opnet [OpNet] Vile Bill's final gift

[Preston]

It seems that Vile Bill has had one final bit of consternation for me. My son has erupted.

At the funeral, with so many novas present, he began having incredible headaches. By the time we arrived back in Boston, he was nearly incoherent from the pain. Against my usual policy, I used my gifts upon my son and verified what I had already figured was about to happen. With the aid of a few friends, we got Neil to a secluded location and did what we could.

I have never been at ground zero for another person's eruption and I can tell you it was pretty terrifying. The fact that it was my son only made it worse. The first 24 hours were the worst. It has taken some time, but he has started to gain more control and understanding of the changes that he has gone through.

He feels that he is stable enough to get back to school now.

Normally, I am inclined to keep personal business to myself, but he wanted my to post this as a final tribute to a nova that he never knew, but who he thinks has given him so much.

Thank you Bill.

[Fortune's Son]

Congratulations to him and pass on our good wishes. In the spirit of cooperation and watching out for the kids here's a couple of points for you to consider / pass on to him;

1. Bearing in mind that I have a degree in pharmacology, yeah, we all use to be something different, tell him to watch the adrenocillin. It contains psycho actives, including a couple that I've never seen before, and I've met novas addicted to it despite what Utopia says. Maybe they really are a minority but it's something to be aware of. It's not aspirin.

2. Mox isn't a substitute for control. No psycho actives but there's no data on long term effects on the MR tissue or the brain chemistry. If it weren't for the fact that the world was going bug shit back in '98 the FDA never would have let the stuff through regulations with a nearly complete lack of clinical data to back up their claims.

3. Start thinking of a plan B for when traditional school approaches become impossible.

That's it for the kiddie advice.

[David 'Dr. Troll' Smith]

Contrats, I think.

If it isn't too earily to tell, what did "Bill" give him?

[Preston]

Thank you.

To clarify a point, my son is 22 years old.

Further, he has just started Medical School at John Hopkins, so he has some knowledge of pharmaceuticals. Lastly, his father is an ex-narcotics officer and is presently the head of Boston's Nova Enforcement Division. Worse; at one time I was addicted to heroin, so I know that road all to well. Right now, he is only taking over the counter medications, though we administered some others during incapacitation.

What we do know is that he has more staying power than he did and he has developed a more complete understanding of problem solving and memory retention.

Whatever else he has is not obvious as yet. Several times during his eruption I was in contact with him and I felt ... tingly and very alive, but that was it.

[Doutor da Reducao]

This is fascinating!

Do you suppose it was simply coincidence that he found himself surrounded by so many novas at the time? Or might their presence not have been a vital factor.

Incredible!

[Fortune's Son]

Don't take umbrage or feel I'm slighting your son by referring to him as a kid. He's actually only a couple of years younger than I am but it's the last two that have made all the difference.

His background should tell him all he needs to know about pharmacueticals but I still standby the last piece of advice. One inadvertent word or rumor will make him the center of attention for every media outlet and opnet hack in the country plus any of those abroad willing to foot the bill for a ticket. No matter how well he personally deals with it, his school could find it's campus crawling with undesirables and that's going to have blowback.

I'm a big believer in having a plan B ready at all times.

[Jager]

I second Jack on that sentiment, and Congrats!

[Sakurako Hino]

I too send my salutations to the young future nova-genius! If indeed he is now as resiliant as you say, he has quite a long life ahead of him as well. Hopefully the relationship you two have will only stregnthen his commitment to his goals. But, I advise you, to allow your son latitude on his choice as to how he will handle his newly found abilities. I was already painted in a corner early on by a Mother I found out was doing things that were less than legal on the side. I'm just now cleaning up her "trash". I know you are running clean now, and your son sounds to be an outstanding member of society. Just don't reign him in. Let him fully express his "voice".

er... That' sounds too deep...

[Teknokat]

Might as well send my congrats to the new Q-man. I'll not bother with the advice, apart from the general "Make sure he doesn't look like a dufus on N!" I'm surprised how few new novas are given this advice...

[Sakurako Hino]

O_o; Amen, TK. Testify.

[Stigmata]

So will the new son grant us with his presence? I'd love to talk with the son of Preston the Uptight, does such a trait run in the fam? Well, whatever, congratulations Detective.

[Sakurako Hino]

Preston: Perhaps you shouldn't rush your son's introduction to the boards here. Perhaps not at all. I've discovered that once you lay eyes on this place, you're never the same. But, the invitation is out there now. Hopefully he's willing to talk.