Question Knockoff 2 Fight or Flight

Monday, August 27, 2007 - mid-morning
Schuster Hall, Whateley Academy

Martina and Tatiana Hughes aka Knockoff and Setup have landed at Whateley! Bwahaha, Martina doesn't think Whateley is special based upon her first look at campus, can't wait for her to learn how wrong she is. Aww, no time to look around, an appointment with Mrs. Shugendo, hope Martina doesn't say the wrong thing. And having to rush to get there on time because of mix-up dates, ouch, been there before.

And Ms. Hartford knows Setup, sounds like they are old friends, could they have gone to Whateley together in the same graduating class? Seesh, just how big was this Houston job? Bwahaha, nice to see someone not in on the Poe secret, Setup wondering why Knockoff is being placed there. A chat with Mrs. Horton, not liking Tatiana calling people with mental health issues 'wackos' though.

Sides...hurting, can't believe Mrs. Horton pulled that on Tatiana. So that is why Mrs. Horton is always baking cookies, wonder if some students in the past figured that out and pretended to be upset just to get cookies.

"Take her off my hands, please!" Tatiana said in mock pain. "I need a break from her torment and torture!"

I like them, they're silly.

"Given the reputation of the cottage, and especially some particularly ... eccentric students ... that's fair," Mrs. Horton acknowledged. "But there's a lot more to Poe than you know. For a long time, we've had to deal with students who have certain lifestyle or gender issues. It can be especially difficult socially for very gay and lesbian students and those whose mutation has caused them to change their sex. Whateley reflects the outside world in attitudes toward the sexually-unique students because our students come from the outside world. I would imagine that you know what it's like for them in the outside world."

Tatiana's expression sobered. "Nucleon," she said somberly.

Ouch, lost a friend due to bigots it sounds like. Lillian Dennon is wise, sometimes secrets aren't good to keep when it would endanger those you are trying to protect.

Tatiana shook her head. "This is ... wow. You make me want to pretend to be a teen again and move in here!"

Dang, that much better than Dickinson when she went to Whateley.

And Martina agrees Poe is best for her, smart decision. Christina Volante as Martina's roommate in room 237 in the Freshman wing, a lesbian, wonder why.

"All the time I was a boy, I never had a girl start things because she thought I was attractive. Now I'll be rooming with a girl who might?"

"You're too young to start any of that, young lady!" Tatiana sternly scolded her daughter. "Unless they've changed it, the age of consent in New Hampshire is sixteen, and you really don't want to get into legal trouble!"

Martina gulped; she hadn't considered that angle. "No, mom," she replied sheepishly.

Like that has stopped teens over the years.

Lunchtime at the Crystal Hall and Lillian ask if she can sit with them. Ah, so this is how Ms. Dennon learned the secret of Poe herself, bring Martina's status to Ms. Hartford and Mrs. Shugendo. Heh, Team Kimba's antics alone would keep people believing Poe is a nuthouse for years if they saw it all in person. What! Tatiana was blackmailed into doing that Houston job, or have Martina's secret revealed. Scumbag who did that needs a lesson.

So faked their deaths and new identities from intelligence agency contacts, still would be worried the guy would find out they are alive.

"I'm not doing the dirty work," Tatiana added quickly and firmly. "A professional colleague I've worked with several times knows that employer went way over the line this time. He knows and hates the person who made the threat. My colleague said he'd be glad to do me a favor."

Yikes, having the guy eliminated, he kind of brought it on himself by threatening her daughter though.

"Nucleon started here as an average boy, but by the middle of the spring term, it was obvious that his BIT was driving some changes in his appearance. He was getting thinner and less muscular." She watched Martina until the girl recognized what she'd said. "It was pretty obvious that he was changing into a girl. In gym classes and in the showers, other boys noted that he was getting ... smaller." She cocked one eyebrow in a way that made it abundantly clear to Lillian and Martina how he was getting smaller. "Except for certain curves in the chest and hip area. Anyway, after getting harassed by his cottage-mates, they transferred him to Whitman. That wasn't any better - the girls were very angry that a 'boy' was put in their cottage. The harassment and bullying and beatings didn't stop, no matter how much he changed into a she. She finally had enough and didn't come back after the Christmas break her junior year. She did okay - for a while. Finished high school, got a college degree, even joined a small hero group. Then someone outed her." She shook her head sadly. "She finally couldn't take it anymore."

Quit Whateley, did okay for herself, then out outed, threatened, harassed, and killed herself. I'm shaking at the thought, knowing similar happens in the real world each day.

Near Schuster Hall, Whateley Academy

Mid-afternoon now. Aww, Tatiana is going to miss her little girl, so distracted by her thoughts she almost collides with Imp.

"Don't you want to engage in some witty repartee?" She feigned a pout. "These days, no-one wants to engage the Fabulous Imp in a battle of the banter, a titanic duel of witty repartee at ten paces, a classic confrontation of cutting, clever comebacks! A skirmish of stupefying sass! A round of razor-sharp rejoinders! An epic, entertaining exchange of ...."

Imp needs to set up regular banter sessions with someone. Imp and normalcy, even at Whateley she is far from normal, and I mean her personality, not her appearance.

Promised Martina she would retire, but left in a loophole.

Tatiana shrugged. "I left the door open for gray-hat contract jobs. MI6 and DGSE pay very well."

Now that is 'retiring'. Good, doesn't trust the CIA enough to work for them. Dunder Mitts sure does get beaten up a lot, two baseline cheerleaders in his past even, now that I would pay to see.

"The Village? It's called The Village? You're kidding, right?"

"That's what they call the teachers' housing area," Imp replied with a shrug. "There's a nice little cafe called the Brown Moose."

"The Brown Moose? Now I know you're kidding. I suppose there's another joint called the Flying Blue Squirrel?" Tatiana scoffed in disbelief.

"Actually, it's a pub next to the Brown Moose," Imp laughed.

Tatiana goggled, wondering if Imp was pulling her leg as per her reputation for creative tomfoolery.

Wonder how she will laugh when she goes to the real places to see the truth for herself.

Early-afternoon
Poe Cottage, Whateley Academy

Martina's time around her mother has made her observant and insightful. Jealous of Rosalyn's good looks, guess her mind has adapted more than she thought. Well, Alyss is there. Ah, so Danny in the Hello Kitty hoodie. Nice special trunk, would make transporting things so much easier with retractable wheels. Striatura Blu meaning Blue Streak, a very nice codename. Christina's father is Puego Silenzioso, a hero in Italy, nice to learn more about heroes around the world.

Security consultant, good cover. Poor Danny, getting hugged by Angel and Jade so excited, making Martina think they are crazy. Poor Danny turns into a cat-girl and Christina flirting with him/her. Smart father, getting involved with roommates can also result in you having rooms switched on you.

Near Schuster Hall, Whateley Academy

Mid-afternoon, Ayla giving the changelings the tour, going to sit and explain the true purpose of Poe to them. A spike in changelings last year and this year, wonder what the investigation will uncover as to the reason why.

"The scientists here that study powers are particularly interested in the spike in numbers of changelings, so you may be spending more time in their labs than an average mutant."

So that is why all the testing, yikes. Danny showing them his forms, explaining he is Danica when cat-girl form. Everyone telling their tale, Ayla curious about what Alyss isn't saying about herself. Then Martina's turn, different powers from her mother, plus the reason she went with Martina.

Great, Martina's biological father was a baseline and not fond of mutants, figures he ran once Tatiana got pregnant. Amy shares the same story as Martina, the multi-hued-hair girl has a spirit which made her like this, but like Ayla.

"You know," Danny commented as they walked back to Poe, "my sister told me we're going to eventually have to be on a training team, maybe we should make our own team while we get to choose."

Ayla spun and gawked at the boy.

"And we could maybe call ourselves the Chaos Monkeys?" Danny added.

"Or the Chaos Corps!" Lina added with a wicked smile.

The look of abject horror on Ayla's face was a sight to behold.

Poor Ayla, like watching a new version fo Team Kimba forming before his eyes.

Back in Poe Cottage, Christina on a cell phone talking to her father and telling him some about Homer Gallery.

"And ... there was so much to see! Some of Gizmatic's prototype villain weapons. The Tartarium knife that killed Champion II, the Tartarus projector, a quasar gun from Professor Ripper! There was more than I could remember!"

That is more items we know are in the Homer Gallery. Aww, Christina misses her little brother Gio, good big sister.

Her father's codename in English is Silent Fist. And he knows Setup, calling her vicious and ruthless, how she almost killed his whole team once. Great, he knows Setup is alive and Christina automatically considers the daughter of a criminal a criminal as well. I was starting to like Christina, now we know why Martina's first roommate didn't work out.

Dinner time at the Crystal Hall, and ugh. Christina's mildest insult in English is villainous scum, can't stand so-called heroes like this, judge someone without knowing them. Badmouthing Martina like that, insulting her mother, Christina is a judgemental B. Alyss, Lina, Amy, Danny, and Cindy at the table with Martina. And of course, Christina is a loudmouth about her father, the hero.

Christina, Amanda - Jinx, and Pamela - Eidolon approaching the table but Christina stops when she sees Martina.

"If I recall the introductions, your mom is a receptionist?" Martina interrupted the Italian girl's little drama production. Christina stopped, turned, and gawked, not understanding where Martina was going with her question. "So by your logic, you must be a receptionist too, and nothing you do can ever change that. So be a good little receptionist and get me a cup of coffee. In fact, get coffee for everyone."

Now that is a perfect burn for the close-minded Christina. Glad to see Jinx make up her own mind.

Martina spelling out what her mom does for work, Amy excited at the thought of Setup working for the CIA, MI6, or Mossad. Figures she doesn't talk about her work with Martina and retired now, as far as Martina knows.

"So your mom is a villain," Amy said with a strange expression. "That's different." A smile spread across her features. "And to think, I didn't believe Mom when she told me that the school would be interesting."

Alyss shrugged. "Why would I care? If she thinks you're responsible for what your mom might or might not have done, she's got a few screws loose."

Perfect responses from both Amy and Alyss.

"Anyone here need a roommate? I promise I don't snore!"

Bwahaha, Martina is priceless.

Back at Poe Cottage, Angel showing up at Alyss and Amy's dorm room to call them down for an unplanned meeting. Christina scowling at Alyss and Martina now, great, the girl has serious issues. Ah, due to Christina's actions Mrs. Horton having to bring up the fact that Whateley is a neutral school now.

"Whateley neutrality extends to interactions among students on campus as well. No child of a hero is permitted to harass or threaten any child of a villain, and no villain's child is allowed to harass or threaten any hero's child." She paused, looking around the room with a very stern expression. "Any such events will be at the very least dealt with very severely by the administration. If someone were to cross the line ...." She paused, shaking her head and scowling. "When you get your laptops, look up Amperage. He was a student here. He thought being a hero here meant stopping children of villains. I would caution you to not read up on Amperage immediately before or after a meal. It was not ... pretty." She paused again to let her words sink in; several of the new students gulped nervously, looking around them, particularly at Martina, Alyss, and Seraphina.

Don't tell me, this psycho wanna-be hero killed some other students just because their parents were villains.

"Let me address another aspect of this. How many of you have ancestors who were in this country before eighteen-sixty. Please raise your hands." She paused, and a few hands went up. "So your ancestors may have been involved in slavery. Since your ancestors may have been slave owners, or may have served in the Army during the Indian wars, does that make you guilty of their actions or crimes? Should we all judge you as a racist or bigot or murderer because of an ancestor? Should we judge you as a thief, a liar, and a cheat because your ancestors broke Indian treaties and stole land?" Dead silence and stunned looks greeted her gaze; hopefully, some of the students were thinking seriously about what she'd said.

"In some Communist countries, a crime against the state is punished for three generations - the original criminal, the criminal's children, and their children's children! Is that fair?" Another sip of tea. "It's a principle some call 'sins of the father'. It's related to a 'bill of attainder' in the US constitution. It means that a child cannot be held guilty of the crimes of the parents. Children do not inherit the debts of their parents. They likewise do not inherit any criminal liability or responsibility." She glanced around. "Harassment based on the status of a parent will not be tolerated in my cottage. Do. You. All. Understand?"

In other words, Christina better stop what she is doing or face detention, expulsion or worse. And Christina still giving Martina the stink-eye, that girl missed the point of the lesson completely, always one.

Tuesday, August 28, 2007 - Lunchtime
Crystal Hall, Whateley Academy

Martina sharing a table with Danny, Seraphina, Beth, Kayda, and Lannie, a good group to have for friends. Christina making a scene again, good grief. Ah, the campus bookstore, would love to go there myself. So Sofia met Setup a year and a half ago at his mom's place, learning her mom worked for Strega on such a job, wonder what this will mean for Martina at Whateley.

Mrs. Hastings as her advisor, Martina got one of the good ones, at least I think I remember her as one of the good ones. Although Martina's worries about her obsession with timing aren't completely unfounded from what I recall of the woman. Lillian Dennon shows up, an email for Mrs. Hastings from Ms. Hartford, hhm. And Ms. Dennon is now Martina's advisor, even better.

Extra tutoring in fighting styles from Ms. Dennon in addition to regular martial arts class, yikes. And Martina has heard about Ito, poor girl, all those horror stories. At least she told Ms. Dennon about her troubles with Christina, the first step to getting that situation fixed.

Three days a week, she'd start early in the morning with flight class before breakfast. The morning schedule had art, French 1, then Basic Martial Arts. After lunch, she had English, history, and then algebra. Twice a week she'd have special tutoring on 'brick' fighting with Mrs. Dennon.

That isn't the most packed class schedule I've seen at Whateley. School laptop and shown some of the special features, besides Christina so far Martina is having a good start at Whateley.

Lunch at Crystal Hall and first real experience of how hectic a full Crystal Hall can be. Jadis, Jobe, Nacht, and Belphoebe, having to watch freshman interested in joining the Future Superheroes of America, *groan* Christina talking up her father, Jadis calls him a second-rate clown, this won't end well. And Christina making a scene, even one of the Capes says Martina isn't a criminal, but Christina is stuck on her opinion.

Nacht rolled her eyes. "Another one who has to learn to not blame the child for what the parents do," she said drolly.

Jadis took a picture of the table with Martina and friends.

Jobe was the fastest reader in the group. "The description fits Setup," she said. "Backpacking accident, transfusion from Setup, all electronic records disappeared. MCO called, but they arrived too late."

Well, that was quick, knew Martina's secret would reach the Bad Seeds soon. Keep an eye on Martina in case some of the more overzealous Capes or the Secret Squirrels go after her, good to have friends who know what you're going through.

Thursday, August 31, 2007 - Afternoon
Poe Cottage, Whateley Academy

All those girls gathered together and Martina finds out about Amy having a bad burnout this way. At least Mrs. Horton is able to confirm she is alive and in stable condition, rumors can make such a situation so much worse for those worried for a friend/family/loved one unless countered by the truth. Alyss actually got Mrs. Horton to admit this wasn't Amy's first burnout and that she is being moved to Hawthorne for her own safety.

After dinner at the Crystal Hall, Martina having all those things weighing her down, no wonder she is trudging wearily from her room, back when she still roomed with that obnoxious hero-wannabe. Suzanna Roscoe not liking Martina due to her more attractive than her, good grief. And Suzanna's roommate, Maryann Klein, has a disdain of villains, weak reasoning for why considering the superheroes caused most of the damage to their city by fighting the villains. Acting as if Martina is responsible for her mother's activities, a bunch of idiots.

Fresh-baked cookies, if the others in Poe knew about that conversation starter with Mrs. Horton they would be bugging her about every little problem just to get cookies.

"I'm sorry, but there's nothing I can do right now. The administration has very strictly forbidden any occupancy of the unfinished wings because of potential hazards, and even if there was a place, I can't move you until all the registration and residency data is in the school database."

Shoot, so that is why it took longer to get Martina away from that toxic roommate.

"Martina, I'm serious," Mrs. Horton shot back, having understood Martina's tone. "There are some very dangerous things in the restricted areas and outside the school boundaries. I want you to promise me you won't cross the boundaries or go into restricted areas!"

They should an assembly and have all the house parents, Mrs. Carson, and Ms. Hartford all say this in their sternest voices to all the students, then they might listen. Yeah, those mountains look inviting, Martina, but you don't want to meet some of the things which live on them.

Flight powers and an aversion to heights, proof that whatever process, etc. determine what powers a mutant gets has a twisted sense of humor, imo. An encampment and wood fire going, wonder who could be there. Heh, should have known it was The Nations clubhouse area. Martina, you need training in using your flying power and all the aspect of it, like any power.

Hank is the guy who caught Martina, seems she was breaking the rules, oh boy, a report to file at Kane and a talk with Mrs. Horton.

"Another one?" the woman asked. "Just had one brought in from the lake area. Must be something about bats flying under a full moon," she joked, although she didn't elicit anything but a soft groan from Hank at her feeble humor.

Just how many freshmen fliers are breaking the rules? And just great, Martina has to deal with Trout, potential headache incoming. The banter between two fliers, they could be a comedy act. Todd Dixon, another new face unless my memory fails me again.

Seesh, I knew Trout would read them the riot act but didn't know he would be in that foul a mood. Todd saying those cheesy lines, yet he already has a girlfriend, boy doesn't know when not to turn on the charm, does he.

"Well, I hope she'll be my girlfriend. Kiera. She's ... kind of playing hard-to-get." A big sloppy grin spread over his face. "She's a very cute Irish redhead. I was hoping you were in Dickinson, so I'd have an excuse to see if I could talk to her on the way back to Emerson."

Well he certainly has high hopes.

"Well, she's not a typical villain. More like a freelancer. She sometimes does contract jobs for security agencies," Martina explained cautiously.

"And your mom's choice of career is a problem why?" Todd asked.

"I kind of draw some bad attention."

"Good!" Todd grinned. "More people me and my roommate can tell to fuck off! I'm trying to prove to Darby - he's British - that Americans can be just as creative at insulting idiots. Tomorrow's theme is imaginative ways to tell people to copulate themselves in highly unnatural and creative ways."

I like Todd, he's silly. Plus I wish more people would have his attitude about Martina's mom's career. You can't control what your parents do, for Pete's sake.

Friday, August 31, 2007 - Early Morning
Poe Cottage, Whateley Academy

Martina faking being still asleep to avoid Christina as long as possible, and when she does get up sees Danny going to boys' bathroom where he is being teased by the gay boys, *sigh* Subtle gesture from Martina inviting Danny to change into Danica to shower with the girls, at least she is safer in there. Well, would be if not for Cindy, has to deal with problems either way.

At the Crystal Hall Alyss ask Martina if she is going to eat with them, but she is going to have breakfast with Todd and his friends. Wonder which of the girls teased her about it being over a boy.

"Kiera Ó Comhraidhe," the girl replied. "I'm Irish, from County Cork."

"Any power besides snark-fu?" Martina asked.

"I'm an avatar, and me spirit, well, I call him me little leprechaun," Kiera replied. "I don't think it's a real leprechaun, but it sounds good, especially to Americans." She gestured to her right, to another girl. "Me roommate, Christine Spijker, from the Netherlands."

Interesting group of friends Todd has.

"There was a major battle in the second world war," Christine answered. "American airborne divisions and British tanks drove out the Nazis. Oh, and I'm a healer and low-level telepath."

One of the girls was wearing a large pair of sunglasses as she sat quietly. "I'm Marjorie," she introduced herself simply. "But I go by Jori. I'm a siren."

"Tell her the rest," Kiera urged the girl.

Marjorie sighed. "Okay." She pulled off her sunglasses, revealing very large eyes with darker skin surrounding them, almost like tattoos. "I've got a little GSD."

"She looks like a cute little bush baby," Kiera interjected. "Her night vision is superb, and her hearing is probably ten times ours."

A very interesting group indeed, nice mix of powers and Marjorie's GSD makes her sound cute.

Wincing from what to her was very bright light of a normal day, Jori pulled her sunglasses back on. "I can jump almost twenty feet, and my body can absorb landings from a height that would kill a normal person. My roommate is Elle Ruud. She's Norwegian, and a Sidhe. Don't call her an elf, by the way. She doesn't like it. None of the Sidhe do."

Okay, that is much more than being a siren, very useful abilities too. And Elle Ruud, i was wondering when she would show up at Whateley, nice to see her again. Darby Danniel from Cornwall and he is a devisor, with the mix of powers this group has they would make a good training team.

Ugh, Christina just had to show up with her two new friends and ruin the mood.

"It's fitting that you're from Italy," Kiera said with a wicked grin. She waited for the Italian girl's expression to show curiosity at what Kiera was implying. "Italy is shaped like a giant boot, just like the one up your ass!"

Thank, Kiera, for saying what we are all thinking. Scoreboard for the insult, priceless.

A look of apologetic worry flitted onto Martina's features. "Sorry, but Mom is a master of witty comebacks. She kind of set the bar high. And there's someone Mom knows who she claims makes her rejoinders look like those of a kindergartner."

"Oh? If she's that good, we are going to have to meet her to get some tips so we can up our game!" Todd chuckled.

"She said she'll be here for Parents' Day," Martina replied happily. "But the one she said is a master is actually a teacher here on campus. And art teacher. Imp. I'm signed up for one of her classes."

This group being introduced to Imp, if someone had a snark detector on campus it would explode soon after their first meeting.

"I'm in first-period art, too!" Jori exclaimed delightedly. "Me and Dosi. Her full name is Theododosia, but she goes by Dosi."

Friends in the same class, fun. And what language does Theododosia come from for a first name? That line by Chris, my sides hurt, too funny.

Afternoon and back at Poe Cottage and Mrs. Horton calls Martina over. With Amy transferred to Hawthorne and Alyss having a single, so this is how Martina and Alyss became roommates and got Martina away from Christina, good.

"Pfft! Instead of having to wait for the bureaucrats and rule-makers to get all their ducks in a row and then filling out their seventeen forms and fifteen justification letters, let them catch up to what we need to do for once," Mrs. Horton said with more than a hint of satisfaction in her voice. "They should have never made that room assignment, so let them deal with the consequences of me straightening out their mess for them."

I love Mrs. Horton, knows when rules are meant to be broken.

Martina, Alyss may be an enigma to you but she is a good person, don't overthink it and ruin a good thing. School full of interesting people, boy, Martina's mom understated that one. Nice to have help with moving to a new room.

Unfortunately for Martina, the Italian menace was in their room. No sooner did Martina start to pack than Christina grinned triumphantly. "I knew this school wasn't a place for a villain's daughter! I'm glad they're kicking you out."

Martina was about to reply when Alyss put her hand on Martina's arm. "Oh, they're not kicking her out. She's just moving in with a roommate who isn't a stuck-up bitch with a pissy attitude and her head up her ass. Pardon my French."

"Not bad," Martina smirked. "I'll give it a seven point eight."

Alyss is such a great person, I love her more each time she puts a bigot in their place like this. Angel, Hank, Danny, and Jade helping to move so most of Martina's stuff in the first load, that is fast.

Martina laughed aloud. "It was good, but not world-class. Todd's trying to set up a snarky-comment class with a teacher Mom said is a champion at clever and cutting comebacks. Interested?"

A snarky-comment class run by Imp, the world can't survive such a thing! Hearing about Angel and how she hugs Danny every chance she gets, at least she isn't rude about and Danny knows she appreciates him.

"Don't worry. I've got a ... relative ... that's a villain. Doesn't make me evil, just like your mom being a villain doesn't make you evil. Anyone who can't see that is pretty damned stupid," Alyss added forcefully. "Pardon the French."

Alyss is good at giving out only the information she wishes to. Ack! That kind of camping I don't think I could handle.

Saturday, September 1, 2007 - Mid Morning
Poe Cottage, Whateley Academy

Like many of the Poe freshmen girls, Martina really didn't catch much of Mrs. Carson's introductory speech because Danny reluctantly changed to his cat-girl form to help the girl called Downpour to feel less depressed. Most of the lesbian girls were either ogling Danica or murmuring among themselves about just how hot the cat-girl was and what they'd like to do with her. The changelings like Martina and Alyss also had a hard time focusing on the speeches because many of the comments were quite amusing and thus distracting.

Another year of Poe freshmen not hearing all of Mrs. Carson's introductory speech, hope they don't get in trouble by doing things she mentioned not to do. 'Meet the clubs' event and picnic lunch, guess this is a tradition at Whateley.

Danica having to avoid Cindy and the Poe girls, their 'pet the kitty-cat' attitude needs to be called out. Avoiding DT and his thug friends, plus Wondercute, yikes, just avoiding people is almost like a full-time job for Danny/Danica and the school year just started. At least Wyatt is there to chat with Danica about his/her troubles. And Kiera sure knows how to get someone's attention, who's with Chris and Elle. Chris sure isn't subtle when flirting with Wyatt. Martina taking away with Kiera to meet up with their other friends, while Wyatt needs to have a chat with Danica about something important.

Nice display by the Gearheads. The Dragons out displaying their skills and Chinese martial arts weapons, including a kusarigama, cool. *facepalms* How fast you can master a weapon and how fast someone else can master a weapon is a world of difference, Toni. Listen to Nikki, please. 2 minutes, 38 seconds, only Toni.

Everyone turned back to the Dragon club member, who was gawking as much as the crowd was. "Um," he stammered, "Toni has a special ... gift ... for martial arts. Please do not try that at home."

Yeah, huge understatement, just show them her combat finale.

Nikki looked at Elle strangely, Elle feels there is something she should know about Nikki, can't wait for the big encounter.

Soon, Darby, his roommate Todd, the Greek girl Dosi, and Jori joined them and they stopped for hot-dogs before continuing to meander around, eating as they walked and talked.

Science fiction club and the Star Trek fans are arguing about which television series was the best, thank you Elle's hearing and listen to her, steer clear of that building powderkeg.

"Because number one, they won't be interested in anything but science fiction. Number two, being girls around them - well, it won't be pretty. Third, even being seen with the group could get us tagged as sci-fi geeks, and in some groups, sci-fi fanatics are not exactly social butterflies."

"I don't know," Kiera cast doubts on Martina's assertions. "Some of me friends enjoyed the Star Trek movies, and that didn't hurt them socially."

"Did they go to science fiction conventions?" Martina asked. "Did they make science fiction costumes? Did they stand in the middle of the school arguing about whether Kirk was a better captain than Picard?"

"Um, no," Elle admitted. "Okay, let's go see what else is around."

I enjoy science fiction, fantasy, and such, but have never done any of those things. Though conventions mainly because of none in my area.

"I had to room with her! And her mom is a notorious villain!" Christina Volante called out, tugging at the spandex uniform of one of the older Capes. "They won't kick her out, so we need to watch her, to be certain she's not up to villainy and evil!"

Is it wrong I want someone to hurt Christina so she has to have her jaw wired shut so she will shut up for a while?

"Oh, great! Y'know ye are spoilin' the entire Irish image with the green eyes and red hair and such an awful outfit!" Kiera said to the taller girl. "Please tell me you're not from the Emerald Isle!"

"I have Irish ancestors," the taller girl said. "I take it you're from Ireland?" She extended her hand toward Kiera. "Erin Manley, and my code name is Boudacia."

A British Celt for her codename, interesting. Christina just had to trigger this silly line of banter, can't believe Chris is playing along.

And the encounter between Elle and Nikki happens much sooner than expected, yay!

Suddenly, Nikki's eyes widened in surprise, then narrowed as she focused on the girl. "Your spirit - is she Sidhe? A female spirit? Aesgloweth?"

Elle started, but then shook her head. "I don't think so," she lied.

"Does the phrase 'seventh of the nine queens' mean anything to you?" Nikki asked, confident that she already knew the answer. "Or Queen of the Ice Realm?"

Elle shook her head more firmly. "I have no idea what you're talking about. All I know is my spirit is ancient, from some elfin race, and the testers said my power is playing with snow and ice. As an energizer. And a little bit of magic."

Darn, why did Elle lie about the name Aesgloweth, doesn't know who to trust yet possibly? Ow, Elle changed subjects so fast I got whiplash, she is going to have to discuss such things eventually. White-haired girl following the group, Jadis wishing to invite Martina into the Bad Seeds, wonder how Martina will response.

A mini-UN just in their group alone, love Darby's response about the Revolutionary War. Combat robots and drone race combined, awesome, I would watch a show based on that. Okay, there are scary implications if these kids applied the same ingenuity to combat helicoptors as they did these drones. The drone getting boo'ed, it's Belphegor's, isn't it.

The Spy Kids using images of fictional spies to advertise themselves, oh brother. Christina is trying to suck up to them, way it backfire her in the worst way possible.

The attractive girl she was semi-dragging pulled up short, looking at Martina. "Are you sure?" he said to the Italian, "Has she done anything illegal that you know of?"

Christina Volante frowned. "No," she said slowly and reluctantly. "But ... she will! She's an exact clone of her mother!"

The girl, a very comely upperclassman, sounded unexpectedly like a Southerner based on her accent. She shook her head. "Ah'm sorry for the disturbance," he said to Martina apologetically, much to the chagrin of Christina. "Ah'm Harley Sawyer, also known as Reach. Nice to meet you. Ah hope you are enjoying Whateley so far. Sometimes, mah colleagues and prospective members forget that just because a parent might have done wrong doesn't mean their child will do the same."

Thank you, Harley, about time someone said that where Christina could hear it. And Sir Wallace Westmont, love how polite he is to Martina and points out the neutrality accords to Christina, put that girl in her place. And the dressing down about her attitude is the cherry on top.

Behind the Spy Kids and their table, unseen to the club but in plain view of the students listening to their spiel, a thin, white-skinned girl that Martina had seen in Poe was holding up a large sign that had a picture of Don Adams as Maxwell Smart, with a legend that read "Maxwell Smart School of Secret Agenting". The girl was dressed up in a suit, with her hair tucked in a tight bun so that she looked a bit masculine. On the lapel was a huge home-made button that said 'Agent 86'. Beside the albino girl was another girl, wearing a smart feminine business suit and with her hair done up in professional, 70's style, and a similar button saying 'Agent 99'.

And Vamp is keeping them humble, love it. The shoe phone bit, my sides can't take much more. Get Smart is classic, love that you worked this bit into tthe story.

Jadis approaching the table where the group is eating, Elle wondering who she is. At least it is for a pleasant reason.

Jadis introducing the rest of the Bad Seeds to Martina, Nacht, Princess Jobe, Belphoebe, Jay-Arm, Cheese, Malachi, and told by Lindsey who is with the Wondercute girls right now. Martina learning why the Bad Seeds exist, how there are more idiots out there like Christina who treat the children of villains like they are villains already. And of course they already know about Alyss, at least the cover story.

Winter shows up and is told about Martina and who her mother is, thinking Set-Up is a freelance hero because she has worked for Mossad. Storms off after quiting the Bad Seeds for having invited Martina to join, girl has issues.

Jadis follows Winter into the Crystal Hall patio, chatting about why she doesn't like Set-Up.

Winter frowned heavily. "She did a job for the Mossad that hurt Mom's reputation and almost got her caught and imprisoned," she grumbled unhappily.

"Oh? What kind of job?" Jadis' curiosity had been piqued.

"A certain agency had arranged smuggling weapons on a freighter to a group of rebels in a certain African country. A couple of ... interested parties ... wanted to keep that government in power. It seems that they were skimming a lot of money from some less-than-upstanding government officials. Mom was hired to stop the freighter - but it had to look like an accident," Winter explained, her expression glum. "A fire at sea is hard to investigate when the evidence is on the bottom of the ocean, you know,"

"And Setup's role?"

"She did something with the shipping records. Mom targeted the wrong ship, and it caught fire while still in port. Setup planted and modified data in various systems so that Mom was kept busy dodging several intelligence agencies because the evidence was right in front of them. The real shipment got to its destination." Winter shook her head, her words filled with bitterness. "That hurt Mom's rep for a couple of years and cost her some good jobs."

Ouch, no wonder she is so against Martina due to what Set-Up did. Those in their line of work such things happen, having grudges for what a parent did is silly.

"Don't forget the irony of the fact that you want to be in FSHA," she added. "I'd have thought you would be the most understanding."

Winter looked a bit contrite at Jadis' comment. "Okay, I'll think about it. But I still don't like it," she groused.

She wants to be FSHA and yet is upset about someone's parent doing a white-hat job which nearly got her mom caught and imprisoned, *sigh* Things are complicated and messy when politics get involved.

Sunday, September 2, 2007 - Late Morning
Near Whateley Academy

Just where is Martina taking her new group of friends in the wilderness? Oh, good, hiking in allowed area. Martina is good at navigation, useful skill. Dang, this is a new and fantastic view of the Whateley Academy campus, never knew it had peaks all around it.

Elle learned the dimensional pocket spell from Mage Astre, now that is useful in many situations. Crud, it got Darby thinking how to make one himself as a devise.

Elle smiled and shrugged. "I can only make it about the size of a gym bag, and it only lasts for a couple of hours."

A very small backpack to size of gym bag and last a couple of hours is still very useful, I can think of over a dozen uses off the top of my head.

Watch it with the elf cracks, Darby and Todd, some Sidhe would take it as an insult and attack you.

"Brownies? Brownies? Where are the cookies?"

"Cookies?" Elle asked, puzzled.

"Well, yeah," Todd replied. "But ... maybe you're not from the Keebler clan."

"Keebler clan?"

"Sure - the elves who bake cookies and live in a hollow tree," Todd laughed.

Kiera glanced at Chris and Marjorie. "I guess the boys have decided they don't ever want a date with Elle," she said with a wicked grin.

Todd scrunched up his face in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

Jori answered his question. "Teasing once can be cute - maybe. Twice - pushing it. More than that, you'll never get out of 'friend-zone'."

I would hit those two with an anime mallet for the Keebler elf crack if I could. Backpacked in the Rockies, that is hardcore.

Martina seemed a little uncomfortable with the topic, and it showed, so Darby changed the subject again. "Elle, what classes are you taking? Cookie-baking? Toymaking?"

"I'm given to understand that there are really good fringe benefits for elves working in Santa's workshop!" Todd teased again.

I don't care if it breaks the 4th wall in the other direction! *hits Darby and Todd with anime mallet* And literal cold shoulder from Elle for Todd, hope this teaches him to knock off the elf jokes.

Ouch, Ice Queen, hope Elle discussion that with someone sooner rather than later. Swimming picnic party at the lake, I remember that, fun. Lake never less than 30 degrees Celsius even in the winter, very nice. Martina's comments about the lake, sounds like stuff out of the Simpsons, Futurama and some science fiction movies.

Tuesday, September 4, 2007 - Before Breakfast
Arena 99, Whateley Academy

I wonder why all these students have been brought to Arena 99 so early in the morning. Langley Paulson, so this is the flight training class.

"I will be your instructor for this flight training class. I'm teaching this term because we had a few ... contractual ... issues with the flight school we used previously." The way he said 'contractual issues' hinted at something more than just a pay dispute.

Hhm, wonder what happened with the flight school. Adam Ironknife aka Stormwolf, Diana Ritter aka Thunderfox, and Robert Shih aka Firecat, senior assisting him for the class and all have animal-themed names, curious.

Demonstrate and practice their particular skill at flying in Arena 99, guess no more outdoor classes.

"As to safety, the arena is equipped to prevent or minimize injuries in the case of accidents - distractions, collisions, magic spells running out of essence, devises suddenly and unexpectedly failing." Again, on cue, the upperclassman simply stopped flying and fell. There were gasps of surprise and alarm in the gathered students who expected him to go splat on the floor, but about three feet off the floor, he slowed like he'd jumped into a vat of gelatin which absorbed the impact.

"The safeties are smart-sensors, so if you fall, they will absorb your kinetic energy, but if you walk," Ironknife stood and walked back to the instructor, "the safeties will not interfere. The safeties are also in place on the walls, so if you go out of control, your impact will be cushioned," Mr. Paulson explained.

"If you do something stupid," Thunderfox picked up the instruction, "like deliberately dive straight toward the ground, you could cause serious injury, like breaking your neck. Broken limbs are also possible if you land wrong. If you find yourself falling, just relax and try to lie flat."

Okay, yeah, I would want to learn how to fly in there, never knew Arena 99 had all those safeties in place. Benny Hale's form of flight, classic huge bird wings, yet so much effort to get into the air. Pretty effective form of flight once in the air though, impressive. So many different and interesting ways to achieve flight.

Christina losses focus and control, ending up in the force cushion, yet somehow glares at Martina like it is her fault, that girl would blame Martina for global weather change if she could. Eamon Fitzpatrick, a unique sounding name to me. Ouch, an avatar with an albatross spirit.

Tail end of a chain reaction, my butt. Christina deliberately rammed into Martina, thank goodness for the force field. At least now Martina has told Thunderfox about Christina's attitude towards her so they can look out for this kind of stunt in the future. Hope it lands the little b in detention for a few weeks at least the next time.

First Period
Art Class, Schuster Hall, Whateley Academy

Aww, Martina afraid to sit with Jori because she is sitting by Eamon Fitzpatrick, possibly part of Christina's anti-villains and their kids group. Dosi says they will talk later, wonder if she saw enough to know Christina deliberately hit Martina. Aww, the reunion between Imp, Mischief, and Headrush. Imp wishes to have a chat sometime with Martina, wonder if she has any embarrassing tales about Set-Up to tell Martina.

Lunch at Crystal Hall, Keira worried about Martina, Dosi should have given out more information than she got hurt in flying class.

Martina shook her head. "Neither is Mrs. Horton. She ended up chewing out the dean for putting me in with bigmouth in the first place." She smiled. "So everything is cool now." She steered the pizza toward her mouth again.

I would have loved to sit in on that chewing out.

"Yeah, I noticed. Anyway, I was just levitating up and down because I'm not good at warping gravity horizontally - yet. I could see it pretty clearly. I thought it was staged."

"If she's anything like her dad, who Mom knows, that wouldn't surprise me," Martina replied.

Great, so Christina's Dad is just another thug hero with good PR. I knew it was deliberate, what Dosi just described confirms it, Christina is just a thug.

I hope Martina brushing this off doesn't make Christina think she can get away with worse and suffer no consequences like most thug types do. Sadistic little midget, Ito wears that label with pride. Mrs. Dennon's Brick Class, forgot Martina was in that class, she is going be a tough fighter to beat after finishing that class course.

"Then you'd fit right in with Ito!" Kiera shot back. "He said that he doesn't believe in fighting fair if it means you're going to get your arse kicked."

Wonder how many of the freshmen in the class were shocked by his attitude this year. Great, Jori got an elbow to the head by a bitch who thinks Martina is a villain and Jori shouldn't be hanging out with her.

Martina scowled. "That's going too far. If she wants to pick on me, big deal. If she picks on my friends, she's gonna piss me off."

"So what are you ... we ... going to do?" Todd asked, his expression one of grim determination to help is friends.

"I don't know yet," Martina said with a heavy sigh. "Maybe I should ask Mom for ideas next time I talk to her."

Ah, Martina is my kind of person, mess with me, okay, mess with my family and friends, all bets are off.

art class, right after Imp does her sneaky introduction.