Aberrant: Children of Quantum Fire - [CoQF] Finding Direction [1.1]

[Quantum Fire]

Gathering the teens together the next day in one of the many teaching rooms found underground, Uncle Shen (Or Traveler) has everyone take a seat, and waits patiently for them all to be quiet enough to listen.

"Ok, Ladies and Gentlemen.. I'd say boys and girls, but you lot have graduated beyond that, as far as I'm concerned, you've come of age. I've kept you protected and safe here for years, but sooner or later this place is not going to be safe anymore.

It's time to spread your wings and make your own choices about what you want to do with your lives.. I have a few thoughts and ideas, but the choice is ultimately up to you.

With regards to things that you can do, some of the following could make the most impact on the future.. Hunt down and stop, one way or another, some of the worlds most actively dangerous novas. Rescue other nova children from some of the things that you were rescued from. Start a new organization working together, something run by novas for nova and baseline issues. Move off planet and build a new home among the stars, this would be most effective if you also began to rescue other nova's in jeopardy. Join or work with some of the existing organizations, any of them would take you in, I believe Alex and Darrik were discussing that option yesterday. You could even lead Alaska or Hawaii to independence from the present USA, not to mention bring some nations under your wing, though this will have a lot of opposition thrown your way. Or you could, Set off on your own, this while not as effective, or long reaching, could have some interesting repercussions, you all could do very well, you have all the talent in the world.. to put it another way, you children, aren't children much longer, and you can do anything you want too.

Serenity and I are here, with love and support, but my question for you, is what do you want to do?"

[Courier]

Having thought about this before, Warren answered, "I want to open up the stars. I want to offer the Teragen a world where they can be separate and superior; I want humanity to survive if war destroys the Earth; I want a place where novas are safe from mother hunters."

Warren added dryly, "And I know, one place can't do all that. But a lot of these baseline vs. nova issues go away if there are multiple worlds."

[SalmonMax]

"Which reminds me," Alex said. "I still need you to come down to the lab sometime when you have time."

[Karren Gaunt]

Coraline nodded her head in agreement with Warren's plan, currently arabic features surrounded screwed up in consideration. She blew a strand of red hair out of her face, adding softly with more than a touch of hesitation, "If you need a lightning rod to distract the Mother Hunters from whatever else we decide to do, I volunteer. A few internal tweaks, a male donor, a female nova volunteer, and I *think* I could act as surrogate mother for those who were sterilized. Really give those monsters something to think about."

Her blue-on-black eyes flickered at her siblings, clearly afraid but willing if such a role was demanded of her to protect her family.

[SalmonMax]

Coraline's suggestion earned her a horrified look from Alexandra.

"One word," she said with a shudder, "Ew."

[Toby Lupin]

Darrik's superhumanly handsome features were screwed up in horror at Cora's suggestion, which was guaranteed to cause shock and revulsion under any circumstance. He shook his head immediately and strongly, as so to immediately dissuade any further consideration of that grotesque concept. "No, Cora. Simply no. Aside from giving me nightmares for the next year, that's only going to make us more of a high-priority target right now."

He sighed and chose to move on. "I agree with Warren, we need to open up more worlds than just this planet. On the other hand, even with the best nova capabilities, such a task will take a large amount of time, which we potentially may not have. We need an organization or force that can counterbalance the Teragen and Utopia... but truly nova-run, not like the Directive. Alex, we did discount the Aberrants as a viable organization as of now, but perhaps we can make them stronger, more capable. Or we can build our own. But the world in front of us can't be ignored yet."

[Courier]

Warren nodded at Alex's request. It'd been on the list of things to do but there'd been distractions. At that though his eyes flicked left. There'd been a shift in... focus.

Warren mentally replayed what Coraline had said and frowned. He replied, "Um... potentially useful but let's not go public with that one just yet. 'Lightning rod' is an understatement. 'Open declaration of war' is better."

[LydaLynn]

Epiphany listened to the others, but couldn't keep her thoughts to herself. "Cora, at some point I am sure there are couples out there who would be grateful to you for such a gift. But if you decide to do that, it should be done as a gift, otherwise, you risk causing them serious pain if something were to go wrong. That shouldn't be done as a way to draw mother hunters, but as something wonderful once they are no longer a threat."

"I don't mind the idea of leaving, if it means Earth is safe for those who arn't Novas. But I won't force any Nova to leave, and if any are left behind, there will be no one to defend the world from them if they decide they want to rule. Setting up a safe haven would be an amazing thing, but we need to move with care or risk making things worse."

"I think that of all the organizations out there, the Aberrants sound the best, but we don't really know them. I wouldn't be comfortable just walking up and putting my name on their rolls. If we were to do something like that, we need to have some serious discussions with them. And I would think we should make it clear that we are allying ourselves with them, but retain our own anonymity."

"I don't want to jump any guns though. We just barely started thinking about going out into the world. Let's draw up lists of what each organization is and isn't, what we know and what we suspect. Outline what we want and what each of them has to offer and what each of them would mean to us. Then we can have a reasonable discussion where we all can have an educated say in what we decide."

"I don't think Traveler is saying we have to move now," Epiphany looks to him for a moment with a slight nod. "He's handing us the reins to our future and asking a question. Yes, he gave us a taste of the idea yesterday, but I don't think any of us are ready to make a decision yet. It's too new and we havn't really had time to think or discuss."

Epiphany sighs slightly, "Basically what I'm saying is, let's pause, take a breath, and think about our options before we run headlong into a choice we can't step back from."

[Butch_Cole]

Butch listened to some of the initial thoughts of his family regarding Traveler's announcement. He squirmed in his chair when Coraline made her...offer, which at first seemed downright weird. The more he thought about it though, Butch had to respect her guts, the willingness to offer something like that.

Butch ran his hands through his short, black hair. He cleared his throat and took off his sunglasses revealing the green, faceted eyes underneath. He pointed at Darrik and started: "I'm with Darrik on having an organization to counterbalance Utopia and the Teragen. I think that organization is and needs to be us. Started by us and run by us."

Butch paused, then continued: "In any case, I think we need to figure out what we're about, what we stand for. We'll do our homework on anyone we want to ally ourselves with, but they'll want to know about us, too. Sure," Butch nodded at Epiphany, "we should figure out what we know and what we suspect about the organizations that are out there like Pip said. But I think we also need to lay out what we have to offer and, more importantly, what we're willing to offer these groups."

Butch pointed at Warren, shook his head slightly, and said, "Warren, I don't know about offering up a theoretical planet to some other group yet. I certainly don't think we should go and give one to the Teragen. Still, it's something we might eventually have to offer. And it might just be something we set up and run as our own organization. Like Uncle Shen said, it works if we want to set up a safe haven for Novas in jeopardy, which I think is a good cause to get behind. If there are other Nova children out there like us, I want to help them. I think finding and protecting other novas like us, second generation novas, should be something we stand for. What do you guys think?"

He looked around at his family and waited.

[Karren Gaunt]

Cora looked slightly miffed at Alexandra and Darrick's overeactions and Epiphany's assumption as to her reasoning. Of course, she'd be careful and ask for help before doing something like this, screen the people involved, warn them of the dangers and make safeguards... Think before putting more new lives in harm's way. Children weren't weapons after all, interesting as it would be to give a Motherhunter a whole new perspective on the issue after a fight.

Speaking of which... "I agree, contacting and rescuing others like us the Motherhunters missed is most important. We find them, we can start working what we can do," she added softly.

[Maia]

"If we escalate like that Cora, they will too. At a future date, that might be something to do discreetly, but for now I have to agree that's not a viable option."

She looked at the others. "Are we sure there are others? Aside from the Teragen, and possibly the abberants, how many 2nd gen novas do you think there could be aside from us?"

"I'd like to believe there are others, but I am not sure. As far as opening new worlds, that's possible sure, and if we're serious on that front, the Daedalus League is a good group to start talking to."

"I am not really ready to leave Earth just yet myself though."

[Courier]

Warren commented, "If there are others they're buried deep. A big way to contact them would be to get them to contact us. And to be clear, I'm not suggesting we personally flee the planet."

[LydaLynn]

Epiphany had been chewing on a thought for the last little bit. She thought the seed might have come from a memory, and old one, from before Novas, but she hadn't managed to chase it down yet. But no matter what the basis of the idea was, it might be worth bringing up.

"Okay, bare with me here but . . . What if instead of joining a group or working as ourselves. I'm still trying to put this together in my mind so it might be a bit choppy."

"What if we became Anons. For a little bit, anyway. It would give us a chance to see what we are really capable of. Not to mention give us an opportunity to get real world experience while doing some good. It could help us really nail down what we want to do, are capable of doing, and what doesn't actually matter after all."

"And all these groups would see someone working out there, see what we believed in through our actions. I can't think of a better way to establish ourselves. It would take some doing, particularly in logistics but . . ." At about that point Epiphany realized that not everyone was following her.

Looking around at the group, many of whom seemed confused, "I'm sorry, like I said, I'm still working it out. Ah . . . an Anon is an anonymous . . . benefactor? Someone who does something charitable or good or . . . what have you, for someone or someones else. The key is anonymous, thus Anon."

"If we could find a way to go out and do work that we believe in while keeping our identity obscured, at least for a little while . . . We could leave calling cards of a sort, 'Happy to help, Anon.' Some would get it, others wouldn't. But if we were careful, we might be able to make them think it was just one Nova at work. If we wanted. People would piece it out, but if we established the Anon identity, as an individual or group, before they figured it out, we'd already have a leg up when we went looking for allies."

"And, like I said, something like that would give us a chance to get out there without being out in the open right at first. I just think . . ." Another look at their faces, "That I should shut-up now . . . sorry."

Epiphany looked a bit sheepish. She didn't normally pontificate like she had been. It was a testament to how busy her thoughts were that she just blurted them out like that. That was twice, she realized. Pip acknowledged to herself that maybe she was the one that needed to take a deep breath and think.

[SalmonMax]

"I have dossiers on known nova, and nova-interested, organizations," Alexandra said from where she was leaning way back in her chair and looking up at the ceiling. "I can get you guys copies if you want. The major ones are updated. Minor little ones I haven't paid as much attention to."

"Now, if you want to know what I think we should think about doing..."

She paused, still looking at the ceiling.

"Well, if you really want to save more second generation novas, like us...most of the ones that got away from the hunters will be hard to find." She rocked her chair forward and faced everyone across the table again.

"But what about the ones that -didn't- get away? There's not a whole lot of places in the world you can hold a bunch of novas secretly. If we can work out where they're being kept, we can do some recon...maybe make contact to see how brainwashed they are...and start planning how to get them outta there."

[Toby Lupin]

Darrik tapped his fingers idly as he listened to people's suggestions, and thought about how these could be connected together, for they certainly could be, and all appropriate avenues could lead towards the ultimate goals presented.

"There's no reason that with the proper planning that we can't do most or all of this in time. In fact, we might want to start with the Anons and the rescue efforts first... that would give us leverage and supporters for any future organization we would create.

The primary issue about rescuing those who have been captured, is that many who have likely were killed not too long afterward. The Directive perhaps, would be more likely to hold novas rather than kill them, as others might. I doubt Utopia would leave them alive... or rather, Proteus would take great pains to make 2nd Generations disappear from Utopian custody."

[iGod]

Jeffery sighed. "Guys, the reason I suggested the Aberrants to begin with is that they've already probably done some of the initial heavy lifting we're talking about, and have probably already defused some land mines we would have stepped on. And they're so unfocused, it'd probably be easy for us to step in and re-purpose the whole organization, assuming they haven't already decided to fight against the motherhunters themselves. Think about it: There's no reason for them to be motherhunting themselves, and every reason for them to be all for saving the next generation. They trust Utopia as much as we do, probably less."

"I just don't see the need for us to reinvent the wheel. Proteus is dangerous, Utopia is subverted, the Teragen are a cure potentially worse than the disease. And how are we supposed to start doing this stuff on our own without setting off alarm bells, given how isolated we've been? the easier our transition out into the wider world, the quicker we can get stuff done right."

"I know I've been pushing hard for the aberrants, but...it's because I've got a pretty good feeling about the group. One of those good feelings. I'm a lot less enthused about our chances if we try to go this alone."

[Toby Lupin]

Darrik glanced back to Jeff. "Then we can start by helping and/or approaching them with the Anon setup. There's little chance we can gain any position of power with the Aberrants without proving ourselves to them. And given that they stumbled onto Proteus decades ago, the issue of motherhunters is something they likely know about, and likely oppose."

[Karren Gaunt]

Cora was quite frankly bewildered by this 'Anon' term the others seemed to be tossing around, much as she approved at what it seemed to be striving for. However... "It may just be me," she volunteered softly, "But it seems that at least some of us should approach the Terat on our terms while we're doing this. They mean well, even if they're doing it wrong."

"After all, they've been fighting Utopia long as anyone and they'd probably point us in the right direction of other 2nd Generation Novas," she added after a pause, expression hopeful.

[Sunstar]

"I have to agree with Darrik, Jeff and Cora on this one. For now, we should at least have a talk with the Aberrants. They might be useful, if only for information or pointing us in the direction of other 2nd gens."

She leans back in her chair.

"That said, I also feel leave the planet all together is something I do not want to have to do, but it may be inevitable. So we might need to make a back up plan of sorts. Just so we can all get out here safely."

[LydaLynn]

"NnOo!" Epiphany's gazed turned to Cora and she stood up straight, her face set. "I'm sorry, but no. If you plan to go to Terat, let me know. Because I'll be long gone before I have anything to do with anyone who is even remotely associated with them!" The strength and determination in her voice was something it was unlikely any of the others had heard from her before.

She wouldn't try and influence them beyond the sway of her words, but if anything could get her to leave this place and these people, it would be the Terat. And then she wasn't looking at any of them. She had just a moment to slam the link closed before the flashback overtook her.

Whatever Epiphany was seeing in her mind wasn't pleasant. It wasn't the first time she'd had a flashback with the others around, but she had always refused to talk about it. With her eyes slightly glazed, staring off into space, she was nearly motionless, but the feathers on her wings betrayed her trembling.

[Maia]

Mai got to Pip first and laid a hand on her shoulder. "It's alright. Nobody's joining up with anyone, especially them." Her reserve of serene calm was opened to Epiphany, and She tried her best to calm her.

She looked to the others. "Another thing to consider is this. Why act only in the shadows?"

"I'm a known nova, and known as a second generation nova. My parents were naiive and I wasn't hidden. There's a nice trail that guarantees people know I AM alive and well."

"I can serve as a distraction, get the attention focused on me, and then the rest of you can do what you like."

[Karren Gaunt]

"Too risky, Maia. You may be tougher than any of us, but even you couldn't beat a Motherhunter team specifically sent to capture you for disection and *worse*. You can't run away worth a crap eiether. The longer we have in the shadows to learn from all those who've fought them while we grew up, the less chance we'll all die or disappear within a month of going public. Ten people can't take on the world without alot of preparation, I don't care who they are," countered Cora as emotionally, her own buttons being pushed, "And right now, nine people I care more about than my own life in this room are planning just that."

Her chorus of voices was defiant, the metamorph crossing her arms over her chest.

[SalmonMax]

"There'll be a time for us to go public," Alexandra said. She was leaning back in her seat, fingers steepled over her nose in her Evil Overmind pose. Sometimes she did it just to be funny...but it was also something she did when she was thinking hard. "But the thing about going public, for any of us, is that once we're out there's no going back. So we have to be prepared before that step's taken."

"Unfortunately, before we can prepare, we have to reach a consensus. What we're talking about is nothing less than shaping the world into what we want it to be. Since we've never discussed it before, naturally we all have our own visions, and they conflict. Lets do an end-run around all this bullshit about who to join, and what to do and get to what's most important. What we want the end result to be. The goal. Once we agree on that, the path for getting there will be a lot easier to see."

[Butch_Cole]

Epiphany's reaction was slightly surprising to Butch. The edge to her outburst wasn't something he expected from his normally mild sister. He had never had any interaction with the Teragen, but Butch remembered his father talking about them growing up. Talking wasn't exactly what he did if Butch was being honest. Johnny Hellfire, as his father was known when he was still an elite, could surround himself with terrible fire, but when the Teragen came up in conversation, there was fire--angry, bitter fire--in his voice. The conversations ended quickly, and Butch never pushed on the matter. He hoped that eventually Pip might open up about her past, but he wasn't about to push her either.

Alex's point was what Butch was hoping they'd get around to: their ultimate goal.

"Well, Alex," Butch said, sitting up a bit straighter, "I want to make a world where Novas, of whatever generation, have the right to live without fear of being hunted down like wild dogs because they can have kids. Hell, if they want to they should be able to reproduce without fear of someone spaying or neutering them to keep them from doing that. I want a world where Nova parents don't have to endure the same crap most of our parents had to endure because they had us. I want a world where a Nova's kids can grow up the same way anyone's kids can grow up."

He paused and laughed, then continued: "Sounds pretty pie in the sky, huh? Maybe, but I think it's worth working towards. On this world first. If not, then we take our idea to some other world. And I think if anyone's gonna do it, well, it has to be us. For now I say our goal is to find and protect anyone out there like us, 2nd generation novas. I think we also need to take an active role in protecting any Nova parents out there, too. If there's a quantum charged bun in the oven out there, we watch out for Momma and Poppa Nova. Immediate goal? Find and protect as many nova children and parents as we can. I want to be a safe haven first and foremost. Maybe we even call ourselves Haven or something like that."

Butch shrugged. "Just another wild Butch idea though. What is it y'all hope to accomplish then?"

[SalmonMax]

"I'd say, if anything you're thinking small, Butch," Alex said. "But okay. One vote to remove current threats to nova reproduction. Anyone else?"

[Karren Gaunt]

"Something like what Butch said," commented Cora to no one in particular, "But further. I'd like to the see the Motherhunters and whoever knowingly backed them defeated, disgraced, and crucified on the world stage for the pathetic murderers of children and unborn children they are, with the lesson it will happen again to anyone who tries to pick up where they left off. But that's second to all of us being healthy, happy, and sane, having learned what we can about survival in the wider world from those who have come before we try anything agressive."

She left out the part about 'a world where no Nova is forced to choose between being a Baseline Slave or being exiled and killed', given Pip's overeaction to the mere idea of asking the Teragen a few questions.

[iGod]

"One vote for finding a world or two for us, if not the humans as well. Everyone is under the gun as far as resources are concerned. And even if we do get spread out over the galaxy, we still haven't dealt with the problem of some novas trying to bully the baselines, and some baselines getting paranoid in that 'strike first and regret later' way we've seen play out over history. All the rest of it has to lead to that. Coexistence is...real fragile, and not something we can keep going while depending on the inherent goodness of humanity."

[SalmonMax]

"Ah ha, okay then. Lets break this down."

Robot marmosets chased each other around Alex for an instant as a simple wooden easel appeared. On it was a large pad of paper and a black marker. Alex grabbed the pen and wrote:

"Fix the World" and "Find a new world" then drew a line down the middle between them.

"Okay, good...we're getting places. Keep it up."

[iGod]

Jeffrey shook his head at the 'fix the world' side.

"That ain't gonna happen. And it ain't gonna happen because no one has figured out a way to Erupt with the exact powers they want, and it isn't easy changing what you got after you do Erupt. And that means we can't depend on enough people with the right powers to replace the resources we all consume. And even if we could, that exacerbates the main problem we have now: Neither baselines nor novas can trust the other to not try a power-move."

"Baselines need room to grow, and so do we. One planet isn't big enough."

[Toby Lupin]

Darrik sighed. "Jeffrey, you're presuming that any efforts we make are useless. The fact is, what you say was true, then we probably wouldn't have the time to prepare any bolthole of escape, if the planet is that a powderkeg. Now, I would ultimately extend my vote towards the protection of other nova-born, seeing as the process will likely lead us to the other goals I wish to obtain in the process."

[iGod]

"Darrik, I'm not saying we shouldn't try, but Alex asked for end results, not short-term solutions. And, in my opinion, I don't think fixing the world so that novas and baselines can coexist is going to work long-term. Hell our kids, in their lifetimes, could be sitting around watching the whole thing implode. Remember? We live longer than most humans, possibly many times longer if those studies are correct. That's a lot of food and water we'll consume while we're trying to sort stuff out."

"No it won't happen tomorrow, or next month or next year or probably next decade. But it will happen sooner than we think, and we need to get off the planet before that happens. The sooner we start, the better."

[Kasheal]

Oz finally decided to speak up after so long listening and not contributing. Sometimes he felt awkward bringing things up to what in his mind was a group of much more confident teens, especially when most of the time people had enough trouble following the speed of his speech as it was with out the nerves.

“I-don’t-like-the-idea-of-bolting-I-would-prefer-to-try-fix-what-we-have-before-thinking-of-running. But-I-also-see-what-others-are-saying-even-if-we-can-solve-the-resouce-problem-eventually-Earth-just-won‘t-be-big-enough-for-all-the-people-plus-a-base-off-world-sounds-cool.”

He stopped talking for a brief second seemingly in thought.

“But-I-think-what-people-are-saying-about-rescuing-others-would-be-a-good-first-step-so-I-would-vote-for-that-maybe-turn-ten-into-twenty-who-knows.”

“And-maybe-we-could-make-some-people-pay-for-the-motherhunters-like-Cora-said.”

He said the last sentence a lot quieter, he knew they should probably use their combined intellect purely for the ideas people where suggesting but he couldn’t forget what the motherhunters had taken from him and what damage they could still do to the group.

[Sunstar]

While Marina is concerned at Pip's out burst, she decides to hold off that till the discussion is over.

"I agree we should be trying to get other 2nd gen to safety. But like I said before, even with all of us our information network is rather small. The only group to seems like they might have the info and won't have strings attached would be the Aberrants. We don't have to join them, just work with them if only till we get the information we need. After all, almost anything has a use, if only as a informant or as a tool."

Marina does the classic Gendou Ikari hand clamp.

"As for getting off earth, I'm still saying we should save that for when things go completely FUBAR. Especially for the ones of us that can't breathe in space. Till then, which I hope it never comes to that, we should be trying to figure would the motherhunter's moves, find their targets and get them out dodge before they get there. Maybe bash a few of their heads in."

She then mumbles to herself something along the lines of 'Maybe that might get HIS attention...."

[Courier]

Pip yelled and Warren froze. Everyone else reacted and it was confusing. Actions caused reactions causing other reactions and it was interesting seeing how everything was put together. Solutions in search of problems presented themselves.

Warren said a little disjointedly, "I want to fix the world. I want the world to accept me. I want to publicly crucify whoever killed our parents. I want to make the world safe for us."

Warren shifted gears and it was like someone else was talking, someone who saw one thing leading to another, "But I don't want to flood the world with blood in doing so. Right now whoever pulls the mother hunters strings thinks they can exterminate us. Open up worlds and they lose. Their targets will flee and grow to strength in a different system."

Warren nodded to Pip, "The Teragen plays rough and we're not going to change their minds. Their beliefs massively conflict with too much of the world, either we kill all of them, help them conquer the world, or help them separate. I don't see how to fix the world without dealing with them, and I don't see how to deal with them without other worlds or mass murder."

[Quantum Fire]

He listened to the children.. no, the young men and women talk about what they wanted to from the world, and put forth their ideas and suggestions, discuss and argue, then he spoke up.

"In almost all of the futures I've looked into, cloudy and hazy as they are, eventually Nova's leave the planet. The only question about it is how, when and where, and who we take with us. That said, it's only almost all of them, there are a few other options, but in that area, the most common one involves Nova's taking over total rule of the planet, and it also puts on hold certain potentials of humanity, there are are other ways in which humanity can change that it should be allowed too.. "

"On a different note, Epiphany, dear girl, don't put all folks under one hat in the same category, some members of Utopia and Teragen mean well, they have good intentions, but, as has been said, good intentions can bring disaster, and not everyone in either group knows everything the others are doing.. even at the highest levels. In fact, I suggest all of you keep that in mind, some of the folks you end up opposing might be potential allies in the end. That said, I am independent of most of these groups myself, but I have the contacts you folks need to connect with just about any group you desire."

He paused a moment, then sighed, as he continued. "This might come as a difficulty, sense they have done you folks such harm, but includes even the mother hunters, some nova's are so horribly tainted that they give birth not to nova children, but to monsters. There is one nova who was killed because they implanted ravenous larva into paralyzed humans that ate their hosts alive, and I find it impossible to regret that death... On the other hand, others have been killed that I haven't seen or been able to see that didn't do anything other then become pregnant."

"Considering your discussion so far, I suggest forming an organization, of Nova's for Nova's, and carefully adding others to it, because your right, you need more then the ten of you, though a group lead by the Ten of you at your full power will be a dominant force in the world."

[LydaLynn]

Epiphany slowly returned to the room from her memories of the past. She heard some of what the others said as she again began to focus on the here and now. Though she wasn't always certain who said during some of her flashback. Pip smiled thanks to Mai for her support as she started to focus again when Oz was speaking. Hearing the thoughts of the others Epiphany worked on understanding and accepting, because despite the horrors that still lurked in her mind, she cared for each of them.

As Traveler spoke, however, Pip tensed again, but kept her thoughts strictly focused so she wouldn't slide back into flashbacks. She took a deep breath and steadied herself for a moment before she spoke again. "I apologize for my earlier outburst. I . . . I feel very strongly about Teragen. And to my mind anyone who puts themselves in a group without trying to understand what they are getting involved in . . . They arn't innocent." Epiphany closed her eyes and took a deep breath, fighting off another flashback before she continued. "It is the responsibility of each person to know what they are a part of, and being involved means lending support. I forgive and encourage those who take steps to know and work to correct things they don't believe to be right. But to hide behind ignorance is to allow evil to thrive and flourish. I can not support that or join with those who participate in evil or willful ignorance."

"But I agree that being open is important. And I will work on putting my prejudice aside to look at each person instead of the group they joined. But before we reach out to any of them, I would like for us to have at least one, if not two, back-up safe houses. Even if they arn't houses. Someplace to fall back if the worst happens."

"For the novas who have so much taint, or malice, that they harm others . . . I think that might be one of the best uses of the other world idea for the short term. But where removing them isn't possible, protecting the greater population takes precedent. My issue, though, is when one condemns an unborn nova because of the taint and disposition of the parents. Where possible, I'd like us to try to save the children. Even the ones that look like monsters to our eyes and instead focus on who is a monster in their mind, not their body."

Epiphany nodded once then stepped back to lean against the wall. She had said what she felt she needed to say, now she would listen for a while. It wasn't her decision to make. They had heard her thoughts and put forth their own. Now it was time to discuss and decide. Pip wanted stay with the others, to make the world, or worlds, better with them. But she was pragmatic and knew that there was always the possibility that what the group decided wouldn't be something she could live with. She had said good-bye to one family already, she didn't want to do it again, but was willing to do so if needed.

[Karren Gaunt]

"Killing children and parents is never okay."

Cora didn't say anything more than that, aloud anyway. There seemed to be a consensus forming that she could live with, and even if she couldn't, the young metamorph wasn't equipted to argue it out with some of her more social siblings en mass. There was one thing she had to do, though.

'Sorry about treading on your issues. I had..,' Coraline began to apoligize in a whisper over the link to Epiphany, smiling hesitantly at her winged sibling until she notisced she wasn't even getting the usual mental 'busy signal' she got from the link if the target was asleep or distracted. A quick test showed the same with all the others from her.

The smile died. What the hell had the mere suggestion that they *talk* to the Teragen about to how to not die while opposing Utopia sparked off that Pip took down the network entirely?

[SalmonMax]

Alexandra carefully controlled her urge to sigh. Herding cats didn't even begin to describe the sensation. Everyone had their own narrow focus, and their attempts to grasp the bigger picture inevitably collapsed as their own neuroses came to the forefront again, transforming discussions of global intent into trite declarations like 'killing children and parents is never okay.'

And people wondered why Alex didn't talk much.

The Traveller was just as infuriating, but from the opposite extreme. Here was a man who could predict chaotic events like weather, volcanos; things that no amount of intelligence could know, with certainty, how to predict. But he wouldn't, or couldn't, offer that information up in ways that were particularly useful. His assertion that most peaceful scenarios led to another planet was, to Alex, hardly even worth saying. Of COURSE they did. Anyone following macrotrends could make that dimestore prediction. What she needed were specifics. When would the island be discovered, and by whom? That was the big question for now. Without an answer all she could do was prepare as fast as possible...but it made prioritization tricky when you didn't know who your enemy was.

"As for safe house," she said. "I have an idea about that. A mobile base; a submarine, we can use once the island is compromised. With my design, and if I create enough exotic materials, we'll have a hull that can dive deeper than anything else out there, and be virtually undetectable to any type of sonar. When safe, we can loiter near the surface and extend antennae to make contact with OpNet. Hangars for air and watercraft. Not even Novas can teleport somewhere if they don't know where it is."

[Courier]

Warren was generally happy with the meeting and where it was going. He'd want to push for exploration of space even if it didn't offer massive tactical and strategic advantages. He'd even tried it on his own already. The first time he'd opened up a warp into deep space had been great. He'd had visions of Star Trek's 'planet of the week'. Unfortunately they called it 'space' because there was so much of it.

Ignore that warping a thousand light years out meant your navigation information was a thousand years out of date. Finding a 'new' star was easy, but finding potentially life supporting planets in orbit was a lot less so. Poking around one airless section of space was a lot like poking around all of them. Thus far in terms of exploration the Earth had a lot more to offer than space.

He loved exploring, he loved the idea of exploring, but he was going to need a lot of help.

[Butch_Cole]

Some of what Uncle Shen mentioned disturbed Butch. Human-eating larva sounded nasty, but it brought up serious ethical issues regarding the whole Nova-reproductive-rights business. It seemed like some of the others had strong feelings about it, too. He wondered how comfortable he was with having to put down other Novas like this.

When it came to self-defense, it seemed more straightforward, and Butch knew he wouldn't hesitate. Two Novas came for him and his father six years ago. They took out Butch's father, but weren't as successful with Butch. The hairless one--whether man or woman, Butch was never able to tell--he cut loose on after it made his dad's head vanish. With a scream, Butch focused all his rage and tore up the thing's insides, collapsing the lungs, overloading the brain, and bursting the heart. The woman though was tougher, and it took some time for Butch to drain her of her power, then her life force, and finally stomp on her head until it was mush.

For now, Butch tried to put off the thought of euthanizing anyone and tried to refocus on the task at hand.

He said to the group: "So where do we stand? I count a clear five of us ready to find and protect anyone out there like us, 2nd generation. I'm for it. I think Cora, Darrik, Marina, and Oz were, too."

He looked at Jeff, then Warren, and said: "Jeff's thinking a long time down the road if Earth gets too small and lacking in resources. Warren wants, what was it, a new world to flee and grow strength on without any bloodshed? So that's two thinking we skeddadle sooner rather than later and colonize the universe."

Butch shrugged. "Maybe we should set up some primary and secondary or short, medium, and long term objectives. I think our primary, immediate objective should suit all of us well, and I'm not sure leaving Earth for the stars does that right now. Honestly, I don't know how much use I'd be as an explorer. I could survive out in space, but I don't think all of us can. I have no idea how to look for a suitable planet or how to make gadgets to let everyone breathe and whatnot. Not that we can't plan for and aim for that, but I'm feeling that's secondary right now. We get some more Novas like us on our side, well, maybe they make that an easier task to handle."

He nodded at Alex, "And some stuff sounds great in any event. Having a mobile base sounds good to me if you can whip one up, Alex. I think that'll help us short term if you've got one hidden away right now, maybe more medium term if it'll take you time to create. You did a good job of directing us a bit before, but I'd like to hear where you stand on this, too."

Butch paused and added, "And anyone else I might have missed or who wants to clarify their position. Let's try and finalize this then figure out who we go to for info or help."