify a demon on campus; it was buried in a bottle of sorts. If it had been damaged during the construction project, it would have been a disaster. I�ll accept your offer on the understanding Jinn never works alone doing these searches. She�s to do this only as part of a team with you, Jade, Stan, Morrie or another responsible professional,� I stated. "Please, no jokes about �was the Demon in a Bottle on the shelves next to the Pillsbury�s Armageddon Helper?'� I kidded them.

�Jinn, what do you say?� I asked the dead girl; strange campus, is it not.

�I�m good at things like this; you saw me pulling cable in that pipe. What sis said is okay with you? If we find something valuable in the walls, it�s okay if we split it with you, Joanie? Maybe some miserly old farmer hid a modest fortune in gold coin back during the Great Depression and forgot about it?� Jinn asked and smiled, if you could call that a smile.

�Seems fair; it would be my property legally, but if I never would have found it without your help then a fifty-fifty split sounds reasonable. You�re on your own for now; I have to go back to campus with some of the crew. I�ll be back this afternoon,� I said.

�We each have midday classes, but Stan will transport us as we need it. We won�t let you down,� Jinn said.

* * * *

I drove back to campus with several of the students and went to class. My classes flew quickly by, and I left for the middle lunch period after checking briefly on the kittens and picking up my mail. I got to the Crystal Hall, loaded my tray and sat down to eat. Pinky came soon after.

�If you have the time, help me sort my mail. I got a lot today.�

�Sure, once I�ve eaten,� she replied. �You must be a dozen pieces here, Joanie.�

�There are bills and bank statements, and a letter from Mr. Ford -- hand addressed too,� Pinky said.

�Let�s see, it says essentially, 'I want to thank you again, yada yada yada', and so on. It�s nothing special, but it�s polite. He�s inviting me to attend any of the big US auto shows at their expense, if I�ll stop at the Ford displays for a few hours and talk to the public. I don�t know; it�s a cheap vacation, I suppose. What do you think?� I asked.

�Going to a car show could be fun. There�s something from Playboy here, Joanie,� she said.

I opened the thick packet.

�Wow! Look at this, Pinky!� I said in amazement.

�Wow, yourself! You look so pretty,� Pinky said, as she looked at a prototype of the July cover.

They included proofs of my finalized photo shots, and with cropping and captions they looked marvelous. Seeing that we are both girls -- well, more-or-less in Pinky�s case -- I showed her a few of the more �clothed� pictures. She agreed they�d turned out well. I�d seen the first selection of prints, but the finished product took my breath away.

~This is the possibly the most attractive woman I�ve ever seen, and she is me? Mom, I don�t know if you can hear me but for what it�s worth, thanks. I bet you�d approve of your pretty daughter. ~

�Joanie, there�s a letter from Coke in the packet; it looks like a check, should I...?�

�Open it? Yes.�

She did, then she gasped. �Joanie, it�s ... Oh my!�

�Hand it to me, Pinky. Pay to order of Joan Brown the sum of One-hundred dollars exactly. That�s not much. Pinky.�

It was one of those bank checks where they emboss the amount and signature to discourage alteration.

�Move your thumb over,� she whispered.

�Oh, I covered up the thousand. One hundred thousand dollars, that�s nice,� I said and went blank for a minute or so.

�You okay, Joanie?� Pinky asked me for the fourth or fifth time.

�Sorry, I spaced out for a moment. That�s a lot of money, Pinky, and what are they paying me for? I don�t recall doing anything for the Coke people.�

�This letter from Mr. Hefner explains it, Joanie. He wrote:

�Bless you for the little revenue bonus. On a hunch, I contacted Coke and arranged to show them your time stop demonstration. When they saw you scoop the soda out of the air declaring, �This is good soda, I�ll not waste it,� I thought their jaws would fall off. Enclosed is your share of the royalties for the use of that clip in their print and TV ads, and a release form authorizing Playboy to permit Coke to use these images and your voice from the demonstration. My legal staff and I thought this was only fair and proper, as we never anticipated this would happen. Technically your original model�s release covers this, but under the circumstances legal insisted. Note that this is only the first check from Coke; there may be more.

'Ford bought additional ad space after you purchased one of their pickups, and we may have to add a few extra pages for all the advertising we sold them. You will get a share of that as well -- Ford insisted. Our advance orders indicate July 2007 will be our biggest selling issue in years, possibly the biggest in our over fifty year history. The overseas sales projections are mind boggling; rest assured, Whateley will get its fair share of that pie. Your obedient servant, Hugh,�" Pinky finished.

�P.S. Coke was so happy, they gave your school a sweetheart deal, if you�re wondering why Whateley switched over to Coke, Joanie. Hugh,� Pinky added.

�What have I done?� I muttered to myself.

�Did you say something, Joanie?� Pinky asked.

�Just thinking about how all this will impact my life,� I said.

�Then this one should drive you crazy, or give you a laugh, take your pick,� she said, and handed me a letter.

I read it our loud, �Dear Ms. Brown ... so on and so forth ... as an artist of color ... You are invited to perform on our 2007 Summer Music Special ... all expenses paid ... Sincerely, BET.� I paused for a moment. �That�s nice, an invitation to appear on a cable music special. I get the impression this was a form letter sent out to certain top forty recording artists based on a computer data base. Given how bad they screwed up my old name, I�m not surprised.�

�Screwed up how?� Pinky asked but I figured she�d guessed.

�Given my common last name, and the zip code I lived in included part of the City of Milwaukee, they thought I was African-American. Another database thought my family and I lived in an apartment building � this in a block of only single family homes and duplexes. I�ll admit to being �one sexy momma�, if that�s the correct vernacular, but me, an African-American, with this pale skin and scrawny booty? I�ve seen hip-hop music videos, I mean, let�s be real. I could never shake it like that,� I said and giggled.

Pinky nearly fell out of her chair laughing. �Think of the shock on their faces if you showed up at that TV special,� Pinky said and cracked up again; I sat there suddenly silent.

�Pinky, that might not be a bad idea, but it needs little work,� I said calmly.

�You�re not planning doing anything devious or underhanded, are you, Joanie? Can I help? It sounds like fun,� she asked and only occasionally broke out in giggles.

* * * *

Pinky left for class. I had a gap before my next one, so I made a phone call.

�Warner Music, how may I direct your call?�

�Mr. Karaoke, please,� I asked and giggled.

�Joanie, he has a name,� the secretary admonished me while laughing herself. �Nice to hear from you, dear. I�ll get him on the line,� she said.

�Mr. Karaoke here, Miss July,� he said and chuckled.

�Good try, but you're always Mr. Karaoke to me,� I said and giggled more.

�Joanie, at the rate your records are selling, you can call me anything you like. What may do for you today, dear?�

�Why are you always so charming? It makes it so hard to take advantage of you. Do you have any contacts with a top-notch hip-hop, rap, soul, or urban contemporary producer?�

�You thinking of branching out of country, rock, and pop?� he asked. �Isn�t that a tad greedy, girl? You have the charts in a stranglehold, Joanie.
Did you know you�re on the religious charts now? Don�t ask me how,� he said.

�I can hardly wait until Playboy comes out; that should shock them,� I said and snickered. �I keep getting mail that assumes, because of my family name, I�m African-American. BET invited me to perform on their Summer 2007 Music Special, as I am, and I quote, �an artist of color,� end quote.�

�You are Ms. Brown, are you not,� he said jokingly.

�Yeah, like I�m sooo totally ghetto fabulous or whatever, you know!� I said in my fluent val-speak. �I�d like to do an album under an assumed name, with no photos or publicity that indicates who I am. It�s for the challenge of performing music different from any I�ve done before, and for the reaction when I reveal I�m the artist,� I explained.

�Pulling a Stephan King are we, Joanie?� he said, being clever.

�Exactly, like when he wrote those detective novels under a pseudonym,� I replied. �Shankshaw Redemption originally was one, I think.�.

�I thought I had you, Joanie,� he admitted.

�Don�t forget I�ve lived for 49 years, Junior,� I teased.

�It�s so easy to forget your history; your face and body scream teenager, Joanie. We do have some interest in the urban/hip-hop part of the music spectrum, Joanie. I imagine you�d prefer an East coast producer given your location in New Hampshire?� he asked.

�That would help, but he must be a solid producer. This may be for fun but I want to record good material, not fluff,� I said.

�I�ll make a few calls, keeping your name out of it. There�s this one top producer with a great sense of humor, I�ll try him first. He�d go for a stunt like this,� he explained.

�Thanks, and I will do a new �Joanie� album for you this summer, promise,� I said.

�Deal, Joanie. Oh, can have your ... �

�... autograph on a July Playboy. Absolutely ... pervert,� I snorted.

* * * *

I went to my afternoon class and was about to drive to the farm when my cell rang.

~That�s a Washington, DC, area code. ~

�Hello? Is that you, Joe? How�s the Senate treating you?� I asked.

�Joanie, you�re too quick for me,� Joe said happily.

�Joe, I have caller ID. Your number may be blocked but I did get area code data. What may I do for you,� I said cheerfully; Joe was easy to talk with.

�It�s what you *have* done for me. I want to thank you again for putting me and Sara together, Miss matchmaker,� he said.

�I�m glad; she�s a fine woman, and I hate seeing both of you alone.�

�Can you keep a secret,� he asked.

�Oh, juicy Senate dirt; lay it on me,� I said.

�I feel I must tell you as you�re directly responsible for what�s about to happen. Joanie, I took my late wife�s engagement ring in to be copied and repaired.�

~Whoa! Does that mean...~

�Explain please. My brain just froze,� I muttered.

�She promised it to the first grandchild who needed one, so I need another.�

�You�re asking Sara to marry you? It�s been a month or two at most!�

�I knew my wife only two weeks when I proposed. Sometimes you know, and I�m certain of my love for Sara. I wish I�d met her years earlier. I�m 60, I can�t afford to waste time. Thank you for the advice about giving her a good ... I�ll not say the vulgar term. Let�s say, it was heaven. Sara is a tigress; it took everything I had to keep up with her, but we both ended up satisfied. I missed that so much since my wife died,� he said softly.

~Babs was in pre-school when Mrs. Williams died, she�s 35 now, so it�s been.... ~

�You have a lot of lost time to make up for,� I said and chuckled. �You make sure you keep her happy, mister.�

�If she doesn�t kill me, Joanie. I had to tell you first; I haven�t asked Sara yet. I hope to fly out this weekend,� he explained.

�Take her to China Express�s Chinese Buffet. It�s got good food, and they�ll go crazy when you ask her,� I said.

�The MSG hang-out, of course, and she�ll see the humor in it. Much better than some stuffy formal restaurant; thanks for the suggestion.�

�You let me know, ASAP, either way -- not that she�ll turn you down. My MSG friends told me how odd she�d been acting since your sleepover,� I insisted.

�Will do. I�ll hold you to the same when the time comes.�

�Ah, sure. Bye, I have to go.�

~�The first grandchild who needed one?� Ghods, his late wife�s ring is intended for me? Whoa, Eric, I�m flattered but this is all a bit fast� The hunk loves me! Calm down, girl, you have to wait until he�s old enough. It�s a good thing I�m such an emotionally stable girl.~

~Four years before Eric can reasonably be expected to ask me, and Joe is waiting to hear? The mind boggles. Does he have a caterer and a hall lined up for us?~

* * * *

I drove to my farm to check on the progress. One of those large dumpsters was close to filled with assorted junk. Harry was inspecting the mini-rail and making some minor adjustment.

�How are we coming along?� I asked him.

�Ms ... Joanie, it�s working out fine. I like to tweak things, but it�s worked flawlessly so far. Jinn and Jade came back after classes and have managed a thorough inspection of every crawl space in the building. They are checking out areas in the walls that the scans suggested looked odd. If there isn�t an existing opening, Jade cuts a small hole with a cordless drill. That way we can inspect the cavity and add insulation with ease later since we have the access,� Harry explained.

�Why not a mini camera on a cable � like an endoscope?� I asked.

�We tried that yesterday, but with all the alterations, and no building code when this was built, many parts of the stud cavities are obstructed. The old blown mineral wool and cellulose insulation is a problem in some places. The cameras are hard to aim; Jinn can do a much better inspection,� he said and gave me a big, wolfy grin.

Jade came running up; she appeared agitated but under control

�My sister was checking on a trouble spot in the wall facing the road and something bad happened; she says there is a bomb in the wall.�

~A BOMB!? ~

~Calm yourself, panic will do no one any good, Joanie. ~

�A freaking bomb! We have a bomb on the farm?,� I shrieked.

~Joanie; think calm, rational thoughts � you are not a blonde, mostly.~

�It's not that I doubt her; with a possible bomb it�s best to assume the worst. She�s certain?� I asked, forcing a professional detachment on my person.

�She was checking-out an object in the wall-cavity that Operation�s scanners couldn�t identify. It could have been an abandoned electrical panel or a home-made wall safe. Once inside the wall, Jinn noticed something strange about the metal box. As she worked her way inside it she saw a grenade � just like the ones you see in a war movie. She tried backing away but brushed a tripwire, which pulled out the pin. The grenade is so old the handle didn�t fly off immediately. She�s managing to hold it in place, but can�t reach the pin or even see where it fell. And she has no bobby-pin, nail or wire to use as a substitute,� Jinn said precisely, but rapidly; though she was a petite teenage girl she acted far more mature.

�She was in the walls purely to examine the suspicious areas, so she�s traveling light. This way she could get in and out using the smallest of openings. She has no tools with her, just herself and a micro-radio. Jinn was to investigate those suspicious areas and report her findings via the radio. It allowed us to track her exact location � to pinpoint what she discovered,� Jade explained barely pausing to breathe.

�Jinn�s a spirit; she wouldn�t be hurt if it goes off, would she?� I asked. �I don�t mean to sound callous. If we have to, we evacuate everyone, she releases the grenade and escapes the wall before it goes off. The wall can be replaced,� I said.

�Naw, she wouldn�t be HURT hurt. But I�m sure it won�t feel very nice.�

It sounded to me like she was hiding more concern than she wanted to let on.

�Besides,� Jinn�s got that micro-radio with her. I know money is nothing to you, Joanie, but Jinn and I are wards of the State. It takes forever to earn enough to pay for that sort of equipment!�."

"Jinn can�t reach the pin, you said,� I asked.

"The box is partially full of blown insulation that has worked its way in from above and there is a gap between the open side of the box and the exterior wall. She�s scanned and felt around in the box, but the pin fell down below somewhere and it�s hopeless to find, even if she could reach it,� Jade explained. �My sister is remarkable but even she has her limits.�

Jade was clearly not telling all, but that had to wait. The safety of those on my farm was paramount.

I got on my cell and called Security. This clearly was a bomb and dangerous.

"Security alert! Possible unexploded explosive device at farm, my location. Evacuating same; send bomb squad. Timeout over,� I radioed to Whateley Security.

"Whateley, acknowledge, possible bomb on your farm, Timeout. ETA five minutes. Do not attempt to move or defuse. Switch to landline if possible; turn all transmitters off. Electric detonation a risk, acknowledge. Over.�

�Bomb appears to be old military grenade, but will comply with warning. You�ve got it; radios off, will use landline. Timeout out.�

We�d run a phone-line into the machinery shed for the use of the construction workers, and the alarm systems Sam recommended.

�Attention, we have a possible explosive device in the south facing farmhouse wall. Shut off all electrical equipment, radios, or cell-phones. Move carefully away from the farmhouse and take shelter in a ditch or behind a stone wall. Wait until a Whateley officer instructs you what to do,� I yelled slowly and carefully. They got the message. The mini-rail shut down, and the radios were turned off along with all the drills and saws.

Harry spliced an extension into the phone wire, and we moved the phone to a point in the deep, road-side ditch, close enough for Jinn�s and Jade�s mini transmitters to be in range, yet far enough to provide some safety in addition to the ditch itself. I got Security back on the phone, and everyone else evacuated to a safe distance.

�Jade, I�m counting on to you to keep in contact with your sister, with my help of course. Call Jinn on your mini radio and tell her we have help on the way, but we need to know her status and anything she noticed about or around the grenade,� I asked her.

�Jinn, Jade here; we have help on the way. What's the status of the grenade? ... I understand ... Is there anything suspicious in the immediate area? ... I see. How long can you hold it? ... No way to tie it shut? ... Please wait while I tell Security,� Jade said calmly.

~This little gal�s one tough kid, if she ever gets bigger....~

A bomb expert from security reached our position as Jade relayed Jinn�s message.

�Jinn says that the handle, or spoon, on the grenade tried to open so she squeezed it shut. She can�t reach any wire, nails, tape or anything to replace the lost pin or secure the handle. She�s tried hard to reach down below to where the pin fell. She does have shape-shifter powers, but it�s hopeless � it�s too far, and there is too much debris in the wall. She thinks if she lets go the grenade handle will fly off. The problem is she�s near the end of her charge. In five minutes she�ll lose form, and her spirit will return to me. We have to touch to recharge her form. Jinn will be safe, losing charge doesn�t harm her, but the grenade will likely explode, �Jade relayed.

�Damn, five minutes? If we had longer a robot could drill a hole in the wall and pass in a cotter pin or nail, but that�s too little time,� said the officer. �We could do it in less than that, maybe, but that would mean an officer drilling the hole without the protection of a full set of bomb disposal armor on. We don�t have the time to get one kitted up so that�s a suicide mission.�

�I�m very fast for a non-speedster and I�m a high level regen. I�d risk drilling a hole to pass a piece of wire through to Jinn if it would help. You know how bad I was injured during my assault and I recovered,� I offered, part of me hoping he�d say no.

I though for a moment Jade looked like she wanted to say something but was conflicted and changed her mind.

�It may not be only a grenade, Joanie. Sorry Jade. If you bother to booby-trap a hidden cache, why take half measures? You might hit another tripwire with the drill or something worse -- it�s too dangerous. Someone who goes to all this trouble will likely have rigged several ways to set off the grenade and maybe planted other explosives if we�re unlucky. It�s best we get her out and try a robot after. Jade, can she wedge it, so when she lets go the handle can�t move?�

�Jinn, did you hear the officer? Okay, you do what you think is best but warn us, sis,� Jade said.

�She says she can try but she�s not hopeful. There is no obvious tight spot to wedge in. Jinn says again that the box is heavy looking steel and covers the interior wall side. It�s open to the exterior wall,� Jade said.

�Sounds like a crude claymore mine, or shape-charge. It�s likely this booby trap was built to kill attacking police. A survivalist did live in the house back in the 1970�s,� the bomb expert said, he looked worried.

�Yes, Jinn. That sounds important; I�ll ask him," Jade said.

�Officer, Jinn said it�s hard to see, lots of cobwebs and fallen insulation obstruct her view but she says there are dusty jars filled with what looks like old nuts and bolts, big ones, and an oily old wood box tight against the back of the steel box that she thinks has the word �Atlas� printed on it,� Jade said.

�That�s bad! Unstable dynamite, am I right?� I asked, my voice squeaking, he nodded.

The officer nodded and used the phone. �Unstable dynamite and shrapnel surrounding device, evacuate all personnel to at least several hundred yards to the east or west using all available cover. We will abandon forward post. Blast expected to the south,� the officer said.

�Miss Jade, may I have your radio, so I can keep in contact with Jinn? You and Joanie must evacuate now. I will pull back to as far as the radio can reach and give her last instructions then I will pull back. I have partial body armor and a special helmet, you two don�t,� he said.

�Jade, I don�t care about the house. Buildings can be rebuilt; people are precious. Come with me,� I said and smiled to comfort her.

�Jinn, I�m giving the radio to the bomb expert. Do as he says; Joanie says don�t worry about the house -- people are what counts. Good luck,� she said and handed over the tiny in-the-ear radio.

We retreated and waited.

The officer yelled �Sixty seconds!� and scurried to a place of greater safety.

Jinn looked at her watch; I could see her lips move as she mouthed the seconds until Jinn would lose her form.

�Sixty, sixty-one, sixty-two, sixty-three ...� Jade counted, we waited.

There was an explosion that shook the ground.

�She�s back!" Jade exclaimed with joy, and stood up.

�Get down until the all....� I shouted.

There was a much larger blast. Jade fell backwards, and screamed.

I saw Jade sprawled motionless on her back, except for some spasmodic twitching in one thumb. A great, jagged splinter of wood was sticking out of her right breast like a garish vampire stake. I rushed to her side, praying there was something I could do, as I willed myself not to be sick.

* * * *

To be continued
Revised 11/02/2006

But you're not a scientist. Surely you believe in all this superstitious nonsense. (MAD Magazine)

Could be worse, could be raining. (Young Frankenstein)

-- Bang! �Thwup, thwup, thwup �--

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Timeout 4, Reel to Real: Chapter 2, part one of two [message #6549]

Sun, 26 November 2006 16:27

John in Wauwatosa
Messages: 869
Registered: September 2005
Location: Wauwatosa WI

But you're not a scientist. Surely you believe in all this superstitious nonsense. (MAD Magazine)

Could be worse, could be raining. (Young Frankenstein)

-- Bang! �Thwup, thwup, thwup �--

Report message to a moderator

Timeout 4, Reel to Real: chapter 2, part two of two [message #6551]

Sun, 26 November 2006 16:40

John in Wauwatosa
Messages: 869
Registered: September 2005
Location: Wauwatosa WI

Timeout 4, Chapter 2, part two of two

* * * *

I called Madison that night to check on Mrs. Smith�s condition. She had had all her major surgeries, though lesser ones to reduce scars and to remove the pins and plates helping her bones heal would be necessary down the road. Gin informed me that Donna -- Mrs. Smith -- was a good candidate for some thaumatogical assistance once she finished recovering from her surgeries.

"What do you mean, Gin?" I asked.

"Using magic multiple times on a person can have bad consequences, particularly if powerful magics are used. Mrs. Smith shows no signs of previous significant exposure to magic," she said and I giggled. "Joanie, I�m serious. There are a lot more magic users in the world than you think. Some unscrupulous retailers and employers use people with such powers to manipulate consumers� tastes. I mean, ten years of 'Tickle Me Elmo' sales, come on! In that particular case it�s subtle, but effective. Ever wonder why Elmo�s song is so captivating?" Gin said.

"Does that mean Pamela Sue Anderson�s success is due to magic?" I asked.

"No, she has a great body to begin with and some top-notch plastic surgeons; silicone is magic in its own right," Gin said and snickered back. "Now as to Leonardo De Caprio ... major mojo was used to boost his career. He can act a little but face it, he�s a shrimp. He�s too short for me and I�m hardly a Valkyrie like you, Joanie," Gin said.

"I am NOT singing Wagner -- forget it -- no way in hell am I gaining 150 pounds, a triple-chin and wearing that stupid horned helmet, " I said and snickered. "I do understand what you mean, Gin. What�s the deal with Donna Smith and thaumatology?"

"My friends and I think Donna is a good candidate for a magic overhaul. Once she�s healthy we zap her big-time and reset her entire biological clock while repairing as many scars, adhesions and other damage as possible. With luck she�ll be as healthy as before her assault, maybe far more healthy. You saw what I did for Katie," Gin explained.

"Gin, Katie is a bad example; Tom and Tina need their mom, not a younger Amerasian sister in pre-school," I replied and giggled.

"Joanie, we can custom-tailor the spell. We�ll just make her whole and healthy, maybe shave a couple years off her age. If she�d rather be a teen again it can be done; it�s not unlike what some sorceresses do to extend their lives and no, I have not *altered* my appearance. I am as my mutation made me, Joanie," Gin said sounding offended.

"I mean no offence. I�m concerned for the twins, they�ve suffered enough. They need stability in their lives but if you honestly believe it�s in her best interest to look that much younger or different do it, but let the whole family decide," I replied.

"Absolutely, sorceress's honor. She�s a nice woman and didn�t deserve what they did ... That�s right, GG didn�t know at the time you two last spoke. They raped her, Joanie, in front of her husband -- just before they broke his skull. Thankfully she was on birth control and they didn�t transmit any STD�s. All that and neither revealed where their kids had been taken -- I�ll be happy to be half the parent they were," Gin said.

"Gin, since we mentioned her, how�s Katie doing?"

"She�s finished transforming; she�s a sweet, bright young girl and full of energy. She thinks and acts like a young girl all the time now, but don�t ever try to hurt her or her friends if she�s around. She�s a tiger; her old military training comes roaring back and she�s adapted it to her new body. Red was teasing me and Katie misunderstood. She knocked Red on her ass -- nearly knocked her unconscious. They�ve made up and Red is a frequent and welcome visitor at my parents. My new *baby* sister loves playing with 'the Amazon lady.' That�s what Katie calls Red; I overheard them the other day. It�s something private between them because I asked Red straight out and she said she couldn�t say. All Red will admit to is it�s a *girl secret* and she can�t tell me; she gave Katie her solemn oath � hope to die and everything. I�ve tried asking Katie, but she giggles and sticks her tongue out at me.

"Katie can read at the first grade level and knows her numbers. She can do some simple addition as well. Mom hopes to get her in the AM Kindergarten program this fall, by then her physical age will be four, though mentally she�s six already. I suspect she�ll be this way permanently -- my new sister is a near genius and I�m so happy for her. She can speak entirely in Humong with Mom, it�s pretty basic stuff but she speaks it perfectly. She has a real gift for language," Gin said happily.

"I�m glad it worked out. Did you get the CDs I sent?"

"Katie was so thrilled you remembered her. Her only memories of that terrible day are how brave you were to jump in the water, and how pretty you are. She has your poster up on her door, one of the more tasteful ones, the girl idolizes you," Gin said.

"Tell the gang to keep on searching for the people who did this, I feel so helpless at the moment," I said.

"Don�t worry, Joanie, our best lead has them up near the Canadian border. If they were around, they couldn�t get to her. No one can get to Mrs. Smith. MSG is treating her as one of ours and we stick together," Gin replied.

I had an inspiration.

"Is Donna, I mean Mrs. Smith, up to visitors?" I asked.

"She will be a few days. What are you thinking of Joanie?"

"Could you or, better yet, the Mutant Wing at the hospital put up a couple teenagers for a night or two?"

"It�s possible," Gin replied.

"I�m thinking of flying out Friday night or early Saturday morning, dropping the twins off, then flying on to Iowa. Babs needs a visit and, well ..."

"You�re that horny, huh?"

"That too, Gin, but I simply want to see the Johnsons, for purely platonic reasons. Not that I don�t wish it could be otherwise," I admitted.

"I�ll make arrangements. I take it, Joanie, I�m not to let Donna know?" Gin asked.

"Ms. Carson is accommodating to my wishes, but you never know. Best not get Donna�s hopes up," I said.

"Okay, girl, remember if you ever change your mind about Eric ..."

"I know -- you, Red and the Andersons all want a shot at me. Why me?" I said, laughed and hung-up.

* * * *

May 02, 2007

I stopped by Administration early to see if I could pull off the weekend trip to the Midwest. It was doable if I could swap one shift with Security and if Boston PBS could reschedule my Nova recording sessions. Ms. Carson was most supportive.

"I feel like I�m taking advantage of you, Ms. Carson, but I think a visit will do Mrs. Smith and the kids a world of good."

"I agree; you are taking advantage but for all the right reasons. You have my blessing, but you need to make sure all your duties here are covered during your absence, Joanie," she added.

"I will and thank you," I said and hugged her.

* * * *

I met Pinky for our morning run along with most of my clean-up crew.

"I�m glad to see so many of you here -- why?" I asked.

"It never hurts to exercise. You seem to enjoy yourself, and sweaty spandex is so sexy," said Cheryl, remarkably alert for so early in the morning. "Pinky said she�s noticed more and more students coming out to watch you and your friends run. I hope to get my pick of the voyeurs," she finished.

"In that uniform, you�ll get lots of action; that�s right up there with some of my outfits," I told Cheryl.

~~That�s barely decent. It�s not fair!~~

I decided to give tit-for-tat -- lots of it.

"Joanie, what are you doing?" Tom asked, though I could see he didn�t mind the show.

"Just getting comfortable," I said.

I removed my sport top, leaving myself in my running shoes, tight short-shorts and a sports bra that was almost a bikini top. It was a little cool out but tolerable and no way was I going to be one-upped by anyone. Suzy saw me and turned to Tom.

"WE are running in front of Joanie and if I see you looking back ..." she said and thrust her knee up hard. Tom and everyone else knew were that knee would be aimed at if he did ogle my goodies.

"Suzy, if you do that he may not stray but you might neuter him. Counter-productive, that," I said, then broke up in a giggle fit.

WE had a fun run, and I do mean WE. Mystor and Lonnie ran side-by-side and seemed happy together. I don�t think they are a couple, but they do act like friends which is progress. He stopped wearing that awful Goth clothing and make-up. *I�ve* noticed he�s hot looking, as have a lot of other girls. I may have created a monster -- but a good-looking monster. Cindy, Jenny and Pinky ran together for a while. Pinky told me later they were "working on something for the Sabers," but she wouldn�t tell me what it was.

We cleaned up and got dressed while our hangers-on rolled their tongues back in their mouths and tended to their swollen -- well you know.

"Joanie, I haven�t had that much fun in ages. I felt sorry for some of the boys; we had them so wound-up it had to be painful. And the group from Dickenson -- I�ve never seen ... You could poke your eyes out on those. Can we do it again tomorrow?" Cheryl asked and snickered.

"We�ll see, we don�t want to cause too many whiplash cases, hon," I said softly.

Pinky led some of the group to my farm on foot while Suzy got to ride in my GT -- Tom was envious and Suzy was so mature.

"Hey, Tom, eat our dust!" Suzy shouted to him then stuck out her tongue.

"Real mature, Suzy," I said then turned to Chris Anderson who was loading the remainder of my crew into a Whateley van, "Wanna drag?"

I smoked the tires ~~Setting a good example are we?~~ then drove responsibly to the farm. I was willing to show off but I didn�t want to see anyone hurt.

* * * *

We got to the farm and I helped Suzy out. Stan and Morrie were there with Tom Silva and the TOH camera crew.

"WOW, Joanie, what a wreck!" Suzy exclaimed as we walked up to the gutted farmhouse.

"Young lady I�ll have you know I�m in the peak of condition, or would be if I dropped twenty pounds or so. Hi, I�m Tom Silva, and you are?"

"Um, Suzy?" she said hesitantly.

"Don�t worry, we will edit every bit of footage to make sure no one�s name or face gets on the air that shouldn�t be," he said.

"Sorry, I�m Suzy, Joanie�s my friend and I�m here to help out," she said.

"And to earn some spending money or help pay for school. The Academy is very expensive," I explained.

"But Joanie�s paying for me because she�s ... the lady who saved my life and feels responsible, like that Chinese saying," Suzy said.

~~You are one bright girl, Suzy. Nice save.~~

"So your Suzy�s ... sponsor?" he asked.

I whispered back, "I, um, know her aunt." He nodded his respect.

~~I have got to keep my mouth shut. I�m proud of my niece but if that leaked out ... Idiot! ~~

"They are all my friends -- even Mystor here whom I met when he stripped my clothes off with magic -- but Suzy is a special case. We met while swimming this spring," I said and both Suzy and I giggled.

"I saw your *swim* on TV; I can see why you're Joanie�s friend, Suzy," Mr. Silva said.

"So what�s the deal today?" I asked.

"We used a robotic probe to inspect the house then we talked it over with Mr. Silva. The top section of the house will be supported by a cradle the robotics lab is building per Harry�s design -- it will be lifted away and set off to the side. That way we can dismantle the first floor down to and including the sill plate and have the foundation ready to accept a new structure in a few days. We�ll clear out the basement and do any necessary foundation improvements -- new buried utilities, drains and such -- and be ready to build by the end of the week. Fran is willing to do some of her special stone work for us as needed so all we need is a design," Morrie said.

"I was hoping for something that looks historically proper on the exterior but is fully modern and easy to live with inside. Maybe some sort of hybrid ranch-house/Usonian?" I suggested. "Maybe with an attached, heated garage?"

"We�ll have a couple ideas for you by tomorrow, Joanie. Today your crew can concentrate on picking up the work site. Does everyone have on their safety shoes, hardhat and goggles?" Stan asked, and they all nodded. "Good, I have lots of disposable dust masks and work gloves. If yours gets hard to breathe through, or your gloves start to get thin, see me for new ones. If you�re not sure, change them anyway. No one gets hurt, okay?"

Harry Wolfe made a BIG impression on the TOH people, both by his appearance and his knowledge. He showed off the modified mine mini-rail system and how he would reroute it to accommodate the changed work site. He showed off a scale model of the anti-gravity assisted crane and cradle system that would be used to separate the damaged stories of the farmhouse.

"We�re using the antigravity lifters as stabilizers, just as on the mini-rail system, but scaled up. Robotics has a huge portable crane we were donated by DARPA. It could do the job alone, the anti-gravs are for additional control and safety," Harry explained.

"You�re a gadgeteer you said, Harry?" Silva asked, not the least bit awed by Harry�s huge build.

"Oh yes, it means in my case I�m exceptional with machines, in fixing and building them. I instinctively know how they work. Your boat has the beginnings of a head gasket leak," Harry said abruptly.

"How do you know that, and how do you know I have a boat?" Mr. Silva asked.

"The boat I know about because I�ve seen 'This Old House'. The head gasket problem I can smell on your clothes; seawater leaking into a cylinder has a unique smell when it reacts with the hot metal, oil and gas of a failing engine. I have a very good nose," Harry said.

"My mechanic was saying I might need the head repaired in my boat. I am impressed, Harry," he said and Harry beamed.

I began to giggle uncontrollably and couldn�t stop.

"What�s so funny, Joanie?" Mr. Silva asked.

"Your boat's engine or the toilet?" I giggled but calmed down. Mr. Silva laughed.

I noticed Harry looking longingly at my GT.

"Harry, the Ford GT is a loaner. Please don�t play with it," I said.

"I could make it go 30 MPH faster, easy," he said.

"It�s fast enough. I have to go. I�ll leave everything in your capable hands, Stan, Morrie, " I said and drove off.

* * * *

Classes went well that morning, and I got news from Dr. Joshua P. Bakers, Dr. Jean Alden and Dr. Korolev, on my summer *field trip* history seminar.

"This is a list of important events in the history of Whateley Academy and its predecessor institutions that are poorly documented. Circe and Dr. Ophelia Tenent -- Caduceus -- came up with a list of magic hot spots that bear investigation. This should provide ample opportunity for research by yourself and students who sign up for the seminar," explained Dr. Bakers in the most words he�d ever said to me.

"Thank you all for getting back to me so soon," I said.

"We agreed it was a great idea -- your seminar -- and we were inspired," said Jean Alden.

"Ah, the enthusiasm of youth," replied Dr. Bakers.

~~Youth? Jean Alden is over 400 years old, what does that make you, Methuselah?~~

"Sergei, you�ve been quiet," I commented.

"I have a prototype dummy time-travel module for you. The panels are lightweight and elf-contained, to minimize the inconvenience to you. It uses a compact holographic system to alter the visible exterior to mimic whatever you desire," he said.

"Don�t you mean self-contained?" I asked.

"I said elf-contained and I meant it. An electro luminescent film is wrapped tight around a stiff yet lightweight foam core. The film is similar to some of the smart-camo the Army has experimented with. It can automatically mimic its surroundings using its built-in micro-cameras or assume the appearance of any of many objects stored in its memory. It�s being tested now and should be ready anytime you need it. The tricky bit is faking convincing time machinery, but I should have something soon, Joanie," Sergei explained.

"That sounds good, Sergei. While you work on that, I can do a little preparation. I do need to scout some of these sites and take notes. I don�t want to wing it come class-time," I said.

"I suggest documenting some of the magic hotspots first. You may wish to avoid those for the seminar and Operations can always use the data to aid in planning construction projects," said Dr. Alden.

"Agreed. I�ll see if Charlie is available, I�m still not expert on magic," I said.

* * * *

I contacted the Boston PBS station, and they said the crew at my farm had almost everything needed to record my narration for the Nova special. My Nova producer said she would inform them of my intention to do much of it during the week at Whateley. She got a hold of the station�s floor director and he figured the remote crew would be available for my hosting/narration work by in the early evening, at which point it�s too dark for outdoor filming. All they needed was a soundproof room and a green screen, both of which we had in the King Annex. A couple hours a night over the two weeks and we would be on or ahead of filming compared to spending the weekends in Boston.

We had a conference call with the camera crew, and they figured we could film from seven to nine PM, giving them time to clean-up, eat and set up after the days filming at my farm. This allowed the Sabers to get in their needed practice sessions. It would be a grind but feasible.

* * * *

I talked with Pinky at the late lunch period.

"I may take the Smiths to see their mom this weekend, leaving Friday late afternoon or early Saturday morning. Could you take care of my cats and ensure the Saturday cleanup crew behaves?"

"Be glad to, I�ll keep George and Gracie safe," she said.

"I hate to leave you alone, but the Smiths need to see each other and I want to visit Babs in Iowa. I could get Lex or someone else to take the smilodons, are you sure?" I asked.

"I have to be on my own sometimes and I have the other Sabers if I get lonely. I�ll be fine; you�re acting like you�re my mom. I promise I�ll be good and you go see Babs. Give Eric a kiss for me, you dirty girl," Pinky said and hugged me.

"I feel guilty."

"Good, maybe you�ll get me a present to assuage your feelings of worthlessness. Something in 22 carat gold or higher should do," she said and giggled.

"So I need to bribe you eh? Okay," I said, and walked away, turning back once to make moose antlers at her and stick out my tongue. Her laughter was all the assurance I needed.

~~I need to check with Senator Joe about those papers I wanted. It�s time to settle the situation with Pinky�s mother one way or the other. ~~

* * * *

I drove back to my farm after my classes, I should say I intended to drive back, when I noticed something odd. There were small plies of stones around my sports car, stacked three atop each other aligned with the points of a five pointed star or pentagram. I knew enough about magic to be concerned. I checked to see if Dr. Tenent or Circe was available but they were busy with classes. I was going to see if one of the Security officers who knew magic was available when I spotted Lonnie walking with Cheryl.

"Lonnie, Cheryl, I need advice, " I called out.

"Sure, what can I do for you," Lonnie said, Cheryl nodded.

"Follow me and see what you make of this, I�m stumped," I said.

We got to my GT, and I pointed out the stones.

"Is someone playing a prank or is this for real? What is it, some sort of magic alarm?" I asked.

Lonnie got out a few crystals from her book-bag and dangled several from what looked like silver chains. Most did nothing but one swung out at a great angle from vertical in the direction of each pile of stones as she walked around the car.

"I�ve seen these in my magic theory class. It�s a simple and rather old-fashioned ward. I�m not a high-level sorceress like Dr. Tenent or Circe, but this is serious stuff," Lonnie said.

"Is Joanie at risk?" Cheryl asked.

"Walk toward the car, Joanie but don�t touch it or the stones."

She did some more scanning -- if that�s what you call it -- while she had me approach and retreat from my car. She did the same with Cheryl and herself then used their combined *charms* on a geeky young boy to do the same for us. I felt sorry for the boy, they used him shamefully. Thought he did get a kiss from each so....

"So, Lady Morgana, what�s the deal?" I asked.

"Joanie, be careful with that name, some magic users don�t see the humor in it. The field is a ward and it�s attuned to you and your friends. It reacted in a positive way to your presence, like it was signaling to a friend you were okay. It acted similarly for me and Cheryl, though more like we were unimportant. The young boy was close to getting an unpleasant shock if he�d touched the car. What is odd is the flavor, the color -- I can�t describe how I perceive it better than that -- is strange," she said, struggling for the words.

"How? I�d like to know. Remember, I may have need of such knowledge if this magic storage-cell phenomenon gets worse," I said.

"Magic storage cell?" Cheryl asked.

"Joanie stores magics around her body but they don�t touch her. It�s likely some unique quirk of her warper powers. They are stronger than the last time I noticed, Joanie. Being near so many magic users and mystical objects is feeding the energy into your field faster than it�s bleeding off. It�s not a dangerous level yet, but you have more magic around you than some of the top sorceresses on campus except for people like Sara Waite, Dr. Tenent, or Circe. See, these two crystals of mine react to magic in terms of its magical frequency and energy. The energies around you have combined in a higher frequency and energy level than their original form." She paused and thought.

"This is all very theoretical and I only am starting to study this, but I think you�re not a storage cell, but more akin to a particle accelerator or even a laser. The different magics that were chaotic are becoming coherent, they are *vibrating* at nearly the same frequency and that makes them more powerful. You should make an appointment with Dr. Tenent soon, I mean it. You won�t get hurt but someone around you could. I don�t mean to alarm you. It�s fairly low level yet but under rare circumstances magic has been known to build until it crackles across the skin like St. Elmo�s fire. I remember hearing about a student here who had that problem but the name eludes me," she said.

"So I�m fine for now?"

"For a while, Joanie. The ward around you car puzzles me; as I said, magic has characteristics -- colors, flavors. This magic used in this ward is alien and very old. I swear it reminds me of a style of magic attributed to India and this was not done by a human. Oh, Joanie, I saw paw prints in the stone dust by the front wheel. It�s something like a cat but not a cat, a weasel of some kind?" she speculated. Lonnie stopped, and tapped me on the shoulder. Her eyes were locked on something.

"Quiet! Look over by the evergreen hedge next to Administration, on the left; that could be it, the magic using animal," Lonnie said softly and in awe, I thought.

"Here goes nothing. Hi there, little one! Looking for me?" I called out as I turned to face the animal -- not fifty feet from us.

It started to run, stopped, turned, stood up on its rear legs and....

"Did you just bow to me, little one? That was ... what was that?" I asked.

"I think that was or is someone�s familiar. An animal that helps a sorceress access her magic and often acts as a bodyguard. I think it was acknowledging you as a sorceress. That is an honor; they tend to be secretive and tightly bonded to their mistress or master. I wonder, there�s a legend of a prankster animal, some call her Miki, supposed to be an orphaned familiar. She�s rumored to have lived on the Whateley grounds for decades -- maybe since as far back as the oldest buildings.

�You should ask Dr. Tenent about Miki, Joanie. She�s an expert on familiars and how they interact with their human partner. She has an intimate knowledge of the Whateley area�s magical heritage. If anyone can figure out what�s going on, it�s the doctor,� Lonnie said solemnly, I choose this moment to break out in giggles.

�You mean the guy with the blue police box? I thought he�s a fictional character?� I said and snickered. Lonnie joined in while Cheryl looked at us as if we�d each grown an extra head.

�What�s so funny about a blue police box?� Cheryl asked.

�I take it you don�t watch a lot of science-fiction TV? I asked.

�I was too busy with my music to watch much TV of any kind.�

~~I�ll have to get her a copy of the show since I�ll be on it.~~

�The more I think of it, the more I'm sure that had to be her, Joanie. Wow, I saw Miki! The rest of my magic theory class will be so jealous when they find out," Lonnie finished.

"How does a familiar get orphaned?� I asked.

"Supposedly its mistress was killed; strange, familiars normally can�t sustain the magic after the bond is broken. When their mistress is dead, they normally revert to ordinary animals. Miki must be very special to survive so long on her own. You really need to see Dr. Tenant, we�re talking serious magic here.

To Be Continued

But you're not a scientist. Surely you believe in all this superstitious nonsense. (MAD Magazine)

Could be worse, could be raining. (Young Frankenstein)

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Timeout 4, Chapter 3, part one of two [message #7137]

Fri, 26 January 2007 00:19

John in Wauwatosa
Messages: 869
Registered: September 2005
Location: Wauwatosa WI

Timeout 4, Reel to Real: A Whateley Academy Fan fiction

This is fan fiction for the Whateley Academy series. It may or may not match the timeline, characters, and continuity, but since it's fan fiction, who cares? To see the canon Whateley Stories, check out either

Sapphire's Place, (http://www.sapphireplace.com/stories/whateley.html) or the Big Closet (http://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/taxonomy/term/117)."

Here�s another chapter in part four of my TG/sci-fi/superhero/magic and anything else that comes to mind epic. It�s not that bad; I do have an overall story arc in mind, honest. I�m much better than when I started this, though my grammar and spelling remain flawed; ask Itinerant if he is still coherent. (Still no!) Your constructive criticism and advice continues to help. This is an exercise in the joys of creativity and in appreciation of the wonderful Whateley Universe. Any violations of copyright, trade mark or use of real people or incidents are purely for purposes of humor or parody and done solely for the free enjoyment of the reading public. All rights reserved in perpetuity, John from Wauwatosa WI, 2005-2006.

Adult content advisory: this chapter containts situations and topics unsuitable for young minds or your sanity. If you survive that pap, there is some adult content too, so be warned.

Timeout 4

By John from Wauwatosa
Jade/Jinn/Jann "special consultant� Babs Yerunkle
Painless punctuation practiced by Itinerant

Chapter 3, This Old Farm House -- Fran-o-rama, Hey Miki Your So Fine 2, You BET Your Life 2, Welcome to Adulthood 4

Whateley Academy Dunwich, May 02-May 04, 2007

May 02, 2007

I decided not to drive the GT this evening. Miki had spent considerable effort in warding it for my benefit, and I needed time to think about its implications. From both Lonnie and Dr. Tenent, I knew that I was passively storing stray magic I encountered. In interacting with my warper field, these various magical energies were altering, becoming more alike, even coherent, like laser light. Did this mean I was a witch? The actions of the familiar, this Miki, seemed proof I was. That a magical creature recognized me as a practitioner of magic, and might be considering me as its next mistress, was compelling testimony. Was any of this dangerous? I had no way to be sure. So far Dr. Tenent and Lonnie thought it was safe, but as to the future? I knew banking and retail. I�d started out in college studying chemistry. I was becoming a historian by necessity, but sorcery was not something I�d ever studied or contemplated. I had lots of questions and precious few answers. I didn�t know whether to be worried or laugh. My life since last July third had been strange, was this all that different?

Rather than disturb the familiar�s hard work, I got some Lion Chow, plus a couple small pieces of raw meat I kept in a �fridge as treats for the smilodons, placed it in a small crockery bowl and set it out by the driver�s door of the GT. Lonnie said as long as I didn�t move the car the ward should remain intact. Miki would see my gift and be able to safely obtain the food. The ward should keep the treat safe for her alone, if I understood correctly. As a carnivore, I figured she would like it -- the smilodons certainly do. It was a way to start a relationship, I suppose, and I did owe her my thanks for warding the GT. I made arrangements to see Dr. Tenent later that evening. I decided to ride out on my Harley to the farm for a quick visit with the clean-up crew, then come back and see her. Chris transported my volunteers in an oversized Whateley van.

* * * *

I saw several of my friends helping Harry Wolfe assemble sections of mini-rail over by a couple of new dumpsters.

"�Evening, Harry, gang, what gives with the new train layout? I didn�t know Lionel made stuff in this gauge. Did it come with the self-unloading milk car?� I asked and Harry grinned.

�Ms. ... um, Joanie, we�re going to sort the debris from the farmhouse as we demolish it. Fran may be able to use the damaged wood as raw material for her special ability. The larger intact boards can be reused as is. The glass, plaster, concrete, and such are not salvageable by her, but I can do some useful things with it,� Harry said.

�Suitably sized and sorted, the glass, tile and mortar waste make excellent aggregate for concrete, and the plaster can be added after treating it in a kiln as a curing aid. Or it can be ground up and used as a soil additive -- to *loosen* clay soils and control acidity -- which is the more likely plan. That�s all very old-tech, but practical. Salvaged fiberglass or rock-wool can be chopped up and re-used as blown insulation, or as crack-inhibiting additives to any concrete pours. The roofing materials can be used in an asphalt emulsion for a driveway seal coat; very little of the old house will be unusable. The chimney brick can be cleaned and re-cycled as brick; the old pipe and wires have some scrap value. Amazingly the old cast-iron tub is intact and can be re-enameled -- it�s a beauty, Joanie. There is real quality in that one,� Harry said, his eyes gleaming.

�Sounds like a plan, Harry. Listen up, crew; please follow Harry�s instructions for the time being. We need to get this mess safely cleared, then we can help build a new farmhouse. For everyone�s information, Jade and her dead sister, Jinn, are doing fine and expect to be back at work tomorrow or the day after,� I explained; the kids cheered when they heard the girls were okay.

�That�s wonderful news! When I heard Jade was hurt, and I saw the damage to the farmhouse, I was afraid for her. Jade�s a nice girl and her sister is great for a dead person,� said Cindy.

�Are you having any trouble with your allergies, Cindy?�

�Nah, Harry rigged a spray system to reduce the dust, and that nice Mr. Stan got me these great filter masks and goggles. I work outside to be extra safe, but I�ve had no problems. Thanks for the job, Joanie; I needed the extra cash,� Cindy said.

�That�s great, Cindy, but be safe, don�t take any chances. Okay?�

* * * *

~~Harry and the crew will soon have the mini-rail and sorting stations set up. I wonder where are Stan or Morrie?~~

�Joanie?� I heard a young woman call out.

�Fran, it�s great to see you. What can I do for you?� I asked.

"It�s what I can do for you, Joanie. Stan and Morrie told me what happened, and your immediate thoughts on a new house. I�m studying engineering and architecture, as they are complimentary to my mutant ability to manipulate natural materials. I believe I can *flow* the fieldstone in the foundation, and with some additional stone as raw material build you a basement and foundation suitable for a modified Prairie-school home. The roof will have a steeper pitch than a true Prairie-school or Usonian, to better withstand our winter snows and to fit into the general look of buildings around here. I guarantee you will have a very livable house when we�re done,� Fran said with enthusiasm.

�That sounds interesting, but I do have several key points that must be met, Fran. It must have in-the-floor heat and forced-air -- the first for comfort, the second for quick recovery after opening the door on a frigid day. Air-lock/mud-room entries are a must for efficiency, plus they help keep the house clean. My tenants and guests must feel secure, so it needs to be bullet and blast resistant and have an advanced security system. It must have an attached, heated garage and that�s non-negotiable, Fran. I�d like graceful, wild-life friendly, easy to maintain landscaping. Native plants arranged to project a natural appearance would be ideal, but nothing too formal. You will install the latest in communications capabilities throughout the building, of course. Oh, a sauna and maybe a hot-tub or spa would be lovely. Can you do that?� I asked.

�So the Bat-poles and Bat-cave are for your barn project then?� Fran asked, then broke-up. �I�m so sorry, Officer Lex told me to say that. Something about payback for a confusing night babysitting a kid,� she said.

~~I wondered when I�d get it for the *Tom* incident.~~

�Fran, tell Lex 'message received loud and clear'. Can you design me a dream house and not a nightmare?�

�Absolutely! I�m helping Stan and Morrie brainstorm the plans. Mr. Silva from This Old House has been most helpful. Operations is letting me use this 3D design program that calculates all the loads and stresses in a building plan. The engineers and professional trades people on campus are reviewing everything to make sure the plans are sound. Think of me as an idea person. The program and Operations staff provide all the necessary knowledge. We�ll have a plan in a couple days at most. This is exciting, Joanie; not that fixing up the old house wouldn�t have been challenging. To design a whole new structure....� she trailed off.

�Make me something special, and I�ll see you get properly rewarded, Fran,� I said.

�You�ll love it, Joanie! I know you like Mr. Wright�s work, so I�ll try to be faithful to his aesthetic, but with modern building methods in mind.�

�Do it and I�m in your debt,� I said, and practically danced to my cycle.

�Oh, Fran?� She turned and looked. �The Bat-poles sound kind of cool,� I said as I prepared to drive off. Fran looked at me and shook her head.

~~Today is gonna be a special one, I feel it.~~

I hopped on my cycle and rode back to Whateley.

* * * *

I asked Caduceus -- that�s Dr. Tenent to most of you -- about the strange animal I�d seen near the GT.

�So you�ve met Miki.�

�That�s what Lonnie called the animal,� I replied.

�What I�m about to say is partially speculation, but a student in Whateley College�s dying days gave the name Miki to a female Indian/Javan Mongoose that befriended him. He donated his journals to the mutant school, as did some of the old staff; that�s how I know. His Miki fits the descriptions of a creature described by most observers as a large ferret or mink that caused havoc on campus. Some reports of this mischief-maker go as far back as Whateley�s founding. A magic-using mongoose makes sense, as a colony of mongoose would have exploded across the country by now if they were breeding. They are quite prolific, and like most small animals they are not terribly long lived. For the sightings to always be of one animal, and over so many years, is evidence of powerful magic.

�Why is this Miki so focused on me? To invest the time and energy to ward my car against potential enemies of mine seems a serious undertaking for a small animal or a human. What benefit can she possibly derive from her effort?� I wondered out loud.

�Look at it from the animal�s standpoint: you *look * like a witch, Joanie,� she said.

�Huh?�

�Joanie, since you�ve come here, you�ve been sporadically accumulating a magical *charge* -- for want of a better term. Observing you now, if I didn�t know better, I�d think you were a young sorceress, and a powerful one at that. Lonnie told me of her theory that you're a magic laser or particle accelerator, and I think she may be on to something. We�ll need to take a series of measurements, but a casual exam suggests your level of *charge* has increased since we last talked. This could be proof you�ve exceeded a critical threshold level, and the magic is now self-sustaining, possibly even self-generating. This would be akin to a fission reactor achieving a sustainable chain-reaction. It may be that your warper field is actively absorbing stray magic from your surroundings, Joanie. This would mean you're more like a mystic vacuum cleaner as opposed to a passive trap for passing magic.�

I listened with interest and more than a little concern. In less than a year my life had progressed from *ho-hum* to *wow* to the edge of *you have got to be joking*.

�Magic is largely unknowable, dear child. Even with all my experience I remain a student of the art and I�ve worked with it for ... a *long* time,� Dr. Tenent said, practically daring me to ask HOW long. That stupid I am not.

�But what does Miki want from me?�

�Joanie, familiars are both guardians and assistants to magic wielders. They often act as guard animals. This is in addition to helping a mage or sorceress focus their magic. In exchange, the familiar receives food, companionship, and a share of the magic. Being close to a source of magic is necessary to sustain a familiar�s supernatural abilities.

�She could be acknowledging you as a sorceress of worth, or maybe she�s evaluating you as her next mistress. If so, that is a great honor. Familiars are most particular who they bond with and for this one to survive alone for decades shows Miki to be an unusually powerful and resourceful familiar. Let me know if you see her again; I�m interested. Miki has never acted like this before; I would have heard about it. Why did she wait so long, and why the apparent interest in you? There are many young mages and sorceresses here she could have bonded with,� Dr. Tenent speculated.

�Sorceress? I�m not a ... I�m a sorceress? Is there any danger here to either Miki or myself if we bond?� I asked, bewildered by her revelations.

~~Ghod, I am so confused by magic users. Am I one? Can�t they ever talk in plain English? Can I ever talk in plain English?~~

�There is some risk, but less for you than most. The bond can be so complete that if either dies, so does the other. Since the magic surrounds you but does not touch you, you should be safe. Your regen helps as well. Miki has survived, magic intact, on her own for decades so I suspect she would not come to harm. Oh, and Joanie, I�m not sure what you are, but you may well become a sorceress if you can ever access your reserves of magic,� she said smiling.

�My sister will LOVE this: �Oh sis, by the way, I�m a witch.� A girl and a mutant was bad enough. This is handing her a solid-gold straight-line ... witch rhymes with bitch. Marvelous, I�m rich, too. Get the picture, Dr. Tenent?�

�Your sister hates you that much?�

�My sister loves me that much, and she is a blonde,� I said quickly and giggled.

�Blondes and magic is a dangerous mix,� Dr. Tenent joked. I could barely suppress the giggles, as Dr. Tenent is a natural blonde.

�I�m not a blonde, I�m a strawberry-blonde,� I said and grinned.

�I�ll bite. What�s the difference, Joanie?� she asked.

�We�re sexy ditzes like the pure-bred blondes, but with mercurial tempers,� I said and bared my teeth. Then we both fell apart laughing.

�P-please see me again soon, m-my dear. We�ll figure out what�s going and get it under control,� she said, and I left for my band practice.

* * * *

Tom and Tina looked happier than they�d been for some time. I noticed Suzie�s lipstick seemed to match his, though hers was on thicker.

~~That seems a fun way to apply it.~~ I thought, as I saw them kiss. They separated and grinned at each other.

I took out a tissue and walked up to him.

�Tom, you forgot something,� I said coyly.

�What?�

�This,� I said.

I grabbed his head, wiped his lips thoroughly, then gave him a scorching-hot kiss. He resisted at first but got into the spirit of it fast.

~~Oh yeah! You have got great taste in, um, boys ... Suzy,~~

�Ooh, I liked that,� I said, my eyelids halfway open, my voice sultry. I wasn�t faking it much.

Suzy looked confused and, well, angry. Then I got the giggles, skipped over -- Yes, I said skipped. I�m a girl. I can do that. It says so on my girl license. What was I saying? Now I remember. I gave her a big hug and more chaise kiss, though equally heartfelt.

�That was mean of me, Suzy. You have my permission to slap me for being a bad girl. I see what you find attractive in Tom; what a kisser! Can I steal him?� I said, and snickered.

�Only if I get Eric in exchange,� she said and smiled.

�Okay, but I�d have to kill you first; nothing personal, Suzy,� I replied, and we leaned against each other laughing while Tom stared at us.

�Suzy, you�d better straighten your man out over whom he can and cannot kiss,� I said.

�But I didn�t ... You started ... I ...� he stammered.

I whispered in Suzy�s ear, and we both gave him that look a mother gives a child that has done something wrong.

�Tom, when will you ever learn a lady is always right? You�re a man so it must be your fault,� I said, looking at him and shaking my head slightly.

I was about to comment on how parts of Tom needed no additional straightening, but decided not to embarrass the boy further.

�Be careful, girl. I was just playing with you two and he got my motor racing in spite of my intentions. I need a cold shower, bad. You�re one lucky lady,� I whispered in her ear.

She hugged me back. �I know I�m lucky, that�s why I�m on the pill. Mom said it was okay, Joanie. She�s not mad at you or me. It�s not like we�ve done *it* yet but more just in case,� she confided to me.

I was shocked, yet pleased, at her revelation. Then looking at Tom, I could see the *merit* in her precautions. Though he�s was not an exemplar, Tom was an attractive young man, and he certainly though my niece was eye-catching.

~~I�d be amazed if there�s any blood left in the rest of his body with him in that condition. Joanie, get your mind off of sex. Time to get your mind off reproduction and on to more important things, girl ... make that more immediate things. Cummon, Girl, think of something, anything but *that*. ~~

�In the words of Frank Zappa, �Music is the best.� Are we ready to play now, everyone?�

* * * *

We had a productive session and added another song to our repertoire. Tom and Tina appeared much happier, but to be safe I asked Pinky afterwards, in private.

�I know you don�t like to pry, but did you sense how the twins were?�

�I snuck a peek to make sure they were okay. They are better than when they first arrived here, but their pain remains strong. They miss their parents desperately and are aching for any contact with their mom. You should take them to Madison this weekend, Joanie; they need it. I�m not jealous at all; I know you�re doing this out of love. Please say hi to Eric for me. Oh, ask him about his friend, the boy I met on Easter Sunday. I know I don�t have any claim on him, but have Eric tell his friend I still think of him sometimes and he�s a good kisser. So is Eric, a good kisser that is,� Pinky smiling wistfully

�Ah, you�re not going all boy-crazy on me are you, Pinky?�

�No. I�m not one of *those* girls, the kind of girl you need a crowbar to pry them off of their boyfriend, like *some* people I know,� she said sounding a bit accusatory.

�Crowbar? Are youse saying I�m some kind of nymphomaniacal slut what is desperate to impale myself on her boyfriend�s manhood? Dat�s I�m some out-a-control ditzy dame whose entire life revolves around *riding--the-pole*?�

�No. I meant...� Pinky said confused.

Youse knows me well, girl!� I replied in a *Wiseguys/Goodfeathers* voice, and faked being on the edge of orgasm. Then I giggled, and so did she.

�While you're gone, I�ll be the best kitty-wrangler and clean-up crew mistress possible, Joanie,� she said, and she radiated happiness.

�Did you go empathic on me there, girl?� I asked. �I felt all warm and tingly, but not sexually aroused. It was a more a sense of contentment.�

�It was an accident, Joanie, I�d ...� she looked

�Whoa there, just asking -- it felt nice to feel what you were feeling. That came out awkward, huh? I mean I felt all warm and safe like a baby suckling at her mother�s breast.�

~~Why did I say that?~~

�I�m happy you�re not an angry girl, anymore,� I said, and hugged her gently. �Whoever earns your favor will hit the jackpot when it comes to love. To think that�s all been bottled-up since your mutation; what a waste. Do you feel everything that intensely, Pinky?�

�Joanie, I�m empathic, I feel my own emotions and the emotions of others. That�s why you felt so content; you experienced what I feel in your presence and your own emotions being returned to you. You're right; I felt it too,� she finished.

�Whatever it was I sensed no jealousy, only love and a sense of attachment,� I added.

�I could never be jealous of you, Joanie,� Pinky said, then she got silly �Except for those breasts of yours, Joanie. Puberty was inordinately generous to you,� she said and gestured with her hands like I was hefting a pair an exotic dancer would be envious of.

�Pinky!� I exclaimed. �I�m impressed, paraphrasing Billy Bo Bob Brain from Pinky and the Brain, second season of Animaniacs.�

I tried to think of another appropriate reply, but I couldn�t. Then I remembered something I�d wanted to ask her for some time.

�Pinky, dear, what about joining the Alphas? Are you still interested? It was your aunt�s clique, so it is a family legacy,� I asked.

�I wanted to, that�s why I tried to hurt you -- to impress them and my aunt.� She looked so sad after she said that.

�It still hurts when you think back to then? I�ve forgiven you, Pinky, and I understand why you were that way. You were in anguish; you had to react someway to the stress. Thankfully you turned away from disaster in time, my friend.�

�I wouldn�t feel right joining, now. I don�t think they�d admit you, and if you can�t join, I won�t,� she stated forcefully.

�Don�t let that hold you back. They may have been a bit stuck-up in your aunt�s time, but they were a legitimate campus organization and respected. You could restore them to that instead of all this petty nonsense they are into now,� I replied.

�I don�t know if I have the time with my studies, the smilodons, the band, and you,� she answered.

�Think on it; maybe you could make them better than in your aunt�s day -- both respected and liked?� I suggested. �Your aunt would coach you, and I would be there to take the Alphas to task if they gave you grief. You could work quietly in the background to support the group, gather friends, and scout your adversaries. Then, when you�re a junior or senior, you mount a palace coup and execute the gang of despots. Oops, that�s how to become a third-world dictator,� I said and giggled.

�Okay, I-I�ll consider it, Joanie,� Pinky chuckled. �My aunt told me she�s embarrassed how the current leaders have dragged the Alpha�s reputation down.�

�If you want to, and only if you want to, Pinky. I�ll support you if you decide to join the Alphas and make them an admired organization,� I said.

�Maybe I will, but not until after I give the kitties a workout,� she finished.

* * * *

I stopped by Administration for my mail, then hustled to the Crystal Hall. I got, well actually, Cheryl got me my dinner -- she had my favorites memorized -- and we sat down to eat. Once you got past Cheryl�s tough �Joisey gal� act, she was a considerate young woman. The rest of the gang was back from the farm and all appeared intact -- a big improvement from recent events out there.

�What�s in the manila envelope, Joanie?� Cheryl asked.

Lonnie leaned in close too. The incident with Miki, the mystic mongoose, had made the three of us closer somehow. It had not improved on my appalling attachment to alliteration.

�Yes!� I cried out when I had a peek at the contents.

�What is it?� several of my friends asked. I giggled in response.

�Must be something devious; spill it tall, blonde-like and gorgeous,� said Cheryl as Bogart, convincingly so.

�Ask Ms. Pinky about BET,� I said and grinned.

�You didn�t?!� Pinky asked excitedly. I nodded and snickered.

�Joanie is into gambling?� asked Lonnie.

�No, she�s being silly. She means �B� �E� �T�; it�s a cable TV network. Joanie is going on their summer music special, � Pinky explained.

�But that�s for ...� Cindy started to say.

�... artists of color. Some database program saw my name and that I was popular on the music charts. It assumed I was ethnic, to use an older phrase. This is a confirmation of my acceptance of their invitation. The rest of the materials are some songs I intend to record under a pseudonym with the help of Mr. Karaoke,� I said giggling at the end.

�Joanie�s recording hip-hop?� Cindy said, surprise on her face.

I looked at the song-list, giggling.

�And I�m recording soul, urban contemporary, some classic ballads and maybe a gospel song or two. Music is for everyone to enjoy; why should it be categorized?� I said.

�To make it easy to find at Sam Goody?� said Tina, adding a pitiful rim-shot.

�That is devious, manipulative and down-right sneaky, I love it!� exclaimed Cheryl.

�That�s what I told her the other day,� said Pinky.

�So our Joanie is a criminal genius, I�d never thought she�d sink so low. You�re supposed to be setting a good example for us. My mother will be disappointed in you,� said Suzy pouting.

I was confused for a moment; it was the break she was waiting for. The *demon-girl* had remembered my secret weakness. Suzy struck while I was defenseless, the fiend coming up from behind me, her devilish fingers lightly flicking along the sides of my exposed midsection. Me and my foolish fondness for crop-tops, but then I do have a sexy midriff. I was soon unable to help myself, convulsing in giggles.

Ghod I�m ... ticklish!~~

�St-st-stopp, th-th-that, Suzy. I�ll w-wet mys-self ... N-no!� I said between spasms of giggles as I gasped for air.

I was laughing so hard, I was close to blacking-out from hyperventilation.

The rest of my so-called friends joined in on the assault. I laughed so intensely I lost control. I tensed, my back arched, and I came. It was an accident on their part, but I honest-to-goodness came ... fireworks, trains going in-and-out of tunnels, *seeing* colors, smelling phantom smells -- the works. After I returned to consciousness, I had to run to the lady�s room and clean up. My legs could barely support me.

~~That was better than sex! Hell, I came like it was sex. If Eric learns I�m this ticklish ... I will be one blissed-out woman. Wow!~~

I returned after composing myself. My friends took one look at me and didn�t say a thing; they burst out laughing instead. Apparently I was still *glowing*.

This was one way I was not like my mother. She was not ticklish in the least, and she claimed Dad had tested her thoroughly -- high/low, hither and yon, many, many times -- and failed. Now that I look back from the vantage point of a woman, I get the impression she preyed on his competitive streak many times this way. The strange expression I remember on her face makes me think, not only was she proud of *defeating* him, but she got some great foreplay out of it.

~~You dirty-minded minx. Damn it, Mom, I�m proud of you! What a sneaky way to get what you want without asking for it. My Ghod, my parents had SEX!~~

~~Well, duh, unless your sisters and you were mail-order.~~ I thought and giggled.

~~I wonder, �Oh Eric, sorry, but I don�t feel a thing when you stick your ...� Nah, it�s lacking in subtlety.~~

* * * *

I called Madison after I returned to my room, and confirmed that Tom and Tina�s mom, Donna, was able to have visitors.

�I saw Ms. Smith today, and she�s doing well -- better than expected. We�ve been talking with her and checking into her past. Donna was a college athlete and remains an active swimmer, cyclist and power walker. She may be 37, but her appearance was of a woman of about thirty. Her physiological condition and age were better than the average 25 year old until her kidnapping and assault,� explained Dr. Sara.

�Gin was saying how she and her magic pals could reset Donna�s body to a younger age, or even radically change her appearance once she was strong enough. I wonder, given how active she was and the risk from the kidnappers being out there, would she consent to Gin�s magical extreme makeover?� I asked Dr. Sara.

�Katie is proof Gin can sling a mean transformation spell, and I�ve had them both here for frequent tests to be on the safe-side. I have access to Gin's old medical records and some of her old test samples. Katie is equivalent to Gin�s measures at the age of four to four-and-a-half, but she is brighter, healthier and, dare I say, more precocious socially. But then that makes sense as Katie has some access to her adult skills. I find it most remarkable that Katie is psychologically sounder than you or I, but then we�re both loonies, Joanie,� Dr. Sara said and laughed.

�So, if the magic is carefully crafted, Donna could benefit from Gin�s offer?� I asked.

�It could do for her what your mutation has done for you, and provide Donna the opportunity to start over. She could fall in love -- even start a new family if she wanted to. Gin is confident she could regress Donna to her teens, and alter her appearance enough to be Tom and Tina�s cousin or anyone else. She could be a Beyonc� look-a-like, a young Katie Holmes, a Lucy Lu college-age cutie or even like you, Joanie.�

�I wouldn�t recommend that last one; she�s a slut,� I said and giggled.

�Donna is a college grad with valid teacher�s license and business experience. She�s not a mutant but with my alumni connections I could get her a job as a new teacher or administrative assistant in a school near Whateley. She�d be safer there than in Wisconsin and she�d be near her kids.�

�Sara, what if Gin and her fellow magic friends incorporated some of Tom and Tina�s DNA or BIT�s in her makeover? Could Donna become a mutant, or is she a dormant mutant whose powers never surfaced? Tom and Tina must have got their mutant genes from their parents; completely spontaneous mutation seems unlikely. If I recall correctly, the drug they were given only works on those with a significant number of the so-called mutant genes?� I asked.

�We never ... Joanie, it�s entirely possible, both your scenarios. Damn, have you considered training as a physician?� she said, her voice full of motherly praise.

�Considering my expected life-span, I could end up a doctor. I doubt I�d be as good as you, Sara,� I replied.

�Joanie, you�d likely be better,� she said, her voice upbeat. �I�ll run your questions by Gin then let Ms. Smith know her options.�

�That�s something they will need to discuss as a family. I will come this weekend, I promise, Sara. I need to go now and call Eric as I won�t be able to Friday night,� I said and giggled nervously. I could feel the beginnings of my arousal.

I~~ Not now, libido, behave yourself!~~

�Are you okay with this platonic boyfriend business? You sound more like you want to escalate to his business pumping in and out of your business?� she asked, teasing me, I hoped.

�No! I, well, I�m not sure,� I said, my voice breathy and deeper than usual. �Sara, I want him so bad sometimes, I ache. I know we can�t ... you know. I know it would be wrong to have him, criminally wrong. Given his age, there is no excuse for it, no matter how right it feels in my heart,� I said, breathing oddly and feeling flush. I continued. �Though we ... I ... well, we dearly want to, the situation is under control. I have to see him, that�s all; I miss him so much. It�s not the same over the phone. I�d better go, Sara; I�m keeping you from your patients. I�ll be okay, just nerves I guess,� I said, not realizing until after I�d hung up I was on the edge of an orgasm. My embarrassment deflated my libido, and I returned to a level of control.

~~I lied to Sara. �The situation is under control.� I�ve never lied to her. I�m lying to myself, too, if I believe I�m in control with respect to Eric. If Pinky wasn�t there Easter Sunday evening, we would have. Ghod forgive me, but we would have, I know it. I couldn�t have stopped once we�d started. I wouldn�t have wanted to. What is with me? Ghod, I was breathing hard over the phone to Sara just thinking about Eric. Am I really this way or is it my imagination working overtime to scare me?~~

I caught up on some class work, made my d/j/w entry and fell into a restless sleep.

* * * *

May 03, 2007

I took my early morning run with my friends, but I was not my normal chatty self. Pinky caught on to that fast.

"What�s wrong, Joanie? You seem distracted and are decidedly not your usual Miss Morning Person,� Pinky asked and tried to smile, though I sensed she was concerned.

I waited until we were alone; the rest of my fellow morning workout group noticed and kept a discreet distance.

�Pinky, you know me better than anyone. Am I getting in over my head with Eric? The thoughts I�ve had about the two of us scare and excite me. You were there on Easter morning when we started to ... Am I about to do something incredibly harmful to both of us, or am I worried over nothing?� I asked. Pinky seemed uncomfortable at my question and spoke carefully.

�I try not to read your mind; you know that, Joanie. I was being silly when I made the joke about *some* people and crowbars, but your and Eric�s feelings are intense. That you both know it would be wrong at his current age is good. That you are frequently questioning your motives in relation to Eric is better. I�m no expert; I only have my observations, empathic sense and gut to go on. Your intentions are honorable, but ...� she hesitated.

�But what?�

�Your bodies might sabotage that, Joanie. Eric�s a handsome teenager at the height of puberty; you are physically a 17-year-old girl with an enhanced sex drive and the body of a Centerfold -- a real, genuine Playboy Centerfold! During our Easter visit I couldn�t help feeling what you felt for each other. Not that you would do it deliberately, but throw enough lit matches at a pool of gasoline, sooner or later ...�

"... whoof! Up in flames?� I asked.

�Yeah, sorry, but that�s what I sense. I don�t mean to hurt you. You want me to be honest, don�t you?� Pinky said, her voice close to crying at the end.

�That�s alright, Pinky, I wanted the truth. Thanks for not pulling your punches. I was coming to a similar conclusion, as much as it pains me. I�ll have a good talk with Eric and Babs, and we�ll set some ground rules to keep us on safe ground. I want this to work, I don�t want to give him up, not after waiting 49 years to find love. It would hurt both of us, and then I�d have to start dating men to find a replacement and that could be a problem. With my libido I�d turn Dunwich into Peyton Place,� I finished.

�Huh?�

�Sorry, that was too 1960s; let�s say Desperate Housewives?�

�You have the figure to be Terry Hatcher�s character,� she replied.

�Pinky, I have a libido that makes them look like saints,� I said and giggled.

�You would, Joanie, you would,� Pinky replied and laughed. �You go see your Eric and work it out. It would be a waste to separate you two. His temperament seems the perfect complement to yours.�

�You�ll find your mate someday, Pinky, and when you do I�ll cry for joy. Then I�ll get a shotgun and make the sorry bastard marry you,� I said, snickered and we went off to shower and eat.

* * * *

I noted with satisfaction the treats I�d put out for the mongoose, Miki, were gone and several colorful pebbles were on the plate arranged in neat fashion. I picked them up and placed them in a pocket of my backpack/book-bag.

�Thank you for the gift, Miki,� I called out, and curtsied.

I thought I heard a chortle and a scurrying sound from some bushes on the edge of the grounds. I placed a small piece of dried, uncured, unseasoned beef -- pemmican? -- on the plate and ran off to the farm, Chris followed with my troops in a Whateley van.

* * * *

My friends were quickly put to work by Harry. I could see the mini-rail system was up and ready, and they would make solid progress on clearing the debris today. The huge mobile crane was on-site, and I could see some Operations workers -- assisted by several tentacled robots -- assembling the cradle to lift off the upper part of the damage farmhouse. I was elated to see Jinn and Jade back at work; they appeared to be testing some equipment.

�You look lovely, Ms. Jade, and your sister, Jinn, looks enchanting as always,� I said, and I thought Jinn blushed.

�Did you blush, Jinn?�

�Yeah, I felt like I should, and I want to appear less freakish to people. Being dead, I don�t show most of the body-language clues live people do. I�ve been working on this trick for some time. I have to thin and thicken the pigment layer I control just right, or the shading is wrong. I�ve experimented with multiple shades of pigments, but it�s too tricky,� she explained.

�You were most convincing, and I thank you for the effort to make me more comfortable in your presence.� I looked around, we were alone. �Ladies, how�s Jann?� I whispered.

They looked around and Jade spoke.

�She�s fine and working with us today, but *undercover*. She says thanks for not ... you know,� said Jade.

�My pleasure, ladies, I try to respect peoples confidences. What were you *two* doing earlier? It seemed like a radio check to me,� I asked.

�It was a test. These are loaners until our new radios come. They will be similar in design, but with greater range and other advances,� Jinn answered.

�Where�s your ear bud?� I asked after looking in Jade�s ears and not seeing any device.

�I�m not using an ear bud radio anymore. This is a sub-space dermal patch radio, and it�s located just behind my ear. I�ve had them before, but they had serious limitations. These loaners are cheaper to make and are more powerful than the ones I used last fall. They are still are easy to lose and have a limited range, regrettably. The new ones I�m getting use body heat to generate power and keep their storage cell continuously charged. Having more power available allows for greater range for my unit. Jinn can�t produce body heat but she can use friction and her TK on a piezoelectric device to recharge her patch radio. Bunny hopes to tinker with the smart-camo of the patch and have it function as a solar cell. In a few days I�ll get small unit that contains dedicated molecular machines that can build a new radio in hours, given the right nutrients,� she said.

�The way you said that confuses me, Jade; are these are manufactured or grown?� I asked.

�Both, sort of; my friend Bunny made these, but they are too expensive for everyday use. The radio Jinn lost was an older one, based on a modified in-the-ear hearing-aid body -- cheap to build and much more affordable for me. This new system cost lots more at first but the nutrients are cheap so additional radios cost little. I love my friends in Team Kimba, but I want to pay my own way,� she said.

�So you have a self-reliant streak then. That is commendable, Jade, but don�t turn down help when offered. I was alone when I came here, and the friends I�ve made mean everything to me. I�d be lost without their help,� I said.

�You ... you needed help? But you're ... 49 and rich,� she whispered the last bit.

�I was a man ten months ago, then -- POW! -- I was like this when I woke, and I�m still getting used to all the changes. My friends in MSG, my friends in Iowa, and my new friends here made all the difference,� I explained.

�The Madison Supers Group, they�re one of a couple up-and-coming supers groups from the Midwest, them and the St. Louis Six. I believe several Whateley graduates are members, Joanie, and yourself � eventually!� she said and giggled.

�My friend Dairy Maid, and my personal physician Dr. Sara Grobschmidt-Taylor, lovely ladies both, are Whateley alumna and members of MSG. Sara is one of my self-appointed moms,� I added.

�Whereas Babs Williams is your mother-in-law, or she will soon be -- I overheard some of your band members speaking at the farm. Don�t worry; I won�t tell, I promise, Joanie. I think it�s so romantic you having a boyfriend and the two of you having to wait until it�s acceptable to be lovers. It�s like a plot out of an old movie or a great Anime. I�d love to have a boyfriend and ... when I�m older,� Jade said, the pain and hope in her voice unmistakable.

�Someday, Jade. With all the technology we test here, plus the medical and magic experts, I�m certain. When that day comes, please let me know. I�d like to be among the first to congratulate you. You�ll be an exquisite woman, Jade, like an intricate carving in your namesake. You�ll be one-of-a-kind and a precious thing,� I said and curtsied. �Sorry, I�m not up on Oriental etiquette.�

�That wasn�t Imperial court manners, but the respect intended was clear. I think I will tell you about what I�ve tried to fix my ... condition. It would help to unburden myself.� She looked around. �I have this boy who likes me. He knows the truth, but has been real sweet. I, um, he knew me when I was a real girl and ...� she smiled then fought back her tears.

�Whatever it was that fixed you wore off. I�m sorry; I bet you were lovely.� She smiled and her sniffles eased. �You tell me some time, you hear? I�m willing to listen when and wherever, Jade, except this weekend. I�m escorting two of my friends to see their mom back home. Then I�m visiting Iowa before I return,� I said.

�Joanie and Eric sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g,� Jinn sang and snickered.

�I�d kill you for that, but you�re already dead,� I snarled then giggled. �Jade, I look forward to hearing your story. Remember to send me the bill for the radios, makeup, soap, shampoo and replacement clothing I mentioned yesterday. I�ll figure a way to pay Jann for her time that won�t expose her,� I added.

�I will, I will,� she said, and I walked away felling happy for the girl-to-be.

* * * *

�Joanie! Over here, please,� called Morrie. Stan, Fran and several of the TOH people were waiting by a portable table.

�What do you want?�

�We have a preliminary design for the new farmhouse; Fran worked overtime on it,� Morrie said.

�She was a woman obsessed, Joanie. I helped where I could, but she didn�t need much. She is remarkably good for a novice with little training. Fran is a natural at design. We simply pointed out potential problems and suggested work-a-rounds,� Tom Silva said and gave Fran a bow.

Fran looked embarrassed at the attention but recovered quickly.

�Joanie, these are just the 2D blueprints. I have a holographic walk-through processing as we speak. This will give you a rough idea. Internally, it�s laid out like a Usonian, but the exterior and roof look enough like a 1900�s Federalist style farmhouse to fit in with the local esthetic. It�s a semi-open plan but with plenty of storage and small privacy nooks. Adding a pitched roof to the structure adds lots of storage space to the core Usonian structure and the option of placing some of the mechanicals in the attic as opposed to the basement. The attached garage looks like a kitchen wing to the casual eye.

�Don�t believe all that flattery. I got a lot of help from Tom and the staff in Operations. They made sure the design is safe and practical� Fran explained.

A barrel-chested man spoke next, �I am impressed with your attention to detail, Fran; these plans are well thought out for an early draft. I�ve seen finished plans not near as detailed. Oh, I forgot to introduce myself, I�m Richard Trethewey, I�m the plumbing and HVAC expert on the show.�

�Ah yes, plumbing, the trade most responsible for big cost overruns and forcing changes in the framing,� added Mr. Siva.

�Hey, I resemble that remark. That�s why it pays to get things right early on as a lot of costly mistakes can be avoided by careful planning. I hear Ms. Fran is devising a 3D holographic model?� he finished.

�A full-scale walk-through model of each floor complete with where all the mechanicals and utilities run. The model will highlight areas of concern, whether due to excessive stresses or conflicting utilities. I�m so lucky the staff in Operations is helping me use the program,� she said, unperturbed by the camera and TV personalities.

A far younger, curly haired man spoke next, �I�m Kevin O'Connor, the host of the show. I was concerned when the production schedule was changed at the last minute, but I must say these will be fun projects. I�ve seen 3D mockups and computer models before, but a walk-through?� he asked.

�It�s based on technology the military uses in their simulators. With the right mix of force generators we could literally walk through the whole house, stairs and all. Being the Academy, we�ll do better,� she said proudly.

�You�re kidding, of course? � Mr. O�Conner asked.

�With this school, I�d believe her. By Academy standards, my abilities are rather average,� I replied.

* * * *

I left them to work things out, and went back to campus to meet Charlie Lodgeman for a �research trip� I�d postponed long enough. This was one of the magic hot spots Dr. Tenent recommended we scout prior to my actual summer seminar time trips.

�Something happened here on the future grounds of Whateley nearly one -hundred and fifty years ago. A powerful source of magic, possibly a demon, is confined in a mystic tomb on the edge of campus. The wards are so strong and skillfully prepared; we have had little success in identifying what was buried, or precisely where, but buried it was. Given how well our various Operations �research trips� went, I think we make a good team.

"Joanie, I notice your magic aura is stronger than when we last traveled. It�s not so strong I can�t mask it, but it will take some effort this time. You are getting help with that from Dr. Tenent, right?� he asked.

�Yes, she thinks I could become a sorceress with training. That�s great if it happens, though I�d be satisfied not being a menace to my friends or myself. Charlie, I thought to be a witch or Sorceress you had to be one with the magic, to be part of it?�

�Not necessarily. You don�t have to be filled with magic to manipulate it though spells and potions. The most powerful mages and Sorceresses can access magic from within themselves and from their surroundings. Many magic users store magic in talismans for release later. Your warper field�s odd interactions with magic make the shell or aura of magic surrounding you your own self-contained talisman.

* * * *

We left to change into period clothing, so if we were spotted we wouldn�t seem out of place. As this was prior to the beginnings of Whateley there would be no convenient rooftops to set up on. We picked a large rock outcropping -- big enough to stand on -- and we traveled back in time on top of it. The age of the trees around the rock indicated we would be well screened on arrival at out destination in time.

* * * *

End of part one

But you're not a scientist. Surely you believe in all this superstitious nonsense. (MAD Magazine)

Could be worse, could be raining. (Young Frankenstein)

-- Bang! �Thwup, thwup, thwup �--

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Timeout 4, Chapter 3, part two of two [message #7138]

Fri, 26 January 2007 00:28

John in Wauwatosa
Messages: 869
Registered: September 2005
Location: Wauwatosa WI

* * * *

November 01, 1857, 4:30PM

* * * *

�Charlie, this should be an hour before the entombment of the magic object at sunset. That�s what you wanted right? By the way, nice hat,� I said and giggled.

�Don�t laugh at the hat; the broad brim will help keep me dry. This is perfect, Joanie. We�ll set up our observation blind over here. It provides a good view of the open grave site and of the area of woods the magic was confined in. I�m sorry about the rain; at least these oilskins will keep us reasonably dry. Remember, we collect our data, triangulating the positions with landmarks surviving to our time then travel back, no sightseeing or heroics, Wonder Woman,� Charlie said.

�I am not Wonder Woman, and that name is trademarked. Though I must admit the rope and boots are sort of kinky, ooh,� I replied and snickered, though with a significant sensual tone to it.

�Will you be alright, Joanie?�

�No problems. It�s not that far back in time or duration relative to my abilities. It�s for a few hours tops and I ... Lovely, I didn�t decompress beforehand; I knew I forgot something. I�ll be okay, Charlie, horny but okay,� I replied.

This was not good, but from the first Operations trip I knew I could handle it. A wagon and team of horses drove across the open field to the grave site, and several burly men manhandled a pair of caskets to the ground. They placed ropes and boards across the hole and slid the caskets on top. Sturdy stakes driven into the earth with a couple turns of rope wrapped around them would serve as crude capstans to lower the caskets safely into the graves. Soon a group of mourners arrived, dressed in the mournful black that Victorian custom demanded. Between the cold rain, the leafless trees of November and the mourners, I felt a great sadness.

�Charlie, is it just me, or is there something odd here? I feel so sad, like I was witness to a tragedy,� I asked quietly as Charlie recorded various data.

�Perhaps your empathic gift has kicked in, as I sense their sorrow as well. It�s difficult to say with certainty, but from what records Dr. Tenent found, and what I can perceive, we are witnessing the burial of a young couple and their unborn child. The woman must have been quite special. The tall red-haired woman with the umbrella is a witch; she radiates power. The others appear to be servants of hers or of the dead couple, I�m not sure. The woman was a remarkable person; in death she retains a significant magic charge as does her never-born child. Whatever killed her was stealthy and cunning during the approach while swift and sure in the attack. If she�d been given the slightest chance, her magic would have been almost undefeatable. From the residual magic in the bodies she must have been dealt the fatal blow in her sleep and was unable to fight back. The other casket must be the husband as his aura bears traces of hers and visa-versa.

�Strange, the late woman�s aura is not unlike yours, Joanie. Was she a mutant or a male before becoming a sorceress? Sorry, pure speculation on my part, but there is a rule of magic that a change in gender often boosts one's affinity to magic. There is the tradition of shamans taking on a womanly appearance to better communicate with the gods,� he added.

We watched the short, sad graveside service. It reminded me uncomfortably of the day we buried my older sister. A last prayer was offered then the caskets were lowered and the mourners threw clods of earth into the graves as a last mark of respect. The gloom and sadness of the occasion kept me from noticing how aroused I had become. I was still functional and an intermittent movement I was seeing in the wet grass grabbed my attention.
~~There it is again!~~
I�d seen glimpses of a small animal off and on during the service, but what was it?

<i~~Is it a cat, no. Maybe it�s a ferret? Not really. How about a long-haired dwarf otter? I�m grasping at straws, I don�t think there is such an animal; so what is it?~~

�What is that animal, Charlie?� I asked, my voice soft and sensual.

"The dead woman�s familiar is my guess,� he replied.

�You mean like a witch�s cat?� I asked in a voice that would make the Pope break his vows. I was a little wound up and knew it. Charlie remained calm and collected.

�Precisely, the animal is full of magic, more than I would expect. She seems familiar ... maybe?� he wondered but said no more.

The group broke up, and the tall red-head held out an ornate box and walked towards the woods. The odd animal followed her, loping along to keep up. The rays of the sun were fading as sunset approached. On the edge of the woods a well conceal stone contained a small tomb. The witch placed the carved box inside the stone, then she released a spell, Charlie carefully noting what he could of the object�s nature and of the spells used. The glyph-covered stone sealed itself and sunk into the ground, grass quickly covering the spot until it looked like it had never been disturbed. We noticed the witch look around, say a brief prayer then walk off to the west as the last rays of the fall sun broke though the rain heavy clouds

�Hold still, Joanie; the familiar has sensed us.�

The animal moved back-and-forth downwind from us, trying to pinpoint us by our scent I suspected. I was finding it hard to stay focused; I was far more aroused than I should have been, ~~ But why?~~

�Are we done, Charlie,� I whispered my voice husky. �I can�t hold on much longer, sorry, ooh!�

�He looked at me and smiled,� Not long, I�m finishing now,� he said.

The familiar was closing in on us. It must have *locked-in* on our position.

�Hurry!� I said on the edge of losing it.

The animal was close and could see us clearly.

~~ I think I�ve seen it on several of my previous trips to Whateley�s history. That animal looks strangely familiar ... No, from what Charlie said that is a *familiar* that looks familiar to me ... that is... no, it can�t be �~~

�Done. We can go now,� Mr. Lodgeman interrupted my thoughts.

I felt for that sensation, and the scene faded from view.

�Miki?� I gasped on our return, then other matters took center stage.

* * * *

May 03, 2007, again

I don�t recall how I got to that ladies room, though I believe Charlie when he says he carried me there. Apparently I was awfully friendly during the short trip from the woods to the nearest suitable building.

�Charlie, I don�t remember much after we came back. I didn�t do or say anything I need to apologize for, do I?�

He declined to say how friendly but I did notice him blush when I asked him. He was the perfect gentleman as always, and I soon was my normal self, more or less.

�Are you near your time, Joanie? You reacted far more than expected.�

�Sorry about the nymph-out ... I wasn�t myself, or at least my in-control self. By the calendar I�m near ovulation, but no where near my peak sexual desire. Was it something or someone at the burial that affected me?�

�It is possible, Joanie. The witch and familiar were powerfully charged with magic and some of that could have affected you. The other attendants and the bodies had some magical charge as well That ornate carved box, the source of the magic Dr. Tenent was concerned about, was leaking small amounts of dangerous energies. The creature contained within was struggling against its wards. Manipulating pleasure and pain is a common tactic demonic spirits use to corrupt their minions. You were fine; my shielding of your aura should have disrupted any attempt to harm you. Given your side-effect, it wouldn�t take much stimulus of any kind to put you over the edge, and I am a ruggedly handsome man,� he said and grinned.

�Deres� always somebody trying to break into the act!�

�Jimmy Durante? No way, Joanie, you don�t have the nose for it,� Mr. Lodgeman said.

�What if I substituted these?� I asked, innocently pushing up my breasts.

Charlie took a look then started to snicker. I think he was blushing again. He broke his gaze, eventually.

�Goodnight, Mrs. Calabash, wherever you are,� he said and walked away quickly, though his gate seemed odd.

�Joanie, seducing a member of the board, have you gone nuts?� I muttered to myself.

* * * *

I spent the rest of the day in classes, or in laying out what I needed for the trip then cutting that down by two-thirds. I managed to stop by the farm and confirmed the cleanup was well underway. I would have to pick a design for the new farmhouse soon. I wished the workers well and took off for band practice and supper.

After an abbreviated practice, I begged off claiming I was tired, which was true to an extent. The �research trip� had taken a lot out of me, particularly the side effect. I didn�t want to admit it, but I remained more aroused than normal and needed to wind down. That was why I called Iowa, something I knew would not calm me at all. I had to hear *his* voice.

�Terrace Hill, how ...�

�Hi Tamara, it�s Joanie calling. Are Babs, Mel, or Eric around?�

�Ms. Brown, I�m surprised to hear from you � you usually call on Friday evenings -- but it�s a delight as always. The children are off with their friends, however Ms. Johnson is in,� the receptionist/security officer said.

�Tamara, I said call me Joanie, and I�m confident Babs doesn�t like you calling her Ms. Johnson,� I said.

�Sorry, it�s the way I was raised. Joanie; just a moment, I�ll put you on hold while I get Ms. Jo � Babs on the line.�

There was a soft click, and Babs spoke.

�Great to hear from you, Joanie, is something wrong? I wouldn�t have expected you to call until Friday,� Babs asked. �And thank you for taking time to talk with me when I need it; it helps me more than I can say, Sis,� she said. I thought I heard a soft cry from her.

I had spoken with her a few times on the phone in recent weeks, often as part of my weekly calls to Eric.

�You, like, �K�, Sis?� I asked in Val speak.

�I�m fine, just it got to me for a moment -- how much you mean to us,� Babs said cheerfully.

�I won�t be calling Friday as I�ll be in Madison with the Smith twins and their mom. Then I fly on to Iowa. I miss you all, and we need to talk,� I said.

�Ooh, mysterious are we, Joanie?� Babs cooed back.

�It�s not all bad, but it is important, Babs,� I said laughing a little.

�I�m dying to know, please give me a hint at least, huh?�

�So this is where Mel got the kitten-in-the-rain/puppy dog eyes bit from and you�re doing it with your voice alone?�

�I was an only child, and,� her voice suddenly sounded much younger, �I had no mommy and please I need a new dress so bad, Daddy, -- sniff --,� Babs said like a pouting adolescent.

�That is scary; do you ever use it on Bob?�

�Rarely, Joanie, I save it for big things. It got him to accept my proposal.�

�Huh?�

�He wanted to wait, and no, it wasn�t like he wanted us to live together for six months or something like that. I knew what I wanted within hours of meeting Bob, and I wasn�t going to let him slip away. The fact we were doing *the deed* when I asked him to marry me was a low dirty trick, I admit. It took a few months to get the wedding set; even I couldn�t speed up that process. As Daddy�s little girl I just had to have the best and there was no convincing him otherwise. We were married on the US Senate floor. I�m not kidding, Joanie.�

�That explains why Eric was born full size and *premature*. This revelation is most upsetting, Babs. You were manipulative, underhanded and took unfair advantage of someone while under they were under duress, namely sex. I�m impressed,� I said and giggled.

�What do we need to talk about?�

�It�s Eric and I. I love him dearly -- too much, I think. I�d like to talk things over with the family to see where we go from here,� I explained.

�I thought you two were infatuated, but it was in the kissing and hugging stage -- fun, but innocent,� she said.

�For the most part it is, but I�m concerned for the future. I want to see where we are and decide what�s next,� I said.

�Why are you so serious, Joanie?� she asked.

�Ask Eric about our Friday night calls for one,� I said.

�I�ve overheard parts of them, they are pretty tame,� Babs answered.

�I don�t know about Eric, but I get all wound up from them. Maybe it�s his voice, maybe it�s my imagination, but wow!�

�That�s fantasy; it�s not a big problem if that�s all there is,� she replied.

�Ask Eric about Easter evening; what happened scared me,� I said.

�You woke up in each other arms after falling asleep on the couch, big deal. I saw you when I went to bed. You looked so contented together, like living Hummel figurines,� Babs replied.

�Did Eric tell you where our hands were when Pinky woke us? It was purely accidental, but looking back it worries me,� I explained.

�He said you both unconsciously put your hands on places you shouldn�t, unless your adults. Nothing came of it, and Eric and I did talk about it. If I couldn�t trust you two, you wouldn�t have stopped at that.�

�I�d still like to talk it over, maybe set formal guide rules? Knowing our limits could help. Things like no cuddling unless another is present seems obvious for one,� I suggested. I could hear noises in the background.

�That sounds sensible.� Her voice got serious, �Don�t think because I don�t seem outwardly concerned I�m not. I do check up on my children and their friends. I have to, I�m a mommy,� she said then snickered. �They�re back, I can hear Mel and Eric.�

�Mel, Eric, someone�s on the phone; do you want to talk?� Babs called out.

�Talk? Talk with who, Mom?� I heard Eric call out.

�You want to talk?� she asked me.

�Did you have to even ask me?� I countered.

�You�ll find out, my children,� Babs teased Eric and Mel. This conversation was getting confusing. I heard someone pick up an extension.

�Hello? Mom says you wanted to talk with my sister and me?� Eric asked. I felt my face flush.

�Thought I�d call you early as I�m out of town this weekend,� I said.

�Joanie! Of course I�ll talk with you ... Okay if I let Mel talk first, I�ll pick up in my room when she�s done. She was your friend first,� he said.

�Trying to act all noble are we, Eric?�

�Mel will pester me if I don�t. Ow! Stop that. I said you could talk first, Mel,� Eric said.

�Hi Joanie. When can you come for a visit? I miss you, and so does Eric,�

�Wow, short sentences, Mel! Is that you or an impostor?� I asked and giggled.

�It�s me, Joanie. I�m trying to talk more mature. How can I be your best friend if I sound like a silly girl?�

�Mel, even at your run-on-sentence worst you were not silly. Enthusiastic, funny and sweet, yes, but you were never silly,� I said.

�Can you come some weekend? I know you plan to come in early June, but I have so much fun with you. Mom loves to talk with you and, well, Eric lives and breaths you; I�m not kidding,� Mel said.

~~All the more reason to get this romance under control.~~

�I�ll see if I can, Mel. May I talk with your brother? I have a busy day tomorrow.�

�Okay, I�ll go get him � Eric, it�s your turn,� she called out.

I heard a receiver being lifted off of its cradle.

�Joanie, Mel says we can talk now. Where are you going tomorrow? I�ll miss you,� Eric asked.

�A couple of my school friends need to see their mom; she�s in the hospital and I�m escorting them,� I said.

�Is their mom going to be okay?�

�She should be now. This to cheer them up,� I explained.

�That�s nice of you, Joanie, but then you have a habit of it,� he said.

�Eric, you get any more charming, and I�ll have to marry you,� I said and felt so elated.

How a boy, well a man-in-training, could affect me so thrills and frightens me.

~~I have to find a way to make this work.~~

I was shaken out of my introspection by a noise at the window.

�What are you doing peeping in my room, Miki?" I called out at a pair of eyes in the middle of twitching whiskers reflecting my room�s light back at me.

In the lights of campus, and the light from my room, the mongoose looked ethereal -- almost magical. The thought made me laugh. I went to the window to check on it, but it scampered off as I opened the sash. I saw Miki expertly negotiate a downspout and drop to the ground, where it looked up, chortled something and ran off.

�But then you are full of magic, furry one, aren�t you?� I asked rhetorically. I closed the window and picked up the phone.

�Joanie, are you okay? Who�s this Miki that was peering in your window?�

�She�s an itinerant familiar between gigs,� I joked.

�An itiner-what? You have me confused, Joanie.�

�Itinerant means someone that roams; a nomad, Eric. In this case it�s a familiar, like a witch�s cat. It seems to think I�m a sorceress,� I replied.

�A sorceress, why?� he sounded confused, but so was I.

�Because I maybe sorta might be one,� I said hesitantly.

�You�re a witch, Joanie?�

�Sorceress is more the feeling we're going for here. It means I might be able to manipulate magic with training. Some how those weird warper fields around me trap passing magic and store it for a while. It�s not dangerous, and I don�t know if I can ever do anything useful with it, but it�s a possibility,� I explained.

�So long as you�re okay, I wouldn�t mind. Witches ... I mean sorceresses get cool outfits to wear don�t they?� he asked.

�You mean the black cape, tight-fitting vest-jacket that shows off lots of breast, mini-skirt, mesh stockings and high-heeled boots? But I wear that sort of thing all the time, hon. Goodnight,� I said and hung up.

I am such a tease, and I need to slow down with the boy, but Ghod I don�t want to.~~

I slept feeling generally better, but concerned my feelings for Eric would lead to trouble for us both. I think my friends knew it too, because George and Gracie spent most of the night curled up against me -- more so than usual.

* * * *

May 04, 2007

I was packed the night before and ready for the trip to Wisconsin and Iowa long before I left for my morning run. I�d gotten the go-ahead from Ms. Carson, and the charter jet was arranged for so all I had to do was tell the kids. We were at breakfast after our workout and a long cool shower; it was unusually warm for early May. After we�d all gotten our food and sat down to eat, I made an announcement.

�The band practice for this evening is canceled, as I�m going out of town for the weekend. You may wish to organize informal practices on your own. Pinky has my keys and can get you a practice room. Tom, Tina, pack enough clothes for a weekend. I have permission from Whateley for you to cut your afternoon classes. I�ve arranged for the teachers to get you notes and take-home assignments,� I said and snickered when I said take-home.

�Take-home?� Tina asked, and my grin threatened to sever my head. �You�re taking us to see Mom?� she squeaked, too excited to speak in a normal voice.

�We board a chartered jet this afternoon. You�ll be with your mother by supper time or sooner. We return Sunday afternoon, arriving just before dusk. I couldn�t tell you until today as it all depended on your mom�s condition and the weather,� I explained.

Tom and Tina ran to me, hugging and kissing me mercilessly. I could hardly breathe, but it felt good.

�Tom, could you get your hand off my breast? Not that I mind all that much, but Suzy might object?� I asked a bit breathless.

�I�m so sorry, Joanie,� Tom said. �It felt real nice though,� he whispered.

I had an inspiration and squeezed my own breast.

�Tom, you were right, that felt great,� I said and snickered.

Suzy, along with the rest of my friends, walked over and gave Tina and Tom hugs and congratulations. When Suzy got to Tom, she looked about to slap his face, them she gave him a brief but firm kiss on the lips.

�You go cheer your mom up, Tom. I�m lucky I have both my parents and my ... you know,� Suzy said and pointed at me. �You give her our love, and tell her we expect to see her here soon.�

�I�m not one of the Sabers, but I want to say I�m happy you�re both going to see your mom,� said Mystor in a calm and gentlemanly way.

Lonnie flashed him a 'thumbs up', and he smiled back at her. Lonnie must have coached him but he sounded sincere. Most of the gang left with me for the farm, while Tom and Tina started packing. I told them if they needed something bad, we had a little time to shop in Berlin for it. Pinky got the ride in the GT today. I chanced breaking the wards but did leave a treat behind to thank the mongoose who clearly wanted to be my friend.

* * * *

I had limited time, but did get a brief walk through of the holographic simulation. I agreed to the general plan, and left it for them to work out the details.

�Sorry to leave you in the lurch, but I have to go out of town for a few days. Any questions you have, Operations can answer or you can call me,� I said.

�You can always ask one of the Sabers or me. Joanie�s told us about her houses until our ears ache,� Pinky said and giggled.

�Who are the Sabers?� Tom Silva asked.

�It�s our band. Joanie keeps saying it�s our band not her band and she does try to be fair to all of us,� Pinky explained.

�A student band, that sound like fun,� said Mr. O'Connor

�It is, and Joanie insists we all get to sing and play lead,� Pinky explained.

�And you get class credit for it?� Mr. Silva asked.

�No, this is just for fun, but we get equal shares of any royalties. If we�re good, Joanie promised to let us record and release a CD. Our school is expensive, so any extra money we earn helps. That�s why we�re on her construction clean-up crew, Mr. Silva,� she finished.

�But why are you the Sabers?� Mr. Silva repeated.

�We�re named for Joanie�s kittens, they are soo cute!� Pinky answered.

�I love cats; can I meet them?� Mr. O�Conner asked.

�Maybe when I get back from my trip you can see my babies. George and Gracie are special, and I�m protective of them,� I added. �The farm projects are in part for their benefit. It�s not fair cooping them up in a crowded dorm room.�

�I�ve heard about that, I hear you�re living in a linen closet?� Mr. O�Conner asked.

�Hey, it�s a single and it used to be a linen closet. I have to go; I�ll see you all on Monday,� I said and walked to the GT.

I�d called the Ford dealership about the loan of a more practical vehicle the other day, and a couple of their employees were waiting by the GT.

�Bless you, you have a truck for me,� I said.

�The police package crew-cab is being built, but it will be a week or so until all the armor and custom items are installed. This is your loaner for the time being. Mr. Ford said to inform you this particular GT is at your disposal at anytime, though we�d like to display it when you don�t need it. It is one of a test run of the new model. There are only a dozen like it in the world,� a mechanic explained.

�A test model? It�s not a GT?� the number he�d mentioned went over my head.

�Not the old GT, no, this is the new model. It was for a touring display, not intended for sale -- built more to test the waters. Mr. Ford figures if we can advertise you drive one that will generate sufficient demand to justify full production. It will be an expensive car, very expensive. A thousand would be a big run for one year,� he explained.

�Um, how much is it worth? I mean, what would it sell for?� I asked.

�A quarter-million, add 75 thousand for the gravity-traction-boost or G-trak. That is the projected price for one if it goes into production. As a test model, its true cost is more like a few million, not counting development costs.�

That was the last thing I remembered until I woke in Pinky�s� arms, my crew hanging around me.

�Take it easy, Joanie, you fainted -- again,� she said, looking concerned, but happy I was awake.

�You would too if you knew you�d been driving a 325 thousand dollar production prototype,� I said and Pinky wobbled. I turned and held her.

�You ladies okay?� Mr. O�Conner asked, as the other TOH people arrived at our sides.

�My friend just learned the loaner GT she�s been driving is a 325 thousand dollar production prototype,� Pinky said and grinned; I nodded my head.

---Thud---

�Mr. O�Conner?�

~~Good thing I didn�t tell him it�s really worth a couple million.~~

* * * *

To be continued.

But you're not a scientist. Surely you believe in all this superstitious nonsense. (MAD Magazine)

Could be worse, could be raining. (Young Frankenstein)

-- Bang! �Thwup, thwup, thwup �--

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Timeout 4, Chapter 4 [message #7333]

Thu, 22 February 2007 00:37

John in Wauwatosa
Messages: 869
Registered: September 2005
Location: Wauwatosa WI

Timeout 4, Reel to Real: A Whateley Academy Fan fiction

This is fan fiction for the Whateley Academy series. It may or may not match the timeline, characters, and continuity, but since it's fan fiction, who cares? To see the canon Whateley Stories, check out either

Sapphire's Place, (http://www.sapphireplace.com/stories/whateley.html) or the Big Closet (http://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/taxonomy/term/117)."

Here�s another chapter in part four of my TG/sci-fi/superhero/magic and anything else that comes to mind epic. It�s not that bad; I do have an overall story arc in mind, honest. I�m much better than when I started this, though my grammar and spelling remain flawed; ask Itinerant if he is still coherent. (wibble) Wibble? Oh oh! � As I was saying, your constructive criticism and advice continues to help. This is an exercise in the joys of creativity and in appreciation of the wonderful Whateley Universe. Any violations of copyright, trade mark or use of real people or incidents are purely for purposes of humor or parody and done solely for the free enjoyment of the reading public. All rights reserved in perpetuity, John from Wauwatosa WI, 2005-2006.

Adult content advisory: this chapter contains situations and topics unsuitable for young minds or your sanity. If you survive that pap, there is some adult content too, so be warned.

Timeout 4

By John from Wauwatosa
Jade/Jinn/Jann "special consultant" Babs Yerunkle
Words wrestled in lime Jell-o by Itinerant

Chapter 4, This Old Farm House -- Fran-o-rama 2, Hey Miki Your So Fine 3, First Christmas � Revisited, Welcome to Adulthood 5, You�ve Got Male

Whateley Academy Dunwich, May04, 2007

May 04, 2007

Mr. O�Conner recovered quickly from his case of *sticker-shock*.

�You okay, Mr. O�Conner?� I asked, as I knelt next to him and checked him for injuries.

He opened his eyes and quickly blushed. He was apologetic in the extreme. I thought it charming but confusing.

�Forgive me, I never intended ... it�s just the shock of how expensive your car was and when I woke I ... Forgive me for � You must think me a pig, Ms. Brown.�

~~Huh? He hasn�t done anythi....~~

Then it dawned on me what he�d been looking at when he woke. And he had gotten an eyeful in full, glorious Cinemascope or was it 3-D?

~~Must have been Cinemascope, �cause I�m a 40-D.~~

I redid a couple of the fashionably small -- but clearly not up to the task of restraining my assets -- buttons on my blouse and started giggling, or was it jiggling?

~~Cut that out, Joanie. Just tell the story.~~

�I�m the one who should apologize. No lingering *double vision* is there, Mr. O�Conner?�

�No, but if my wife sees this, I�m toast,� he replied, smiling.

I helped him up, and we resumed filming.

�Oh, the three hundred twenty five thousand is the predicted selling price if this model goes into production. This preproduction model cost between two and three million, not counting development costs. And if you dare faint, the next thing you will see is Harry Wolfe�s hairy chest, which is impressive but not the same,� I said quickly, and snickered.

�This is going to be a fun project ... Um, Joanie?�

�Yes?�

�The TV crew was telling me about ... the magazine and I wondered...�

�Another pervert -- can�t a girl have a few photos taken without guys drooling all over themselves? Excuse me a moment, Mr. O�Conner.� I turned and called out so the entire work site could hear me. �Attention, your attention please, hands up all of you who are interested in seeing my naked body,� I shouted. They all raised their hands, including the busy camera and sound crew. �Pinky, and this is too much, Suzy, not you, too?�

�It�s important to understand the competition? I mean, I have my boyfriend to consider,� she replied. Then she and Pinky laughed.

Suzy came over and whispered in my ear. �I�ve been practicing my mimic abilities and Pinky let me copy her powers. We *talked* telepathically, and that�s why we raised our hands. Pinky figured you�d get a laugh out of it. Remember, you promised, I get to copy yours someday, Auntie,� she finished and grinned.

~~The minxes set me up, and on short notice too. That�s a relief.~~ I thought, then turned back to face Mr. O�Conner.

"Okay, you get your autographed copy, but after today�s *preview* I should ask you to donate to the Academy.�

�Absolutely! I will, and so will the crew,� he pointed at them, and they all nodded. �And well worth it, I might add,� he said, and we both snickered.

We filmed some additional material, then I drove back to campus in my loaner crew cab.

* * * *

�They are letting you keep the preproduction GT? That is so kewl, I meant cool,� Pinky said, and she bounced a few times.

�I knew I shouldn�t have let you spend so much time with Mel this Easter weekend. The sports car is mine whenever I want. In return they wish to display it when I�m not using it and they want to do some ads with me driving. You�ve seen the sort of thing before, Pinky. The wind in my hair, a smile on my face,� then I got an attack of the sillies, �and like my boobies all jiggly in a totally bitchin� crop-top and me, ah, blowing kissies at the camera. I�m so totally not happy with this, you know. They treat me like I�m some dumb, ah, um, blonde, that�s it, like, you know, whatever,� I did in my increasingly convincing Val speak. I do it so effortlessly, I�m beginning to worry.

�Joanie, stop it! Your mind could get stuck like that, and I�d have to help you put your shoes and socks on in the right order,� she said and snickered.

�I knew I should never have let you borrow my collection of MAD Magazine on CD. You were reading The Planet that went Ape, weren�t you?� I asked.

�Yeah, but that James Bomb spoof -- the scene from their version of Goldfinger with the laser cutting up between his -- I laughed until I started peeing,� Pinky said and snickered.

�I�ll bet you were laughing, �and in a very high voice, too,� Pinky.� She laughed so hard she was crying.

~~ I have never seen her that happy -- it's about time, child.~~

�Pinky, you have the duplicate keys for my room and the King Annex?� I asked after she calmed down and her blush faded.

�On this rawhide boot lace around my neck, Joanie, see? I�ll be real careful not to lose them. Thanks for trusting me to take care of George and Gracie. I�ll make sure they get lots of exercise and clean water and stuff. Suzy said she�d help too. Oh, Jenny, um, Steel Lotus says she�ll check on them just before she goes to bed and right after she wakes so I don�t have to do all the work feeding and cleaning their box. Her roomie is a student maid for Poe, so she has keys to get Jenny in your room.

�You girls have this all worked out, huh?�

�Yeah, I mean yes, Joanie. We�re all meeting to run at 7 o�clock both days and we scheduled a band practice for Saturday at 4 in the afternoon. Sunday we�re having a group study in the library starting at ten o�clock. After that we�ll drag our boyfriends to your room, get drunk, take illicit drugs and have group sex,� Pinkie said, and I rolled my eyes.

�That is so wrong. Shame on you, girl, not inviting me,� I said and pulled to the side of the road, I was laughing so hard.

�We�ll be good, promise,� Pinky said, smiling.

�Take lots of pictures of the orgy, otherwise you won�t know who to send thank you notes to, my little debutante,� I said, and broke up yet again.

* * * *

Classes crawled by in a fog the rest of the morning. My mind was not on my studies. ~~That�s a strange expression. Now I can�t get the image out of my mind of all those courses crawling around in the fog. �Oh look, there goes Algebra 201, nice asymptote.�~~ I was in a strange mood all morning. I had trouble paying attention, but managed to get through my classes intact. I ate an early lunch, then left a list of emergency numbers and contacts with Pinky, who had the next lunch. Tom and Tina agreed to meet me by my truck at one o�clock, so I gave the smilodons a quick run outside. I wouldn�t see them for several days, and I owed it to them as their *mommy*. They behaved at first, until the wind shifted and they caught a scent. They froze, then George tore off so fast his leash ripped out of my hand and I nearly fell.

�George! Stay! Heel!� I called out.

He obeyed for a moment, then whatever it was got him going again.

�George, HEEL!� I shouted.

George stopped at the base of a large tree and looked up longingly. Gracie was better behaved, but she was soon staring up that tree, though from a different vantage.

�Have you treed a squirrel, George?� I asked facetiously, while I got a solid grip on both leashes.

�Don�t worry little one, George and Gracie won�t hurt ...�

I stopped in mid-sentence. I saw a familiar face, her whiskers twitching, peer from around the back of the tree some 25 feet up.

�I�m sorry, Miss Miki. My kitties were naughty. George, Gracie, heel, stay!� I said in a firm, but soft, voice.

They moved to my side and sat in a perfect stay, though their eyes and ears were tracking Miki. I sat down next to my smilodons.

�Down, stay!� I said and they lay down on either side of me, their senses still zeroed in on Miki. �Good smilies,� I said, and gave them each a treat and an ear scratch.

�It�s okay, Miki,� I said, but I backed that with a firm grip on their leashes.

I tossed a treat her way. It was one of those lion-cub chow kibbles I�d coated with anchovy paste and then dried. It landed near the trunk of her tree, but a bit to the side as I made a chucking/clucking sound. That�s what I�d call it; I�m not sure what the technical name is. It�s the sound people use to call squirrels to them to give them peanuts. Miki came down slowly, stopping several times to check on my cats. She hopped down the last few feet, grabbed the treat and scampered back to the first large branch some 15 feet up. I gave each of my smilodons a treat and rubbed the side of my face against theirs. Miki sniffed the treat, then ate it eagerly. I made that chuck-cluck sound again and tossed several treats, each progressively further from the tree trunk.

~~Yum, yum, anchovy frosted cat food, though some of those snack-mixes with the baked-on Worcestershire sauce can�t be that different. Maybe I should try one ... Ah, maybe not.~~

The mongoose looked at me, and I thought it nodded its head in approval, but then everything I knew about this animal was strange. She -- I assumed it was a she from what I�d been told of the legend -- came steadily towards the treats, eyeing George and Gracie, who had their *radar locked*. I spoke calmly to my cats and to Miki, trying not to spook any of them. When she bent to pick the first treat George tensed but a quick, �George, stay,� calmed him.

Miki scampered back to the tree and ate her treat by the trunk. It was odd, but I sensed she was intensely happy despite her wariness of my smilodons. She returned for a second treat and only retreated part way. George and Gracie stayed still; if anything they were gradually relaxing, so they got treats as a reward.

~~I�ll need to make more treats soon, they sure do the trick. I realize Miki is a mongoose and not a person, but I swear she is about to dance for joy or whatever mongooses do when they are happy. This is getting weirder by the minute.~~

Miki came for the closest treat; she was within ten feet of us. George and Gracie watched intently, but without seeming ready to attack. If anything, my *cats* relaxed further. Miki sat up on her haunches and ate almost daintily. She deftly cleaned her fur after, clearly a fastidious animal with regard to her grooming. Pinky and I gave the smilodons daily brushings. My *kittens* groomed themselves and each other frequently, yet their fur was not near as lustrous as Miki's. The mongoose�s coat seemed to glow in some indefinable way to my eyes but then Miki was no ordinary animal.

~~I must be nuts but George and Gracie are acting like Miki is off the menu, not a threat and maybe even family. Don�t tell me *I* sent them an empathic message like Pinky does? I don�t think I did, did I? I don�t even know how.~~

I was feeling good over how well this was going, and I got bold. I gave my kitties each a treat then held a treat in the tips of my thumb and index finger.

I made that silly noise again and said softly, �Miki, treat; I won�t bite.� I held very still.

She moved towards me, stopped, stood up on her haunches again and did a slow, deep, formal bow, like a visiting dignitary would give to a monarch. It seemed to go for some length of time, and she started making a series of soft noises that had a repeating pattern to them. It was hypnotic; I was fascinated by her action. I found myself mimicking her motions and sounds. I found this activity increasingly pleasant, almost enthralling. I felt calm and safe as my mind tried to make sense of it.

~~It's as if she is saying a formal greeting ... No, it�s more like a prayer or a chant. This is mondo weird, but I�m stumped for another explanation.~~

�My, you�re a polite soul. I'd love to be your friend, Miki. Treat?� I said softly. I tossed two of the last treats to my cats with my free hand. I focused on Miki, and I vaguely remember saying �Yes, I agree, I agree, I agree.� I had a sense that something wonderful would happen, but only if I agreed. Miki came forward, touched the treat, there was this tingle, her paws touched my hand and ...

* * * *

It�s difficult to recall with clarity, but I remember a brilliant light and this tsunami of sensations. They were all mixed up like I was smelling colors, hearing odors, seeing sounds, tasting textures -- it was right out of a 60�s drug *trip*. I admit I�d had a large coffee that morning, but nothing else, I swear! Well, I did put a few ounces of skim milk in it but no sugar. Okay, one packet. I�m weak, so sue me. Through it all, despite my disorientation, I got this feeling of unconditional love, respect and immense relief. It was as if a terrible ordeal was over, and somehow I was responsible for ending it.

I felt someone shaking me and saying something, but it was all garbled. Slowly I thought I could make out bits of it. Though I knew something was wrong, I wasn�t concerned; I was in ecstasy. The last time I�d felt this good was when I�d fantasized about Eric and I doing, you know, it, while I, um ... practiced. I�m sorry if it upsets you dear d/j/w readers but it�s all I *can* do with Eric until he reaches the age of consent. I imagine ... no, I know he fantasizes about me as well, he�s admitted it recently. Eric was all upset when he told me, like he thought it was wrong. He was afraid I�d be upset.

�Eric, if we did it physically it would be wrong both legally and ethically. However, your imagination is yours to do with as you please. That you think of me pleases me no end, dear. Your selecting me as the woman of your dreams is an honor, Eric. You could have pursued any of your classmates, but you chose me, a girl you knew you could not have until you were much older. I wish we could be intimate, but it�s not right or legal to do so at your age. Be patient, and it will work out. I promise you will not be disappointed when the time comes. Exhausted, yes, sore, yes, your ears ringing from my exuberant screams, yes, but disappointed, never,� I remembered telling him and feeling very naughty at the time.

~~Freud would have a field day with Eric and I. He could have written chapters about our relationship. Be honest, Girl, he could have written a book on you alone.~~

Someone continued to shake and call to me; gradually I rejoined the living.

�... What�s wrong with you....? Wake up, plea ... JOANIE, are ... okay?� Pinky shouted at me. It sounded like a distant radio station with every few words dropping out.

�Wha -- huh? Why you shouting?� I managed to say.

My head felt like I had cotton jammed up there. My thoughts were sluggish and difficult to hold on to. I tried to sit up, but gave up on that fool idea as I was very dizzy.

�Pinky, stop ... world from spinning,� I said, and she slowly raised me to a sitting position where, to my surprise, I felt better.

�What happened? I was walking past, and I saw you collapse. I ran to you, and a strange animal shook itself and ran away. It�s watching us from up in a tree now. Were you attacked by a rabid animal, �cause it sure ran funny, like it was dizzy or sick? I was so scared, but I managed to run to the nearest emergency box and call Security. We�d have got you trained help sooner, but George and Gracie would let no one near you except for me. The EMTs were about to shoot them with a trank rifle when I got the kitties to relax,� she explained, worry in her voice.

~~They wanted to use a trank rifle on my babies? Somebody is going to get an earful from me � poor kitties.~~

The EMTs checked me out thoroughly though it was not easy. George and Gracie were growling and hissing whenever the EMTs got too close to me. They were seriously unhappy with anyone getting near to their stricken *mommy*. They�d grown since I�d rescued them, to 25 and 22 pounds respectively. In most ways the sibling smilodons were still kittens, cute as could be, but powerful and intimidating to the unfamiliar. Pinky calmed my nervous smilodons and with her help the EMTs got me to medical.

* * * *

They poked and prodded and drew blood samples, yuck! I felt better quickly; whatever had affected me was wearing off.

~~Go, regen, go!~~

I did notice a few of the staff and students were blurry around the edges, like the turbulence of their body pushing the air aside as they walked was faintly visible to me. I said as much to Dr. Tenet when she was called.

�Dr. Tenet, why are you glowing like that? It�s hard on the eyes, it�s so bright. Were you doing a magic experiment that went wrong?�

�Glowing? You see me glowing? Describe what you see, please; this is important,� she asked, looking concerned but pleased.

I described what I saw, then she had me describe what led up to my seizure. She got out several crystals; I recognized a few from when Lonnie scanned the wards around the GT. One crystal glowed intensely bright as she brought it near, particularly on one side of me. When she did that, I thought I saw a faint line extending from my body out of the examination room. She handed several crystals to me; a couple glowed faintly, and one of them began pulsing slowly. I thought one of them glowed brighter the longer I held it. She looked at me, confused but relieved.

�Eh, what�s up, Doc?�

You can guess the voice I used. Hey, it worked for Mel Blanc after his near fatal car crash.

�Joanie, stop that!� Dr. Tenent said and laughed. �What the tests and my own senses tell me is you bonded with a familiar. Almost certainly Miki from the unusual *signature* of the link between you and your descriptions of what happened,� she said smiling.

�Link? And what�s with the funny stuff I�ve been seeing. You�re still glowing you know,� I said. It was fainter, but I *knew* she was glowing like a nightlight. Then I saw myself in a mirror. I raised my hand, and I saw the same thing.

Wait a minute, I�m glowing. This is too Twilight Zone for me.~~

�Joanie, I�m smiling because you�re a bit like me; you�re a sorceress. Not necessarily a powerful one, not even a typical one; you are decidedly one-of-a-kind. The *funny stuff*, as you put it, consists of magic auras and a type of ley line that connects you with your familiar. With a familiar you don�t need to worry about trapping excess magic in those odd warper fields of yours. She�ll act as your safety-valve,� she explained.

I told her that I could see myself glowing, and that her glow wasn�t so bright anymore.

�That�s likely your senses adjusting to *seeing* magic. I was so bright before because your newly awakened senses were overly sensitive.

�What do I do now?�

�See me when you come back from your trip. It won�t do you or your familiar harm to be apart, though you may sense each other's emotions at times. It will be strange until you get used to it. Let Miki make the first move, she�s the expert in this. Don�t worry about how to communicate, your familiar will find a way. Familiars often communicate via empathy and telepathy though sometimes they can speak. The bond and the magic make this possible. A familiar may appear to be *just* an animal, but it is far more.

�The bond appears much as I expected it would be. You are linked close enough to sense each other�s feelings but in an indirect fashion with your warper field as a buffer of sorts. Your description of how you felt while out of it confirms the empathic/telepathic connection. The crystal scans show a strong bond between Miki and your aura with a weaker one between you and Miki directly. That link is why you can sense some magic, and it may let you use magic with training. You could eventually do useful magic, or you might never be much better than a stage magician. How strong the link becomes depends on you and Miki, but you are not so tightly bound that the death of one would endanger the other. That you can see me glowing is proof you can sense magic, dear.�

�What of Miki, and the regulations prohibiting importation of mongoose to the US? Ms. Hartford has ordered her *removal*. Is spending time with me as my familiar putting Miki at risk?� I wiped a tear from my eye involuntarily.

�You are upset, aren�t you? Brave Joanie, the mutant super, scared for the life of a small furry animal. That explains your smilodons,� she said and smiled at me. �I�ll help with the paperwork -- as a sorceress�s familiar, Miki is protected from that law. Also she was here long before the law was drafted so she could be grandfathered in, exempt in other words. I�ll get you a temporary card, signed by Circe and myself, which should protect her. Keep it with you at all times. You may need to get her a small harness or collar for identification purposes and to obey leash laws -- not that a familiar will stray,� she said.

Dr. Tenent excused her self and left the room. If there is one thing I love more than anything else, it�s waiting around doing nothing. You believe me, don�t you? Okay, I got bored, fast. I�m allowed to, I�m a teenager; my body certainly is. As to my mind, the jury is out. Before anyone thinks of saying my mind is out-to-lunch, be advised. Under such circumstances I am not responsible for my actions.

As I was saying, I spent some time examining myself and the room. I noticed some objects *glowed* to my senses. They were mostly objects I recognized as some of Dr. Tenent�s mystical *tools*. Most objects looked the same to me before and after my *bonding* with Miki. To my senses I still was lit up like the proverbial Christmas tree, colors swirled around me in fascinating patterns. I noted one color predominated over all others, though I can�t find the proper words to describe it. It was definitely a female color: I am sure of that. If I concentrated I could *see* a thread, for want of a better word, connecting me to something beyond the room.

~~Must be part of my bond with Miki. I think � no, I *know* there is intelligence on the other end of this *thread*. Weird, but it was to be expected given how today has gone. Cummon Fate, bring it on! Weird comes in threes doesn�t it?~~

After an hour or so � really 20 minutes, it just seemed longer � Dr. Tenent returned with Circe who did a few tests of her own. She quickly confirmed Dr. Tennet�s diagnosis. What she said next startled me but then Circe has a way of unsettling people. Fortunately she unsettled me in a positive way; she was friendly. Circe is not a bad person; she only comes off as aloof and imperious. She is often so enigmatic she appears to be superior or condescending but I think that�s a tradition among the masters and mistresses of the magic arts. I must admit if the stories I�ve heard about her are true, Circe has earned the right to act smug.

�Welcome to the Sisterhood, Joanie,� Circe said and smiled.

�Sisterhood?� I asked.

�Miki�s late mistress was one of the last of a magic cult from old India. They were dedicated to keeping a great evil from entering the human realm. You are now an heir to their legacy. Don�t worry, we�ll help you, and the demon they fought is still safely confined in the tomb they prepared 150 years ago. Charlie Lodgeman gave us his report, and maintaining the integrity of the warded tomb confining the demon is a high priority. I have confirmed the nature of the demon the Sisterhood imprisoned, and I am impressed at their feat. Joanie, Miki is the last living witness to the Sisterhood�s sacrifice. That she chose you as her mistress is an honor not to be taken lightly. She must have sensed something special in you to bond.�

This was getting too heady for me.

~~Circe feels I�ve been honored? What did she say, exactly? � �An honor not to be taken lightly,� whoa, this is getting way spooky for me. I�m little old Joanie, not Joan of Arc though Jane Wieden was cute as Miss *of Arc* in Bill and Ted�s Excellent Adventure. I wonder what PETA�s stand on familiars is? � Wait a minute, what�s this about the Sisterhood?!~~

�Calm yourself, this is nothing to be worried about. It�s not like you�re being nominated as a saint, *Joan*. Sorry, I can sometimes read minds. Take your friends to see their mom; visit your Iowa family. See me when you get back � and don�t worry � children!� Dr. Tenent said as we finished.

* * * *

On the way out of medical I bumped into May Lee and Anna, and I do mean bumped into. I had to grab Anna hard to keep us from falling. I saw who I�d nearly trampled, and my heart soared; she looked so happy, if startled.

�I�m so sorry; I wasn�t ... Anna! May Lee! I apologize for not keeping in touch. Anna, did you start your treatments? You look much happier,� I asked, embarrassed.

~~Anna looks almost normal. She must have had surgery, and I wasn�t there to hold her hand, damn. Good friend I am, jeese.~~

�I had surgery a couple days after you last saw me.�

�I should have been there to wish you luck and keep you company after. I�m sorry, Anna, that was uncaring and rude.�

�Don�t feel bad, Joanie. Whateley sent Anna to a specialist at Johns Hopkins. You couldn�t have been there, and they arranged for me to sleep in her room. You have a lot on your plate, and you are doing more than enough by paying for this. You can�t be everything to everyone," May said, and hugged me.

�The surgeon took out the breast implants and the contraceptive implants they�d overdosed her with,� May Lee explained. I was horrified, and it showed.

�I knew they drugged you and had you on high-dosage birth control, but an overdose using implants?�

�Whateley medical wondered why my hormone levels wouldn�t come down, The doctors found I�d been given several times the recommended dose of implantable contraceptives. The hormones and drugs kept me confused, compliant and primed for sex; I couldn�t help myself. I was at risk for serious complication, like blood clots or liver damage if they had been in much longer. As the surgeons at Johns Hopkins were removing my implants it made sense they do the other surgery at the same time. The breast implants were so big the doctors put in adjustable implants in their place and have slowly deflated them so my skin can adjust. I�m wearing a special compression bandage to help in this. It feels real odd, like someone is massaging my breasts. They are doing this to minimize scarring and adhesions. It�s working too; I�m starting to look like myself!�

"You look good, Anna, what�s next?� I asked.

�They remove the adjustable implants next weekend. After I heal for a couple weeks Whateley�s thaumatologists will craft spells to grow the tattoos out of my ski.; it uses the body's own ability to encapsulate foreign objects, like with a thorn. This will take a week or more, but those awful tattoos will be gone. There are quicker methods, but they risk serious side-effects or damage to the skin. After all traces of magic wear off, they will give me a magical tune-up to restore my body to its pre-surgery state. By mid-summer, you�ll never know I was ever touched by those creeps. I�ll be a virgin, in my body at least. Thank you, Joanie,� Anna said and hugged me.

�All I did was pull a few strings; you have to suffer through all the treatments. What of that boyfriend who didn�t support you?� I asked, regretting it immediately. �I shouldn�t have asked that. Don�t answer, Anna. Do you forgive me?�

�I forgive you, Joanie. I think I should tell you, seeing how much you�re helping. He came to see me in the hospital. His parents believed I was damaged goods, and assumed I got into pornography voluntarily. He claimed they pressured him to break it off. They are very traditional, so I�m inclined to believe him. He felt his honor required him to tell me to my face we were through. He contacted May Lee and she agreed he should see me. When he came to my room, May read him the riot act and so did my surgeon. They spent a long time explaining everything that had happened to me was not of my free will. He told his family, and they formally offered to renew the offer of marriage. I told them I would have to think about it, as their snap judgment wounded me,� Anna said and giggled.

�Good! Make the jerks suffer. They showed their true colors when forced to by a crisis. Personally, I might not forgive them or him and would look elsewhere for love, but that�s me. If you love him, you�ll find a way. If not, grind him in the dust and find yourself someone worthy of you. I�ll lend you the boots to do it. Stiletto heels are great for stomping on a man�s feet,� I said, snickering.

�You are vicious, Joanie. Remind me never to get on your bad side,� May said. �I saw your sports car the other day. What did you do to get that?�

�I prostituted myself,� I said and laughed. �I�m doing ads for Ford, so ...�

�Oh you!

* * * *

I returned to my dorm, snagged my pre-packed overnight bag, Les Paul, and mini practice amp, then hurried to my truck. It was a little past one but given what happened with Miki and I, not bad. At the last moment I realized I wanted a ball cap and aviator sunglasses I�d put in the bag and got them out.

~~I need to wear this hat and my kewl shades. After all I have the image of Ex-Wisconsin egotists to uphold.~~ I looked at my reflection in one of the trucks mirrors. ~~Oh yeah, all I need is a landing craft and a corncob pipe. Douglas MacArthur, eat your heart out.~~

Tom and Tina were waiting along with most of the Sabers and my cleanup crew.

�Why are you here? Don�t you have classes?� I asked.

�So we snuck out of class early, Joanie. It�s almost the break between class periods, and our teachers know it�s important we see our friends off. Tom, Tina, you be brave for your mom; she needs you,� said Cheryl, surprisingly emotional for her.

We all gave the Smith twins hugs, even Mystor, though very carefully as he and Tom were the only guys.

We got ready to go, and Mystor handed me my guitar then placed my bags in the crew compartment.

�What have you got in here? You women and your obsession with clothes! My bag would weight half this. Oh, I closed it; you�d left it open, Blondie,� he said and laughed.

�Keep talking like that, and you�ll never get to see any of us out of them,� I replied.

�But I saw you naked and up close, Joanie; that will satisfy me for a long time. Oh, here�s the doll I made out of your clothing in the magic class. I can�t change it back, I tried, but since you�re visiting your Iowa friends maybe Mel would like it? I heard you talk about how much you like her. I had Dr. Tenent examine the doll, and it�s safe to handle. There are no dangerous magic residues remaining,� Mystor finished and handed me the doll. He had thoughtfully placed it in a colorful gift bag.

�That�s a great idea; thanks. Thank you all for seeing us off. Behave yourselves, and I want film of the orgy, *K*?� I said.

They looked at me, confused, until Pinky broke out in giggles.

We got in the crew cab and as I prepared to start the engine I said, �I shall return!� and drove off, snickering so bad I almost had to pull over and stop.

�Do I want to know what any of that was about?� Tom asked.

�No,� I replied.

�Pinky told me, silly, at least about the orgy. I�ll explain,� Tina said to her brother as we drove past my farm and on to Berlin.

* * * *

At the airport we discovered we were early for our charter; it had been delayed by weather. We had time to waste so I drove the short distance to town and the cycle dealer. I made sure to grab the poster in a mailing tube I�d brought along. I�d wanted to check on the little girl I�d met back in December for some time. First there was another girl I wanted to see.

�Where�s Julie Anne?� I asked an unfamiliar office worker.

�She only works on Saturdays and semester breaks. Julie has class at the local state university campus -- just turned 18 and already in college. What can I do for you, Ms.? ...� she hesitated then looked at me hard and smiled. �I�m guessing your name is Joanie?�

�I�m passing through and thought I should stop by. I�m flying my friends here to see their mom; she�s in a hospital out west. Is Isaac in?�

�He�s in the shop. I hope your friends� mother is okay?�

�She�s getting better, but they miss each other; excuse us,� I said, and walked to the repair shop.

* * * *

�Anyone home?� I called, and was almost immediately pounced on by a squealing young school girl.

�Joanie, you lied! You are no elf. You are an angel,� Leeann said and hugged me tight. It reminded me of the previous time she�d hugged me. It was last December, and she was an unhappy child who desperately missed her late mother. This time she wasn�t sobbing as she held me, she giggled instead. �Thank you for what you did before Christmas. Daddy and I talked a long time. I cried, and he cried. Thanks for the cookies; you are a good baker. I see a lady �chiatrist, and we talk all about my mommy and dad, and why maybe I feel like I do. Daddy comes sometimes, too. I feel so happy, and it�s because of you. I showed my friends your picture and note, and they were so jealous and said what a nice lady you are,� she said and paused for breath.

~~Shades of Mel, here.~~ I thought.

I backed off some and looked at her. She�d let her hair grow. It was still short, but definitely in a girl's style. Her clothes, though not girly-girl, were noticeably female.

�You�re wearing a skirt and a blouse, Leeann. Whose idea was it, dear?� I asked.

�Mine, silly elf lady,� she said and giggled. �I wish you were a real elf; you were funny,� she said.

�But there are elves, Leeann. They are called the Fey, but they are what the legends are based on. We have one at our school; she�s a student and very pretty. Here, this is for you,� I said and handed her a poster from the tube in my hand.

It was one we sold in our school store. It was a larger copy of the photo of Nikki Reilly in the Whateley brochure. Leeann unrolled it and her eyes went wide.

�I see her big violet eyes, and her pointy ears; she is a real elf. Thanks for the poster, but she�s not as pretty as you, Joanie,� Leeann said and grinned.

�I�m glad you like it, and thanks for saying I�m that pretty. I�m relieved you�re not sad anymore. I can see you�re all bubbly which is good; I like seeing people happy. Leeann, these are my friends, Tom and Tina. They�re fraternal twins and schoolmates of mine at the mutant school," I explained.

�Real mutants like you, Joanie?�

�Their powers are different, but they are mutants and nice kids,� I replied. �Why don�t you three talk while I see your dad, okay?� I asked, and she nodded and went over to my friends.

* * * *
I turned and walked over to her father.

�Isaac, Leeann seems much better.�

�She is. That talk we had after you did the elf bit broke through the wall. She has her bad days, but she�s like I remember before my wife ...�

�That�s good news about Leeann, Isaac. Are you feeling better?�

�I am; I�m dating again. It�s a girl Julie Anne introduced me to, Carol, the new office gal here. She was Julie�s babysitter, and she knew my wife. They were in school together, but Carol was a year behind my wife. So far so good, Joanie, she and Leeann get along, and she�s a good influence on her. I know nothing about girl�s fashion and all the things she needs to grow into a woman. How are you? I saw the news a while back when you were at a school dance. Are you still in contact with the young man you danced with? You looked the perfect couple to me, Joanie,� he added.

�I, ah ...�

�Daddy, Joanie has a boyfriend!� called out Leeann excited.

~~Thank you Mr. and Miss Quisling.~~

�I like him a lot, Leeann, but he�s still in school so we can only be friends. Don�t tell anyone, ever; some people could make a lot of trouble for him and me if they knew,� I asked her.

�Joanie may look like a high school girl, but she�s 49 and the nice boy -- the one you thought was good looking -- is in his teens, Leeann. When he�s a little older then it will be okay for them to be boyfriend and girlfriend, but for now they are good friends only,� Tina said, and very nicely I thought.

�He�s good looking?� I asked.

�Leeann saw the video of Eric and you dancing. She said Eric was dreamy,� Tina replied.

�Dreamy? And you are seven years old?�

�He is. Eric looks like a TV actor. You were very pretty in that dress, Joanie.�

�Thank you, you look pretty too. Oh, Isaac, I�d like a sidecar for my old Harley. I could research and find one, but I�m so busy these days. Could you locate one or see if the plans are available to build one from scratch?�

�I�ll see. Harley was amazed when they saw the pictures of your old bike We sent them one of your old tires, we kept the other for display. I wouldn�t be surprised if they contacted you seeing as you're doing ads for Coke and Ford,� Isaac said. He hesitated then spoke. �I heard you�re going to be in a magazine this summer?�

�How did you learn that?� I asked knowing it had been in numerous newspapers and in the electronic press.

�Entertainment Tonight announced you�d posed for Playboy for a record fee, and that you�re donating it all to charity. Can I ...?�

�Not another autographed copy?�

�Well, that would be welcome, but I was hoping Leeann and I could have our photo taken with you as a remembrance?�

He called in Carol, who took our picture then the twins and I took off for the airport.

* * * *

�Good afternoon, ladies and gentleman. Sorry for the delay, we bucked strong headwinds getting here. That same weather system will give us favorable winds on our flight to Wisconsin, so we should be in Madison on time. You are?� the copilot asked.

�Tom Smith and my sister Tina, and this is our friend who arranged the charter, Joanie.�

�You again?� the copilot asked rhetorically. We knew each other well.

�Hi! You get that embarrassing bulge taken care of?� I asked and snickered.

�I am sorry I came on to you, Ms. Brown. That was unprofessional on my part. The pilot gave me a lecture after that flight. My ears are still burning,� he said.

�He should have. I did get a good laugh out of your discomfort, sorry.�

�That�s okay. I�ve had some interesting dreams since then, thank you,� he replied.

�Just as long as they are dreams, Mister,� I said and snickered.

* * * *

We made great time, and arrived in Madison mid afternoon. Gin in her PT was our ride to the hospital.

�Tom, Tina you look great. Joanie here hasn�t been filling your mind full of strange, perverted thoughts has she?� Gin asked.

�Joanie�s been great to us. I�m in her band with a fun bunch of other students. My brother has no musical talent, but he helps us move stuff and is dating Joanie�s niece,� Tina said with pride.

�Tom and Suzy are dating already?� Gin asked, surprised.

�Maybe it�s something in the water, but they are an item. Tom is a gentleman, mostly, though Suzy is a junior me. Minxes must run in the family,� I said and snickered.

�How�s Ms. Smith?� I asked.

�Don � I mean Ms. Smith is a fighter. She�s doing great, and insists we all call her Donna. She so nice to us and rarely complains despite her pain. I wish all patients were like that. Joanie, Dr. Sara mentioned your thoughts about where Tom and Tina got their mutant genes. The tests show most came from their mom. I�ve seen natural mutants with fewer so-called mutant genes. Your suggestion is possible, but we�ll talk it over with the whole family now that they are here,� Gin said.

�Tom, Tina, what if your mother could be a mutant like you? Does that sound like a good idea?� Gin asked.

�Mom could be like us?� Tom asked.

�Yes, and we could make her young again. Young enough to be your older sister or make the three of you triplets,� she said and the twins gasped.

�Your mom needs to hide from these bad people as much as you two do. I can alter your mom with magic. I can even change her appearance, skin color, eyes, ethnicity, and body type -- the works. It would help her hide, and let her start fresh after the terrible things the kidnappers did to her and your late father. Think about it,� Gin asked.

* * * *

We arrived at the Mutant wing of the University of Wisconsin Hospital well before dark. We entered through a secure staff garage. After we were cleared through security, Gin took me aside.

�Joanie, something is bothering Dr. Sara, and it�s just happened recently. She says nothing is wrong, but it was such a change from the love struck Miss Free-spirit she�s been of late. Maybe you can get through to her. I�m concerned,� Gin added.

�Absolutely! She�s my substitute mother, and I owe her. I�ll find out, Gin,� I replied, and Gin looked relieved.

We arrived at Donna�s room. I was happy to see Big Red on duty. She gave us all warm hugs and inspected my tonsils with her tongue.

~~She�s so conscientious in her duty to her patients, or is it she still carries a torch for me?~~

�Your mom�s pretty beat up; don�t let it scare you, but don�t lie either. Your mom wants the truth at all times. As bad as she looks, she�s getting well. It will be awhile before she�s fully recovered, but she will recover completely. She can�t talk real loud because her jaw is wired shut to help it heal, so keep your voices down, okay?� Red explained.

�We will, Ms. Red,� Tina said for them both, and they walked in the room. I watched from just outside the door. I could see them at the side of her bed.

�Mom?� Tina called out.

The poor child was crying at the sight of her injured mom but was smiling as well. I saw Tom stiffen up then smile, a tear or two running down his face. I was so proud of my two young friends.

�Tina? Tom? Thank god!� she mumbled. I walked away to give them some time alone.

�Joan, just the person I wanted to see; follow me,� Dr. Sara said. Gin was right, Sara looked unhappy.

* * * *

She led me into her private office and locked the door behind us.

�What�s wrong, Sara? You seem so unhappy. Can I help in anyway?�

�*You* can help alright, *Joan* ... What the hell were you thinking?� she snarled at me.

~~...?!...~~ I couldn�t think, I was in shock.

�Who are you? What are you? I thought I could trust you -- that you were a responsible adult -- then you pull this. You must be out of your mind. Sex with an under age boy! Do you want to go to prison, Joan? I�d bet you�d like that, you slut!� She was shouting at me.

�But, Sara, I ...�

�Don�t you DARE call me Sara!� she screamed. I had never seen her so angry before. I couldn�t recall her ever being angry.

I got a momentary image of Eric and I being intimate and getting caught in the act. The look in his face as I was arrested was heartbreaking; he seemed almost catatonic. I felt this wave of sadness, anger and disappointment hit me from everyone I knew, particularly Sara. It was as if she�d slapped me in my mind. Then I felt Eric�s despair and thoughts of suicide. I got an image of him breaking into a gun cabinet and � My world had been blown asunder. It hurt terribly, more than I had ever hurt in my life. I burst into tears, I felt rejected by her -- like a child disowned. All I could sense was disappointment and disgust bordering on hate in place of the love she�d so freely gave me, and I couldn�t stand it. I had failed Eric. I�d failed my friends. I had failed Sara, and I had failed myself. I wanted to die. I curled up in a ball in the corner of her office, terrified and confused.

~~How could Sara think that? � Ghod, what have I done to hurt her so? � I hate myself. Sara will never forgive me.~~

When I realized what I had done, what I had almost done, and what I was likely to do if things didn�t change, the dam burst. The words poured out of me almost subconsciously. �I love Eric. I would never hurt him. We almost did it, -- I mean have sex -- but it was an accident. Ghod, I wanted him so bad. We didn�t do anything other than touch each other inappropriately, but we wanted to make love and it�s WRONG! I�ll breakup with Eric, I�ll never see him again. I�ll sign an oath to that effect. I�ll break all contact with him and his family, Sara. Please don�t hurt him!� I cried, tears streaking down my cheeks.

I felt her hands touch me. I flinched and twisted away from her.

�Leave me alone! I�ve failed you and you hate me for it! Ghod, I hate me. I�m a worthless piece of slime,� I shouted and sobbed.

Sara got on the floor and hugged me fiercely; she wouldn�t let go despite my thrashing to get away. I felt her kiss me on the cheek, and my fear and anger began to fade.

�Forgive me, Joanie. Please forgive me, dear. I didn�t want to do that but it was the only way I could be certain. I will never hurt you again, ever. How could I? I love you. I know you find that hard to believe after what I just did; Joanie, but I do love you. This was a test; it was hard, but necessary. I had to force you to react instinctively. You know I�m an empath. I needed to observe how you would react when threatened with the loss of Eric and of your dreams. I didn�t want you rationalizing; I needed to know your heart.

�I�m so sorry I entered your mind, dear, but those terrifying thoughts were all yours. I simply allowed them to break free into your conscious mind. I felt them along with you. I wish I hadn�t needed to do it, but it was necessary. I did this as much for Babs as for Eric and you. And I did it for me. I love you too much not to have, Joanie. Hate me if you must, but I had to save you,� she said, her demeanor soothing and remorseful.

�But it hurt! I thought you loved me!� My anger rebounded.

~~She betrayed me. The woman I�ve come to love as if she was my mother betrayed me!~~

�I�m so sorry, Joanie, I know the emotional wounds will take time to heal, but I do love you and so does Babs. She called me after you told her to talk with Eric about this Easter. He admitted to her he wanted to make love to you. In his dream -- as you two snuggled -- it seemed real. He thought you really were making love then he woke. It was as if the dream had come true. He stopped when he realized what was happening, but he wanted you and was ecstatic you wanted him.

�That you both stopped, and physically it never went beyond what they used to call heavy petting, reassured us, but the strength of Eric�s feelings worried Babs and me. Eric admitted he�s had dreams since where it feels so real he can�t be certain that you two haven�t had sex. Rationally he knows, but subconsciously he�s not certain anymore. Babs thought you sounded unsure of your intentions when you last spoke with her. That worried her too, as she always could *read* your intentions before, but not that time. Babs may not be a mutant but she is a keen observer and listener having been raised in a political family. Sometimes I�d swear she�s an empath,� Dr. Sara stated, still holding and gently rocking me like I was her baby. It was both comforting and somehow repugnant. There was a war raging in my subconscious. Something was wrong but what was it?

�I felt I had lied to Babs after we finished speaking. I�d felt that way after I talked with you and said it was all under control. I�m so sorry I lied to you, Sara. I don�t want to lie, and not to either of you ladies. What do I do now? What do Eric and I do? This is out of control,� I replied, sniffling.

�Babs, Eric, and you will have a long talk when you get to Iowa. You need to slow things down. Be a girl and a boy who are friends first, then you can progress to girlfriend and boyfriend. Take care not to be alone when you are tired and your thinking is impaired, and absolutely no alcohol or drugs -- that could be disaster, even given how fast your regen burns them off. I know you wouldn�t, but some kid might spike things at a party thinking it will liven-up things.

"I *read* your thoughts when I tricked you. No, that�s not right. I *read* your thoughts when I lied to you. God forgive me but I lied. Joanie, you love him deeply and want the best for him. You value him above yourself and would not knowingly harm Eric. Take it easy and go slow, but do see him. Call him as you have, just concentrate on being friends first and the rest will follow in due course. Can you do that for me?� she asked.

I nodded.

�Can you forgive me?� Sara asked.

My mind was in turmoil. �No,� I said, and got up to walk out of her office. I thought I heard her crying.

* * * *

I walked around for a while, thinking over what had happened. Had she been unfair in tricking me into stating my true intentions? Sara seemed openly regretful of how she had tricked me. She seemed honestly worried she had gone too far and damaged our relationship.

The problem was I wasn�t sure what to think. Confronting my feelings and fears was intensely unsettling. Conversely I was glad it was in the open. They -- Babs and Sara -- had known Eric and I were infatuated with each other, now they knew how deep it went. Now I knew as well. We weren�t just intensely attracted; we were more than just in love. We were soul mates and willing to sacrifice our own happiness for the sake of the other. In the long run this was good for Eric and my relationship. This was better for my relationship with Babs and Sara as well, but still, Sara had hurt me if only mentally. The woman I thought of as my mother had hurt me. Why? It suddenly came to me. The answer was simple, she hadn�t. The pain was from confronting my own demons, and in freeing me she had suffered as well.

~~And I told her I couldn�t forgive her. What kind of a bitch am I?~~

I reached an area of shops in the huge hospital complex and spotted a florist. I made a decision. A while later I returned. Dr. Sara was in her office, softly crying. I felt sick.

�Sara, I said I couldn�t forgive you, and I didn�t lie,� I spoke slowly and heard her gasp. �There is nothing to forgive, dear Sara; you did this out of love and fear for my safety. You did this to protect Eric and me, and I thank you.�

I paused. �I forgive you Sara, but I don�t think I can forget this. Your words hurt,� I said flatly. I stopped to wipe my tears. I saw the pained reaction on Sara�s face. �Rationally I know why and I understand but part of me feels violated. Can you understand?�

I saw she was hurting and so was I. I tried to find some humor in our mutual pain. �A small part of my mind is still hurting and will extract its terrible revenge � Doctor. Mah ha ha ha!� I said trying to be menacing and failing terribly. I giggled and paused. �These are for you, Mom, if you�ll have me?� I asked, and handed her a crystal vase full of roses. �Roses were my mother's favorite, I hope you like them.� I turned to leave and Sara hugged me from behind.

�I will always love you, daughter,� she said, then kissed me. I turned to face her and we held each other for a while. We stood not speaking, just comforting each other. It would take time but in my heart I so wanted to be able to trust her without reservation. When we�d both wiped each others tears, I walked off to Donna Smith�s room with the other vase of flowers I�d bought, a spring arrangement.

I was nearing her room, and I heard a shriek.

�There�s a huge rat in the lounge!� a nurses aid shouted, her face in shock.

~~Huge rat? � No, it can�t be.~~

I set the flowers on the floor outside Donna�s room and I ran to the lounge. I was greeted by a pair of gleaming eyes peering from behind a couch. Then the animal came out into the open.

�Miki! What are ...�

~~Greetings, Mistress Joanie.~~ I heard a strange woman�s voice say in my own mind, then I fainted.

To be continued.
Thanks to Grover for the use of and assistance with Miki.
Special thanks to Janet Nolan and Karen_J for their helpful criticism.
Thanks again to Itinerant for being there even when it isn�t easy

But you're not a scientist. Surely you believe in all this superstitious nonsense. (MAD Magazine)

Could be worse, could be raining. (Young Frankenstein)

-- Bang! �Thwup, thwup, thwup �--

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