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Aberrant: [Razor's Edge] First Contact


Jeff_ST

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April 23, 1998.

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The day started as many others had since the dawn of the Nova age. People glued to their television sets, or radios, or even newspapers for information on who had erupted in the overnight hours. This day there were two eruptions in the news. One was a steelworker who had fallen nearly to his death, but his eruption had saved him. The second was more troubling. The second nova to erupt was a death row inmate, scheduled for execution in Nebraska. He was in the electric chair, strapped in when he erupted with the apparent ability to turn into a living lighting bolt. He broke out of the prison and escaped into the surrounding town and country side. Since midnight local time, the authorities have been conducting a massive manhunt, but they are unsure what they will be able to do to contain the inmate.

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In entertainment news, Disney opened a new park called Animal Kingdom yesterday, with the exhibits receiving rave reviews. Also the Academy of country music awards took place last night, with Garth Brooks the major winner. Also, the nova explosion has led to the appearance of a new singing sensation in Latin America. Simply known as Alejandra, she is starting to make a name for herself.

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Closer to home, Quinn was just starting the day with his morning routine. He was in the kitchen preparing his breakfast when he noticed a small envelope on the kitchen counter. Opening it, he began to read.

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In the Bronx, Janet Waller was jumping out of bed, looking blearily, and realizing that she was running late. Throwing all of her books into her bookbag, she didn't notice a small envelope drop out of her Computer Theory text book, until she slipped on it as she started to run out the door. As she got up from her slight trip, she picked up the envelope and opened it.

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South of there, in the borough of Staten Island, Sean was waking up, her body still feeling unfamiliar. As she made her way down to breakfast, she noticed a small envelope outside her bedroom door. She picked it up and began reading.

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About that same time at a dock in lower Manhattan, Naomi was just getting home from a night-time stake out. Her sensitive ears picked up an unusual fluttering noise in the slight breeze. Looking for the source of the odd noise, Naomi spotted a small envelope addressed to her attached to a chain link fence. She opened it up, and began reading.

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Siva woke up and put on her glasses, the world resolving into clarity around her. She began to take stock of her room around her, when on her nightstand there was a plain white envelope with her name written upon it. She looked at it carefully, then opened it and began reading.

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The Message
Welcome to the new world. I cordially invite you to a small gathering of individuals who will be important to the future of Novas and the world. I seek to bring together individuals who will change the world in more ways than one.

Signed,

Pedro Santaigo ,,

Please RSVP at Santiago@CoreIndustries.com

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Naomi's ears twitched. It was late and she's noticed two or three day wanderings for her before resting her head wasn't unusual. Noting the fact the mysterious person had left a note with a e-mail that wasn't AOL or some other public e-mail service was intriguing. The man had to be rich. rich enough to afford a vanity e-mail. "Seems life is going to be interesting indeed... either this or it's some sort of trap to round all us up... now I'm sounding silly..."

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She had stepped on to her boat to change out of her business-type clothing, the dark muted colors helped blend in and the cut didn't suggest trouble. Looking like you belong there helps when a police officer asks what you are doing. Well that and having worked for them in the past helps turn attention elsewhere. The case wasn't a big one to be honest, just a jilted wife trying to get something on her husband to tilt a pretty savage divorce case in her favor. Naomi had a feeling she wasn't going to get paid, as the Husband for the past two weeks was squeeky clean.

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She changed into the "business casual" of a turtleneck shirt and a pair of biker shorts she had modified for her tail then letting it slink around her left leg as she put on a baggy white pair of pants and put on a white windbreaker. Poking her head out into the mid-april sunrise she stretched. Walking down the gangplank back to her car she thought of her agenda for the morning.

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"Head to Bytes and Bites to answer this mysterious message, then phone the client that for yet another night her Husband was clean as a whistle."

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She sighed. Money was coming in, but this case was dragging her down. Something had to change or she would have to start referring potential clients to other Detectives she knew in the area. She also cursed that she had no way to have an internet connection on her Yacht.

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Heading to the internet cafe where she was known on a first name basis, the person minding the morning shift waved to Naomi. "Hey! Our favorite alley cat! How was your evening?"

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"Boring, Kate. Any specials for breakfast?"

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"Well we got this nice butter croissant here that might be up your alley."

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"Good, I'll take the strongest, blackest Cappuccino you can whip up with at least four of five of those butter croissants and got any cream cheese I can have with that?"

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"Of course."

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Naomi smiled as she put some extra money down. "Oh, and I want to use #6 for a few hours."

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"Actually you only got an hour, the Starcraft boys are showing up then. You'd think they'd spend their time on their college work."

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Naomi shrugged. "Not my problem. Got a case to straighten out, shouldn't take long anyways. Besides, do they put money into the place like I do?"

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Kate massaged her chin. "I see your point."

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Naomi put some extra money down. "Add a Choclate Donut to my breakfast."

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As Naomi went to terminal #6, Kate smiled. "I never understand you Novas. You eat so much and still keep those physiques!"

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Naomi grinned, logging in. "It's a secret."

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Pulling up her e-mail personal e-mail account she grinned. "No spam today. And a couple e-bay auctions panned out. Sweet."

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She then looked at the note and took care of it first.

Mr. Santiago. I'm interested, but understand if I am just a little suspicious
as to what is the nature of your request. I am only going to be online for 1 hour.
Hopefully your e-mail won't screen me out.
 
Internet: Naomi@nminvestigations.com
Website: http://nminvestigations.com

"I really should get an office nearby." Naomi said with a flustered sigh. She pulled out her Nokia and called her client. Naomi was first into the shop, as the office crowd usually didn't zombie in until 9 am.

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She wasn't on long once she dropped the bad news.

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She winced as she hung up. "Dammit... luckily I got some pay up front."

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She headdesked, her ears drooping as Kate brought over the Cappucino. "Bad day?"

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"Well that was the worst. Can only get better from here..."

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Naomi realizes she should look up CORE industries... perhaps a visit to the library might be in order...

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April 23, 1998.

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In the Bronx, Janet Waller was jumping out of bed, looking blearily, and realizing that she was running late. Throwing all of her books into her bookbag, she didn't notice a small envelope drop out of her Computer Theory text book, until she slipped on it as she started to run out the door. As she got up from her slight trip, she picked up the envelope and opened it.

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The Message
Welcome to the new world. I cordially invite you to a small gathering of individuals who will be important to the future of Novas and the world. I seek to bring together individuals who will change the world in more ways than one.

Signed,

Pedro Santaigo

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Please RSVP at Santiago@CoreIndustries.com

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Janet bit her lip as she read the letter. And reread it. And started reading it a third time before a stray glance at her watch reminded her that she was going to miss her bus and be late to class after missing the last few days of class and she probably was behind enough as is... And she really wasn't sure about going out after what happened last time... And what the hell did the letter even mean? Who was this guy? Would he try to hurt her and force her to push herself again..?

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"Think, Janet. Think. He's probably just another reporter or agent or someone. Just someone who... put a letter in your.... room.... instead of leaving a message or sending it by mail..."

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She chewed her bottom lip hard enough to have drawn blood before her eruption as her thoughts derailed into all sorts of nasty conspiracy theories and reasons to throw this letter in the trash and use one of the others as part of her big plan to Shut her Mother Up Once and for All. It'd be safer and some of them had mentioned money and it would be the obvious common sense way to take care of all this... this... Thisness! A spike of anger contorted her stunning features in a spasm of frustration as the train of thought meandered into depressingly familiar ground. No! Just no! She was better than this. For God's sake, a look at the hallway mirror to her left told her that she was different now. At least on the outside. And she wanted to be different on the inside, too.

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Happy at least. That'd be a step up.

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"Right. Time to be stupid. Maybe he's... talking about meeting other 'novas'? Maybe he is one? No, that can't... At least I should... Eeeep! My bus!" she cut her own monologue off as she realized time was passing as she was spinning her mental wheels in place. And she wanted to be able to tell Sifu Dan that she had gone to school like she had promised him before tonight's class... The red-head refused to let him down by not going again today.

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One panicked run to her bus stop, a surprisingly-easily received explanation for her skipping class, and an awkward lecture later, Janet was hunched behind a college computer, logged into the 'jwaller3@yahoo.com' account an instructor had insisted they all get and trying to ignore the continuous glances of students and staff rubbernecking at her. Her e-mail was short and to the point, painfully letter formal through nervousness suppressed through a stubborn act of will.

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Dear Mr. Santiago,

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Thank you for your invitation. I would be glad to attend your meeting if you could tell me when and where to be there.

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Respectfully yours,

Janet Waller

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Quinn frowned and put down the letter. It seemed interesting, for certain. And an invitation normally he would give consideration to.... But how the hell did it get in here - and its deliverer? This wasn't mailed, which concerned him. And in addition, the would be host Mr. Santiago seemed reticent to give any details whatsoever. Time, place, nothing. Impolite, and worrisome.

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He turned and continued buttering his toast on top of the strawberry jam, the side to some basic but healthy scrambled eggs and water. It gave Quinn something else to focus on while mulling in the background on this mystery man. Unfortunately, it was an email. Quinn was still getting a hang of this Microsoft Outlook Express along with Windows 98, acquired for the Torano General Store administrative computers.

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Dear Mr. Santiago,

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I am willing to consider your invitation, provided you please inform me of the time, date and location.

And don't send people sneaking into my house to deliver your mail, sonny boy. We have postal services for that.

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Sincerely,

Quinn Torano

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Siva's mind sorted though the possibilities of how this particular message got here, and she called out as she got out of her rather luxurious bed, considering the note carefully as she headed toward the bathroom, dropping her clothing into the hamper on the way. After setting the note down, and going into the bathroom for a shower, she thought the matter over, considering it from a dozen angles and as she dried off she moved back into the bedroom and called to Cedric, who she knew was just outside her room.

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As he came into the room, her friend and employee blushed to see her wearing nothing more then a towel and she gave him a slight smile. "I already told you that I really don't care too much about societal conventions, my friend, you are hired as my bodyguard and confident, I don't mind what state of dress you see me in.. but I suppose your too much the boy scout still." She tossed him the note and then dropped the towel to finish getting dressed, her grin widening as Cedric turned even redder and spun around. "Your also too easy to tease.. "

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"We seem to have an invitation, and as I can't see this message normally getting past you." She watched him as she put on a dress, noting his startled reaction to the note, which told her what she needed to know and confirmed what she suspected. "No one came with a message, did they?"

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"No."

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"I didn't think so, which means no one normal delivered this message, it's somewhat bothersome however... " She paused. "All teasing aside, Cedric, I'm about to make a change that you may not be comfortable with, but comfortable or not, if it's possible to deliver something like this, then I may need you closer to your comfortable with."

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"You weren't just playing here, were you Siva?" In public he used Ma'am to insure that she was properly respected by those who were around, but in private she insisted that he use her name, after all, they were old friends and she did want him around as more then just a bodyguard.

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"No, if what I suspect regarding this delivery is true, I'm going to need you closer and constantly so, if it's not what I suspect, then I'm still going to need you closer, just in case what I suspect comes true. That means I will need you near at all times, even taking a shower or changing in the bedroom.. because if your further then that, you may not be able to react quickly enough to protect me."

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Cedric frowned. "You mean from others like us, don't you? I mean, I've seen you turn air into liquid, you don't have much to fear from normal humans if you have a moment to act, though I imagine that you would prefer that I deal with such matters when possible."

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"Your smarter then you give yourself credit for, my friend, you are correct."

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Cedric took a deep breath and turned around, when he saw that she was dressed, he relaxed a touch. "I will attempt to overcome my present.. state of mind regarding the matter, Siva... now, about the note?"

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"Of course I'm going to respond, and in the affirmative, as you no doubt expected, this is information that we need to know, especially if one of us is this quick to act this soon after our various transformations." She walked over to doorway heading into a rather large computer room even as Cedric followed her, sitting down at the computer desk, adjusting her glasses a moment, the activating her email she sent a single reply.

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To:  Santiago@CoreIndustries.com
From: SivaMoore@CatalystUnlimited.com
 
Name the time and place, We'll be there.
,,
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Sean stood up from picking up the letter with a frown, feeling the bounce and sway of her full breasts under the now over-sized Arsenal F.C. jersey she wore as a nightshirt and the way the red silk slid across their sensitives tips. Three weeks and the heavy weight jutting straight out from her chest sometimes still took her by surprise. As she read what was written on the letter, a furrow bloomed between her perfect, dark-red brows.

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Getting offers from men she didn't know wasn't new, unfortunately, most of them from men old enough to be her father or older. She had a whole stack of them on her desk, some of which she wasn't even old enough to legally accept, if she wanted to, which she didn't. This one was a bit different though. Professional, but impersonal, not directed at her specifically, which all the others were, and very short.

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More importantly, it seemed to be from someone who wanted to get a number of Novas together, which technically, she guessed she was... If having epic boobs and a voice more potent than Viagra counted as super powers. If she had to be a girl, she wished she had ended up more Buffy the Vampire Slayer and less Jessica Rabbit.

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Sean shook the self-pity aside and went for her habitual morning bathroom visit, carefully avoiding looking at the mirror and the overly sexy stranger reflected therein. She knew, even with her soccer jersey hanging all the way down to her knees now, it still showcased her incredible curves more than she was comfortable with. But at least she didn't have to shave anymore.

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She was sixteen and a month ago, a boy. It was disturbing and embarrassing to look in the mirror and get aroused at the sight of the college-aged woman in mirror who was more beautiful than anything she could have possibly imagined before the cruelest April Fool's Prank in history. Maybe in a group of Novas, I won't stand out so much...

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Sean finished up in the bathroom, then rushed back into her bedroom to change and get ready for school. She hadn't really cared what she wore before, back when she was practically socially invisible. But now, with every eye on her all the time, she couldn't help but care, at least a little.

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Layers had become her best friend - if they couldn't hide her figure, they could at least mute it. Bra, undershirt, loose, long-sleeved shirt, unbuttoned short-sleeved shirt, unzipped oversized hoodie, baggy cargo-pants, and pair of Sketches was her outfit of choice. A lazily casual look, but she pulled it off despite herself, well enough that some other girls at school were beginning to emulate her, to Sean's embarrassment. Only problem was, with the weather getting better, the layers were starting to get warm.

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"Get your tits in gear, sis, I don't want to be late, and neither do you!" Sean's older sister Teagan yelled down the stairs.

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"I'm coming!" Sean yelled back, wincing at the sound of her voice. It... suggested far too much despite her innocuous intentions. Her mellifluously sensual soprano had already gotten her in trouble and Sean knew it would happen again.

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Sean slung her backpack over a slender shoulder, then lugged her guitar case over the other with a melodious grunt. With her smaller stature and slenderer arms, managing the bulk took more effort than it used to. On the other hand, she still ate every bit as much - maybe more - as she had when she had weighed nearly twice what she did now, despite her now tiny waist.

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The kitchen was crowded with her and her guitar case, her younger brothers getting ready to walk to school, her older sister eating a yogurt cup and waiting to give her new sister a lift to school on her way to NYU, her father reading the paper before heading out to NYU himself, and her mother cleaning up after breakfast. Sean scarfed down two big bowls of Honey-Nut Cheerios and bananas, to Teagan's envy.

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"Hey, mom? When did that letter come in?" Sean asked.

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"What letter honey? I haven't picked up the mail yet."

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"Oh, uh, nevermind. Must've dropped it last night and just found it this morning," Sean muttered around the last spoonful of cereal, before nodding at her sister and placing her bowl in the sink. "I'm good to go, Teag."

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"Okay, let's go."

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"Hold on a sec, sport," Sean's father Kieran interrupted, looking up from his paper at his new daughter. "You have you cell?" Sean dutifully held up the flip-phone before stuffing it in her pocket. Her father had gotten it for her last week, in case of emergencies or if she ever felt threatened. Sean was irritated that she was grateful for it and her father's general protectiveness since her gender-bender. "And if you're walking back after school, think about waiting for Kevin or Chris, okay?"

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"Yes, dad," Sean agreed with teenaged exasperation, lips twisting into a stunning scowl.

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She hated feeling so vulnerable, being treated as if she was helpless just because she was a girl... but it wasn't just because she was a girl. Just looking around the kitchen, she was the shortest one there, even smaller than her mother. And she drew attention like shit drew flies - some men just couldn't help themselves around her and nearly all of them were bigger and stronger than she was. True, her magical Voice could usually give her a moment to get clear, but she couldn't always rely on it, especially since sometimes, it just caused more more problems.

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She hadn't even been back to school for two weeks, and already two boys had been expelled and seven more suspended for harassing her. And those were just the obvious or severe cases. She'd been groped more times than she could count, though she was getting much better at seeing them coming and avoiding them.

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Mr. Gorman, her English teacher, had almost molested her when he had asked to stay after class so he could talk to her. Sean hadn't told anybody because he was almost everyone's favourite teacher at Susan Wagner, including her own, but she was a good deal more wary now, when any teacher asked to speak to her alone.

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And don't even get Sean started on the girls. She might have been one now, but she still didn't understand them any better. Some wanted to be her best friend, some were pretending to be her best friend, and some hated her guts, either because she was prettier than they could ever hope to be or used to be a dude, or both. And she could hardly tell which were which.

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Sean followed her sister to her car, ignored the few paparazzi who had started lingering around, put her guitar in the back, then climbed into the passenger seat, lips pursed into an annoyed pout at the way the seat-belt sat between her boobs.

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The drive passed in silence, save for the radio, and Teagan saying she had heard Sean practicing for Guitar Ensemble and asking if she had considered going into the music business, which made her blush. When Teagan claimed she was way hotter than Alejandra and had a sexier voice and going into show business would be easy, Sean blushed even harder, partly in embarrassment and partly because she was afraid her sister might be right.

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Teagan stopped in front of Susan Wagner, and Sean climbed out of the car after her sister threatened, again, to take her out for girls' night someday, to help her get comfortable in her skin. With every eye turning her way, as they always did when she showed up to school, Sean pulled her mid-back length vivid red and gold hair - shinier than anything in a shampoo commercial - into a pony tail - pulled up the hood on her hoodie, and trudged into school, as she had for almost two weeks since going back after her change.

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It was getting better at school, though 'better' was a relative term. The first week had been horrible. Now, at least, she wasn't a surprise in the halls, even if every boy still 'stood at attention' when they saw or heard her, and the ones who weren't intimidated by her appeal and the fact she looked like she should have already graduated hit on her constantly.

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The senior football team's pool to have her show them her boobs was up to $1417.35. Sean hid a wry smirk. Playboy had already offered her a million to pose in the magazine before they had known how old she was. Now it was a standing offer, waiting for her to turn eighteen. Someone had started a countdown to her eighteenth birthday on the internet, according to Kevin, but Sean couldn't bring herself to look it up.

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The rest of the day passed in what was more or less par for the course. Everyone clamored to be her partner in Physics class for the Egg Drop. She managed to avoid giving an oral presentation in English and therefore giving every boy a boner (or an even harder one). She was able to play Magic with her friends during lunch without too many people huddling around her. During Music class, she got a standing ovation and made half the class cry with her rendition of the Beatles 'Yesterday' and took it with awkward grace, then reluctantly acceded to Alina Duffy's pleas to take part in the Sophmen SING production

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Still, despite her protestations, Sean privately felt a glow of pride - not only could she sing pretty well now, instead of sounding like a bullfrog, she was also pretty good on the guitar, when before she could barely pluck two notes that went together. She wasn't aware that her estimation of her musical skills were vast understatements.

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And Alina said she changed her mind and would love to go with her to the Green Day concert. Sean's excitement was tempered by the fact she wasn't sure if Alina meant she wanted to go with her as a girlfriend or as a girlfriend. Sean wasn't even sure she really wanted to go anymore. Guys tried to cop a feel were bad enough in school, in a mosh pit, she might cause a riot.

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The worse part of the day turned out to be last period, Physical Education. Brittany Toletti tried to keep her out of the girls locker-room, saying she was a freak and not a real girl, just a pervy boy trying to steal a peek. Sean had had this argument last week - the guys were all too willing to let her change in their locker-room - and the school board had declared she would use the girl locker-room.

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Sean lost her temper and proceeded to rip the taller girl a new one. If she was just a pervy boy, why'd she need to look in the locker-room when all she needed was a mirror to see something better than anything school had to offer, and unlike Brittany, she didn't need her father to buy her a big pair of perky Double-D's, but grew them herself. And it wasn't her fault Brittany's boyfriend spent more time staring at her than at his girlfriend, but if she could get him to stop eye-fucking her, that would be just super.

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Finishing off with telling Brittany to go fuck herself might have been a bit too much and Sean barely stopped her in time before Brittany did just that in front of everyone. As it was, Brittany's social standing at school took a beating and the quick smiles the other girls flashed Sean's way actually seemed sincere.

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Not for the first time, and on her own account, and her parents' and the school board's, Sean wondered if she'd be able to graduate attending public school or if it would be easier for everyone if she was just home-schooled.

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Gym passed by quickly, with the coach having them play soccer for most of the class. Sean had expected that a figure like hers would be more decorative than functional, but since her eruption, if she was smaller and weaker than she used to be, she was also quicker and far more graceful and flexible and did really well during the matches. It didn't hurt that the guys had their eyes more often on her tits and ass than on the ball. She could hardly blame them - the gym uniform the school had provided was quite tight across the chest and the behind, and loose everywhere else.

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Finally, school was over. Just one more day and then it was the weekend. Sean walked home with a protective posse made of her best friends since kindergarten, Kevin Cooper, Chris Chrenowski, and Peter Green. They were still her best friends, but she couldn't help but notice their friendship was changing, and Kevin and Chris at least, were starting to get far more interested in the girl she was now, rather than the boy she used to be. Sean sighed, feeling a twinge of sadness.

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At least this time, she didn't cause any accidents... if you didn't count one schoolmate running into a tree on his bike.

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Sean begged off playing video games with the guys, then tromped through her house, telling her mom she'd have four hamburgers for supper as she passed through the kitchen then headed down to her room in the basement. First thing she did was take off her bra - even if she agreed it was better wearing one than not when she was going about her day, with her sensitive skin, it was hardly comfortable - then turned on her computer and logged in to her Hotmail account.

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She stared at the screen for a long moment, debating, buying time by looking up what she could find on CORE Industries. She should really tell her parents what she was planning, but she wanted to make the decision for herself. She was the middle child and they had always left her to her own devices before. She was more than grateful for their support and interest since she 'busted' out during her eruption, but she needed to do this on her own. She just hoped she didn't end up like other teen girls, getting raped and killed by a predator on the Internet, like Dateline seemed to believe happened all the time.

From: SFCassidy@hotmail.com
To: Santiago@CoreIndustries.com
 
I got to admit, I'm interested in meeting others like myself, 
but as I'm sure you understand, I'm justifiably wary. And I 
still have to attend classes. If you can take my concerns into 
consideration and provide a time and location I'm able to 
attend, I'll try to make it to your gathering.

I'm still gonna have to tell someone where and when I'm going, even if it's not mom or dad. Teag, maybe...

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As everyone waited for a response, their e-mail pinged with a new mail less than a minute later. It was from Santiago@COREIndustries.com. In the subject line, you see the words "Reply and Location." Upon opening the mail you see a company letterhead for CORE Industries. The reply reads, "My friends, the meeting is scheduled to take place tonight, at 7:45 pm, at 580 Madison Avenue. Please proceed to the 15th Floor, and look for office suite 201. Tell the secretary you are here to see Mr. Santiago, and you will be led to my office. At that time, I will discuss my offer for you all.

,,

Pedro Santiago

C.E.O. CORE Industries."

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The sudden quickness of the response impressed Naomi. "Not surprised... a company would have secretaries. Although trusting someone else with an E-Mail account for a corporation is..."

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Naomi gestured to Kate. "You have something I can carry this doughnut in?" She asked, finishing her coffee quickly.

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"Yeah, I can get something managed."

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Naomi smiled. "Going to be cutting out early I think. I got some research to do."

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One hour later...

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Naomi went to New York's Central Library to look up Core industries. She didn't find too much out of the ordinary on CORE Industries. Just a typical industrial and construction corporation. Although it's CEO was notable as a humanitarian. Adjusting the loose windbreaker-like suit she as wearing made her stick out like a sore thumb among the college students and office workers. It made her just a bit self-conscious. Then again coming right there from the cafe didn't allow time for a change of clothes.

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Three Hours before the meeting...

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Naomi was busy changing outfits in her Yacht. Trying to look just right. The dark navy blue was contrasted by the white trim on the lapels and cuffs of her blazer, and the red tie gave stood out in the contrast. The long skirt with a specially tailored setup for her tail was a welcome thing to see before putting her gray trench coat on. The shoes she wore weren't anything to write home about.

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She stepped out and started to walk, locking up behind her but not before grabbing a old hat, a wide-brimmed fedora-like hat she had made some modification to so her ears could keep exposed so she could hear the city around her in the way her node allowed.

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It was a bit of a walk, from the west side of the financial district within a couple blocks of the World Trade Center to the location in the e-mail. It bought her just enough time to occasionally grab a nibble from street vendors making her way to the meeting spot. She preferred walking over driving, really, the city's gridlock would burn a hole in her gut quite easily. She walked into the building about 20 minutes before the meeting would take place, although she decided to wait in the foyer for a few minutes. She respectfully took off her hat.

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"Sorry to loiter, but I'm just curious as to who else will be coming." Naomi said to the secretary. "Oh and how rude of me. I'm Naomi Minami. Private Investigator. Mr. Santiago sent for me."

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Janet had been doing a bit of overdo research on CORE Industries, not really finding a lot of interesting insights. Just another of those big, well, not so big compared to some, industrial companies that made things used to make things. Complete with a founder you've never heard of. A founder who could get a letter into her room without anyone knowing. She grunted softly and leaned back in her chair, running a hand through her hair as the sudden movement drew a flurry of attention fellow students only a quarter focused on their own computers. Suppressing a frown at her own negativity, the red-headed nova closed first one window and then another until only her e-mail was open.

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Huh. There was already an answer to her response. Tonight? Midtown? An offer?

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Thoughts wheeled through her head as she wrestled her resolve back into place. Maybe this could get her what she wanted. Money. Independence. Happiness. All she had to do was go there and listen. Good practice for the next offer she responded to. Right. Right.

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The rest of the day was a bit of a blur of nervous anticipation. Another class. Another bus ride back home that triply affirmed her desire to catch a cab to the meeting no matter how polite most people were about their interest at looking and making small talk to her. Calling to say she wouldn't be able to make her martial arts class that night and why. Blessedly normal studying and homework. And then... Telling her parents where she was going when they came home to find her getting ready to go out that evening. God. Her dad just sort of nodded after his usual tired warnings about going out, but her Mother... God. Her Mother was so... so... Urrrgh! As if Janet couldn't take care of herself! Or catch a taxi on her own! Or finished her schoolwork before going out! Further vows to do operation Shut her Mother Up Once and for All were sworn. Add a taxi man who turned almost homicidal towards the other traffic when she urged him 'to try and hurry up because it's important' and verbosely refused his own tip until she pushed him to take it to salve her own conscience.

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Janet Waller was immensely glad to see Office Suite 201 and entered it, sucking in a deep breath of relief at having made it. Dressed in one of her nicer, long-sleeved blue dresses with matching leggings under a heavy coat, she looked around the foyer, hair hanging loose around her face. She did a little double take upon spotting the other young woman with cat ears on her head, but recovered with what she hoped was good grace. "Hi. Are you here for the meeting, too?" she asked with a fragile smile before shifting her green-eyed gaze to the evident secretary, "Um. Yeah. I'm Janet Waller. Mr. Santiago invited me."

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Tom, assumed you had Naomi waiting in the 15th floor office since you weren't here. Will edit if I'm wrong

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What surprised the graying sexagenarian was how swiftly after he had sat down to send the email as the first order of business, that he had received a reply. Almost as if Mr. Santiago had known in advance - an uneasy thought to Quinn, but you never lost that Army intuition that alerted you to something wrong, certainly not after the jungles of Vietnam. Santiago probably was - though perhaps not - a nova as well, which would explain a bit. Frightening too.

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But this was a world changing ever more quickly now, and Quinn had been forced to recognize he was in the thick of it too.

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The day's work was mixed. Minutes here and there of research on CORE Industries: drawing little more than a clear legitimate and wealthy corporation on Madison Avenue - the best parts of New York City. Quinn was a businessman, but getting into such heights as the Dow Jones and the NASDAQ were well out of his small-town bailiwick, which didn't help.

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The Torano General Stores ran independently as most branches and franchises did, but Quinn still ran the Levittown shop he had bought and built, his child just as much as his three boys. Couldn't stop thinking of them too as such, fathers as they all were now. So he kept up at the register, working with Marina Chellsie, a local college student who held part-time work at the store - talking with still familiar residents and ringing up purchases.

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No reporters, talk show media types or other gossipy twits finally. Quinn had been bombarded with many requests and attempts for interviews, but had steadfastly refused them all. It was his eruption, as it were, his personal business, and he felt no need to blab about it. News was meant to be for that, news that people should know - and the paparazzi had just about screwed his patience to the breaking point.

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Fortunately however, Quinn's status as senior citizen and one of the eminences of Levittown came in as a shield - particularly when the local Nassau County Police precinct Captain, Diego Devilla, was an old school friend of Quinn's eldest son Albert back in the day. Captain Devilla had arrested enough for trespassing and disturbance of the piece to turn media eyes to other more accessible novas.

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The mysterious powers were... tremendous, but at heart Quinn didn't feel any more different than before that March day in Central Park.

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In the late afternoon, hours in advance, Quinn drove down to NYC in the Taurus, making a stop first to get a few sandwiches and extra fuel for dinner and the return trip home. He was getting hungrier it seemed.

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When he entered the building of 580 Madison Avenue, Quinn was dressed ala business formal. Dark gray business jacket, black slacks and shoes. No tie, but the nature of Pedro Santiago's offer was not completely clear, so Mr. Torano chose to err on the side of serious conservative dress otherwise. And the wedding ring, Wendy would expect that of him to wear it still.

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He was not the first into Suite 201, apparently. Quinn slipped over to the secretary first. "Hello. I'm Quinn Torano, have an appointment with Mr. Santiago, I believe?" Then he turned to greet the ladies present with handshake offered. "And hello as well. I suppose you also have that appointment as well?"

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Sean raised her sleekly arched brows in surprise, hearing the ping of a response not even a minute after she sent out her email. She read the reply, then slouched back in her computer chair, taking a deep breath that tested the limits of her t-shirt. Tonight and less than three hours away - for the best probably, giving her less time to change her mind. She really was going to do this

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She padded across her room, closed her door, then pulled out her her Nokia cellphone and flipped it open to call her sister. After three rings, she picked up.

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"Hey, Teag, you busy?" Sean asked.

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"Try not to sound like you're wheedling for a booty call, sis," Teagan replied around a snort of laughter, picturing her new sister blush. Teagan was still having trouble reconciling that the ridiculously sexy and silky voice she was hearing belonged to Sean. "You caught me right after my last class. I was planning on going out with Derrik." Derrik was Teagan's boyfriend, 6'4'' and a starter on the NYU football team. She refused to let Sean and him meet for her own peace of mind. "Why? What's up?"

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"Oh! Um... you see, I need to get to Midtown by seven thirty," Sean said, forcing herself to ignore her sister's comment and explaining the note she got and the meeting she wanted to go.

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"The CEO of CORE Industries, hmm? So why this one, instead of any of the others?"

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"He's not asking me to pose or advertise anything, just wants to meet with me and others like me. Novas." Sean bit a full, naturally deep pink lip in an unconsciously feminine manner. "It's hard sis. I just want to meet other Novas too, learn how they do it."

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Teagan nodded, empathizing with her former brother. Sean never complained or whined, but she couldn't imagine what she was going through now. She just tried her best to lighten the mood, teasing her a bit, trying to help her get comfortable in her skin. Teagan waved at some passing friends on the NYU campus, then climbed into her car.

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"'Kay, Sean. I got a bit of running around to do first, but I'll pick you up at six, and tell mom I'm taking you out to help you 'acclimate'. You owe me, sis."

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"I know," Sean agreed in resignation. She just hoped it didn't end up too embarrassing. "See you soon."

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Sean hung up, then took a quick shower, sighing in grateful relief for the flexible, adjustable shower-head her dad had installed. She used to like the high pressure of the old, basic shower-head, but the first time she had used it after her change, with her new protuberances and far more sensitive skin, it had felt like she was being stabbed with needles.

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She got dressed in the same clothes she had worn to school - they were still clean and not dirty at all - then headed upstairs for supper. Despite her size - with her long legs, she looked and felt even smaller when sitting down, the rest of her family towering over her - Sean ate more than her brothers. At least she didn't knock anything over or plant her boobs in her dinner plate this time.

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In typical teenaged fashion, Sean tried to deflect her parents' questions about how her day went, not wanting to talk about the rougher or more annoying events, but she didn't think she fooled them. When they asked her if she was willing to take her turn to walk Shadow, Sean hesitated only a moment before agreeing. She'd been skipping her turn for the last three weeks and was feeling a bit guilty. Besides, having a protective, solid-black German Shepherd that weighed more than she did at her side was a good deterrent to overly cloying interest.

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"What?" Sean asked, brows crinkled with puzzlement.

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Her parents and brothers were staring at her weirdly all through supper. Sean was starting to get used to people staring, if not comfortable with it, but this wasn't quite the same... Sean had the disturbing feeling that sometimes, the twins were looking at her in way one shouldn't at a sibling.

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"It's a bit chill out, sweetie. You planning on changing before walking Shadow?" Sean's father remarked with dead-pan amusement.

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"What are you talking about? It's not cold out." It would cool down when the sun set, but it was more than warm enough at the moment, especially with the layers she was wearing.

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"Kinda... nipply out, don't cha think?" Dylan said, causing the twins to break out in snickers.

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"Wha- Shit!" Sean squealed, when she looked down and saw the two, stiff points tenting the front of her shirt, face going bright red. She hadn't put her bra back on after her shower and it was clearly showing. "It's not my fault. They just... do that." All the time! Worse than having a dick...

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Sean finished eating with an arm held across her chest to preserve what little dignity she had left, then ran down stairs to put her bra back on. Without one, she didn't think Shadow would be enough to hold off any unwanted attention while she walked him.

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She walked Shadow around the neighborhood, enduring the catcalls and stares she inevitably garnered with hunched shoulders and lowered eyes. To Shadow's disappointment, Sean didn't stop off at the dog park to let him play with the other dogs - it would have given the other dog walkers too much of a chance to hit on her. She shuddered, one of them was Mr. Varga - Anton he now insisted she call him - a neighbor for longer than she'd been alive and a widow for the last year.

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Back home, Sean filled Shadow's food and water bowls, debated doing a bit of homework she had to do, but she was too anxious with the coming meeting. Instead, she stretched out on her bed, and distracted herself playing Parasite Eve. Before she knew it, Teagan was barging in her room and a glance at her watch showed it was 6:06pm. Sean stood up and tugged her hoodie straight as she looked up at her sister.

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"I'm ready to go."

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"No," Teagan stated flatly, shaking her head and flipping Sean gleaming red and gold pony-tail over her shoulder. "No, you're not. You can't go see a CEO wearing that."

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"What's wrong with it?" Sean said, a faint frown on her ravishing lips as she looked down at herself. She was still disconcerted by just how much of her field of vision was occupied by the proud thrust of her breasts when she did look down.

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"Um, all of it? Sean, I understand you're comfortable and don't want to get all prettied up, but first impressions are important," Teagan tried to explain. "Yes, you're totally rocking the casual slacker look, but this is a CEO, you got to show a bit of professionalism. If nothing else, if you don't want to be seen as nothing more than a pretty face - and pretty everything else - but if you're fine with that..."

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"... Fine!" Sean relented crossly, her full lips firming into a tight line. "But no dresses or skirts. Or make-up and crap."

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"Well, I do- okay, okay!" Teagan agreed, seeing the fierce glint in Sean's luminous twilight eyes. "Strip."

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Sean's head cocked to the side. "Huh?"

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"Strip. C'mon, you don't have anything I haven't seen before and we don't have much time if you want to make it to Midtown with time to spare."

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Sean's eyes narrowed in suspicion, then with an irritated sigh, she hesitantly complied. When she was down to her beige bra and boy-cut panties, she stood stiffly straight, straining for every inch of height and still feeling short, as her sister inspected her.

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"Nope, I was wrong," Teagan admitted with an exasperated shake of her head. "I ain't seen nothing like what you have before. Nobody has. You're like a different species of woman."

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"Thanks, Teag," Sean muttered. With her genetic abnormalities, Teagan's comment was more true than not.

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Teagan peeked at the tag on her sister's bra and quirked a brow. "34DD? Really? Looks more like it's trying not to explode."

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"That's what the woman at Victoria's Secret said I was," Sean said softly, self-consciously adjusting a bra strap.

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Teagan sniffed disparagingly. "Never thought the titty fairy was skipping me only to give my brother a triple dose. My friend Yasmine is part of the big girls club like you and always said the fitters at Victoria's are idiots. I'll ask her where she goes, though she'll probably slap you silly when she sees that tiny waist of yours. She loves corsets too and even with one, I doubt she comes close to getting her waist as small as yours. Now, let's see what we have to work with."

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Teagan dug through the new clothing Sean got after her eruption, most of it still in shop bags. She made dismissive grunts, finding more of the same: loose, plain t-shirts and flannel over-shirts, baggy jeans and cargo pants. "Jesus, Sean! You're a girl now, you have far more clothing options available, live a lit- ah, perfect!"

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Teagan pulled out a rich indigo silk wrap-style blouse with an attached sash. "Put this on - the colour matches those gorgeous eyes of yours... well as close as anything natural can."

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"Mom made me get this. I can't wear this! It'll show cleavage and it's too tight!" Sean protested, hands knotted in the smooth, soft blouse.

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"Only a tasteful amount and it's fitted, not tight," Teagan countered. "Tie the sash, it'll draw attention to that wasp waist of yours instead of your rack. Some anyway. Now for pants..." Teagan eyed Sean up and down. "You know, you might be a shrimp, but you have crazy long legs." Sean bristled at the reference to her modest height. "You're half a foot shorter than me - deal - but your legs look at least as long as mine. Something I have might suit, if we can get them over those hips and ass of yours."

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Sean eyed Teagan uncertainly as she ran upstairs to her raid her own wardrobe, while she struggled to put on the blouse. Teagan was nearly six feet tall, with the rangy built of a track athlete, which she was. With her athletic scholarship for track and the NYU Tuition Remission she got from being the child of a faculty member, Teagan was actually getting paid to attend NYU. Sean couldn't see how anything of Teagan's would actually fit her.

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She was wrong... kind of. The pair of pale khaki slacks were snug across her hips and behind, if nowhere else, but the length was almost right. The waist was very loose, but Teagan fixed that by taking in the slack with a safety pin and hiding the discrepancy with a stylish studded belt. When Sean muttered that the nub of folded cloth pressed into her tailbone, Teagan countered it was the price of being built like a Barbie Doll and to suck it up.

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"You really should have let mom get you a pair of heels, legs like yours were made for them," Teagan suggested, smirking at Sean's glower. "But your dressier pair of Sketchers will have to do. Hair next."

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With some deft movements, Teagan styled Sean's enviously luxurious and silken, mid-back length hair in an easy, but stylish updo, leaving thick tresses in front loose to frame the enticing perfection of her heart-shaped face. Teagan claimed it was an easy style, but Sean had no idea how she did it - she couldn't even figure out to wrap her hair in a towel right after she washed it.

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Teagan topped off Sean's outfit with a knitted newsboy cap and her fitted leather coat. The waist-length coat came almost to mid-thigh on Sean and the sleeves were a bit long besides, but it was better than anything Sean owned. She doubted Sean would be able to zip up the jacket if she wanted to, but it wouldn't get that cool tonight and would look better left open anyway.

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"Ta-da!" Teagan exclaimed, turning Sean around and letting her get a look of herself in the bathroom mirror.

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"Wow!"

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Sean's mouth dropped open at the sight. Just a simple change of outfit made a huge difference. She didn't look like an over-developed, mature-looking tomboy anymore, but a sexy and stylish co-ed, without looking too girly. Her dramatic curves were on display, but in a fashionable and classy way. She didn't look trashy or slutty in the least. Really, when she was trying to hide her curves they almost seemed more in-your-face and drew more attention than they did now. Must've been something about balance and symmetry and presentation or something. Maybe she should pay more attention when girls were talking about clothes and fashions...

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"Wow, indeed," Teagan said with a smirk. She was a jock and a bit tomboyish, but she knew how to dress what she had. "Now, you're ready to go."

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Sean and Teagan left, saying a quick goodbye to their parents and Teagan assuring them she'd have Sean back safe and sound at a reasonable hour. During the drive across the Verranazo-Narrows and Brooklyn bridges, Teagan chatted idly, giving Sean pointers on being a girl, which she only half heard, peering out the window and psyching herself up for the meeting. She didn't know what to expect, but she hoped she didn't end up regretting it.

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"Here and on Fifth Avenue is were you should be shopping, Sean," Teagen said as they were driving up Madison.

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Sean snorted wryly. "We can't even afford to breath the air in the shops here. Besides, all the stuff here are for supermodels as tall as you Teag, who feel fat eating a leaf of lettuce and have less tits than I did when I was a dude."

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"You don't really understand just how fucking gorgeous you are, do you Sean?" Teagan said, glancing at her sidelong and seeing her blank look, while trying to avoid the crazy taxi drivers.

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"Well, prettier than anyone in school or that I've seen on TV or in magazines, I guess-"

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"People on TV and in magazines aren't as pretty as they are on TV and in magazines," Teagan interrupted. "They are salon-styled, air-brushed and photoshopped to within an inch of their lives. And every single one of them looks plain compared you, and you aren't even trying. Look, all those offers, how many were from modeling agencies?"

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"Um, seven? Elite, Ford Models, Wilhemina-"

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"Right, all the biggies and them some. They've already noticed you, Sean, and want to sign you, and you haven't done anything except mope so far, and start going back to high school. Want to know how damn pretty you are? You're going to change the fashion industry's standard of beauty, I guarantee it. How long it takes, well, that depends on whether you decide to accept any of those modeling offers, if you become a world-renowned singer or actress or whatever. But in a few years or less, heroin chic will be out and glamour model voluptuousness will be in. You'll be able to shop on Fifth Avenue and Rodeo drive with ease and those scrawny models like Elle McPherson and Kate Moss will be ones struggling to find haute couture that fits them and modeling agencies to book them."

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Sean just stared at her sister with wide eyes, completely silent. She had never considered that she could change the world in such a way, it was something completely beyond her experience, and she wasn't sure how to feel or what to do about it. Could she avoid making an impact like that, or if not, direct it in a positive or healthy way?

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"Buck-up, sis. It is what it is. Fashion is going to change regardless, you'll just be the excuse. It isn't your fault." Teagan shot Sean a teasing grin. "You're not a bad girl, you just fantasized that way. And here we are." Teagan looked down at her sister - she was still coming to grips with how much she had wanted a sister and now having one - her expression serious and sympathetic. "You want me to come with you?"

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"Yes. Please," Sean admitted softly. She didn't want to need the support of someone close to her there, wanted to be able to do it herself, but was relieved and grateful for the offer.

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"Okay, then. Gotta admit, after seeing you, I kinda want to see some others of these Novas. Now stand straight, don't slouch, and for God's sake Sean, when you sit down, don't sit with your legs spread wide open like you usually do."

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Teagan drove into the underground parking lot and paid the arm and leg parking in downtown Manhattan cost (and hoped they validated parking here), then they took the elevator up to the fifteenth floor. Witnessing how the men sharing it with them reacted to Sean - at least seven of them missing their floors and all of them ogling her with little pretense of subtlety - Teagan was somewhat reconsidering what she was planning when taking her sister out for girls night.

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Though it was interesting when Sean told one man to get off on one floor after he made a poor excuse of 'accidentally' grazing a breast... and he did. Which was a good thing, because Teagan was right about to knock his teeth out. Yes, accidents happened, and she was sure Sean would be more prone to them, considering how far various bits of her anatomy stuck out, but that was just blatant. And a weak excuse. And the asshole had a wedding ring on his finger. Then again, so did nearly every man on the elevator.

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On the fifteen floor, they strode down the hall, their steps silent on the plush carpeting. Sean knocked on the door to Suite 201, then she and her sister stepped in. Those already inside saw two women enter, about the same age, college aged, which was about the only thing they had in common.

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One was quite tall, almost six feet, with a rangy, athletic figure, brown hair in a pixie cut and pretty, green eyes. She was relatively cute, dressed in charcoal slacks and blazer and a white dress shirt, with modest heels.

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But Teagan was barely acknowledged with a sex-goddess made flesh sharing the room. She was 5'4'', maybe 5'5'', but her long legs made her seem taller and she was curvaceous in a way that came right out of an adolescent fantasy. Yet her proportions weren't impossible - if certainly implausible - and went together in exquisite perfection. Her glistening, vibrant red hair was streaked and highlighted with threads of gold, and her eyes were an entrancing, incandescent twilight indigo, with silver flecks like stars, both serving to enhance the ineffable flawlessness of her heart-shaped face and facial features. She radiated an overwhelmingly glamorous sensuality, and the sense of innocence and not-quite-full awareness of her peerless beauty just served to make her appeal and allure even more potent.

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"Damn! You got blessed a lot!" Janet exclaimed at the sight of the other red-head.

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She was still getting used to looks she was getting and the reactions she was causing, but this woman made her seem barely cute in comparison. They might have been about the same height, but they certainly wouldn't be sharing clothes.

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"Er... thanks? Some would say I got 'blessed' too much," Sean said, enticing lips curving into a ravishing, self-deprecating grin as she made air quotes, then made a small wave of greeting at the others. "I'm Se - Cassidy," she said, not wanting to get into the whole former-boy-now-physically-a-sexpot-but-genetically-still-a-boy thing. "This is my sister, Teagan."

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The others got their second shock, as they heard the sweetest, sultriest, most melodious voice they had ever heard, a soprano that could only belong to a woman as beautiful and sensual as the one before them. Merely speaking was pure operatic glory combined with a velvety, tactile quality that would put the greatest phone-sex operator to shame, yet it all seemed unconsciously innate rather than affected, preventing it from sounding crass or wanton.

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Sean raised her brows at the sight of Janet and Naomi. One would have been the most beautiful woman she had ever seen in real life... if she didn't look in the mirror everyday. The other was a genuine cat-girl, with real, furry ears and tail. Sean's friend Kevin, anime-fan that he was, would flip. All Sean could wonder was if being a cat-girl caused more of a reaction than having too much sex appeal for your own good.

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Seems like I'll still stand out like a sore thumb. I wonder if they can do anything special, or if they just have the looks too...

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Heading to the front desk, Sean gave the old man a nod. He seemed very stiff and reserved for a moment, barely even looking at her, before nodding back and extending his hand for a handshake, which Sean took, and shook firmly. "Quinn Torano."

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"Ah... Cassidy," Sean returned, not elaborating on her real name. "Torano, like the Torano General Store?"

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Torano nodded. "Hard work and a bit of luck were fortunate for me."

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"Cool! A friend of mine, Kevin Cooper, his father runs your store on Staten Island. Wait til I tell him I met you. I wasn't even sure there was a Torano for the Torano General Stores."

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Quinn and Naomi couldn't help but notice, beyond her extravagant figure and exquisite voice, the woman sounded somewhat younger than her apparent age.

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Sean glided up to the front desk with a dancer's grace and a naturally sensual sway to her hips she couldn't seem to lessen, a one sided grin on her lips.

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"Just checking in. I'm... Cassidy, with my sister Teagan, here to see Pedro Santiago."

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"So I heard," the receptionist replied coolly. a professional smile frozen on her face. Janet Waller had been bad enough, but this one made her feel completely inadequate as a woman, despite all the subtle cosmetic work she had done to enhance her natural beauty. She decided she hated the woman on sheer principle. "Please take a seat, Mr. Santiago will see you all shortly."

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"Okaay...."

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Sean sat down on one of the plush leather chairs, wondering what the receptionist's problem was, Teagan taking a seat next to her. Sean almost sat like she normally did, legs stretched out and apart, before Teagan's venomous frown made her cross them at the knee with an inherently feminine grace.

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There was a lot going on... Naomi's ears twitched trying to keep up with the voices around her as her tail flicked as so much a tattle-tail of divided attention.

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"Oh... um... Hello there."

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Her ears drooped down a little. She was starting to feel a little overwhelmed. Particularly with the gravitational force of Sean's Charisma. But she took notice of the old Man in the room first.

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"Unusual seeing someone of your age develop Nova abilities, Mr. Torano. The average is usually individuals our age. Must feel young again with that power running through your body now, huh?" She nervously smiled.

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"Yes, I am here for the meeting, logic dictates everyone here is also here to meet with Mr. Santiago. Odd that an Industrial magnate with interests in building construction and humanitarian efforts suddenly wants to concentrate a still unknown quantity of Novas into one place."

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She clasped her hands behind her, her open trench-coat revealing the sharp blue blazer business ensemble she wore. "Obviously Cassidy here was chosen for her charismatic impact, Not too sure with Mr. Torino. Military veteran? I would assume you might be taking some sort of leadership position among our group. Don't know about you, Ms. Waller, but I can assume with your choice of clothing and your youth you're a college student. I'm guessing... Sophomore, perhaps?"

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She smiled, crossing her arms over her chest. "The name is Naomi Minami, founder and sole employee of Naomi Minami Investigations. Obvious why I was selected. Someone like me would be important in countering industrial and corporate espionage."

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She sighed... "Bloody hell I'm doing it again aren't I? Kate keeps telling me I sound like Sherlock Holmes' great-great-granddaughter when the brain goes on automatic. I hope I didn't step on any tails... err... other than my own."

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She blushed. She was nervous and anxious about this meeting and her brain was trying to put the pieces together. "I really need to warn my brain about spoilers... What's the point of living if you can't be surprised once in a while." She sighed.

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"You're fine," Janet offered to the catish nova, laughing behind one hand to break her own nervousness as much as anyone else's. Oh god. Keep it together. Just because she was in a room with three of what must be her new peers for all that she knew how much or less powerful they were than her. There wasn't even anything like a 'standard' for what a nova could do yet that she had found. Just rumors and gossip and more rumors and the usual media milking of something new. Although, god, with novas like Cassidy around, she could see why. Thoughts she was far from comfortable with danced through her mind every time even her peripheral vision slipped over the other red head or ears caught her voice. If Janet had trouble waiting for a bus, Cassidy must... Oh. Oh dear. She'd have to apologize for her outburst. Later. When she wouldn't run off at the mouth. If she could help herself at all.

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She held onto her fragile smile and took a seat, smoothing out the folds of her blue dress, "Heh. Hi. I'm Janet. It's a... pleasure, really I mean it, to meet all of you, but I won't pretend to have the slightest idea why we're here. Or how Mr. Santiago got a letter into my room without being found out. Or how... Well, it's just been a week of questions without answers for me. Ever since I changed. Real answers of any sort would be nice."

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The instant response that she got once the email was sent had Siva thinking for a moment, then allow, more for Cedric's sake then her own, Siva made an observation. "I estimate with a high degree of probability that our friend here is not only one of us, but likely possesses some degree of clairvoyance as well.. his reactions are too smooth, to certain to be otherwise."

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"Couldn't it be something else, Siva?"

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"Oh, yes, but the probabilities on that level are decreasing rapidly, if he's not clairvoyant on some level, he knows someone who is.. I imagine that the data will give me a clearer view of the matter once we meet and see who else is coming to this meeting."

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"Any guesses?"

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"High order of probability that anyone within 50 miles of the city with our capabilities had been invited, and I have wanted to extend an offer to some of them for quite some time. While I imagine that Quinn Terano is a bit set in his ways and more likely to be slow to adjust to the shift on capabilities, were as Naomi Minami is fairly involved in a business of her own, the younger members of our community, Sean Cassidy and Janet Waller may be fairly amiable, if I can offer what they want. Foolishly, the various media agents have been trying to get the young man turned young woman into modeling, I think the best route there is music, not modeling, it's not so much of a hard change of midset for her, once she gets her feet under her however, she can easily move into other aspects of the media. Also, by all reports I have, I am willing to bet she can turn the music industry on it's head, and I want to help her do it if she's willing. As for Janet, she might have an easier time moving into the fashion industry and she has a good potential in your line of work also, Cedric, the main question is, what does she want and how do we see to it she gets it."

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Cedric blinked. "I'm confused, what do you mean and how do you know all of this? And why is it so important to get these folks together?"

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"High probability, but impossible to be certain unless one is also clairvoyant, which I am not, but they are the closest and most likely to be present. As to your other question, I've been keeping track of those of other folks who have gone though eruptions of their own, I already have a file I've put together regarding those I had identified as I believe we shall be the ones who are at the world's rudder for the next few decades, if not longer."

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She reached out a touched a phone sitting on the computer desk, calling her secretary. "Something has come up, I have a highly important meeting I must be at, cancel or reschedule any meetings set for today, and have the limo ready."

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She moved to the wardrobe and chose a formal gown for this meeting. http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/tadashi-shoji-asymmetrical-ruched-mesh-gown-regular-petite/3129719?origin=category

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"This should do it, go put on one of your suits and be ready to go, Cedric."

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"Wait.. what are the chances this is a trap?"

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"Probabilities in the low percentiles, less then 5% I'd say, but even there, I suppose it is something to be watchful of.. now, let's be about it, hmm?"

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Within a short period of time, they were off to the meeting, though not as quickly as some of their counterparts, she entered the room where the others were meeting and blinked as she took in the impact of both of the girls she had spoke off, who were actually rather.. unsettling in person. She had prepared for it, best she could, mentally, but even there, there was a limit to how prepared one could be for the kind of beauty that had this sort of physical impact, and she noticed that Cedric missed a step behind her for a moment also.

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Heading over to the secretary, she took a moment to reorient herself and pay attention to the others in the room that Sean and Janet had initially drawn all attention from, and it did seem like she had been correct. "Siva Moore and Cedric Raelan to see Mr. Santiago."

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"Of course, he's expecting you, please join the others." She joined them just in time to hear the Janet's words about how one managed to get a note in without anyone knowing about it. "High probability some sort of superhuman transportation capability was used, I can think of about a half a dozen possibilities, Mr. Santego seems fairly restrained about it, but I'm concerned about what other sorts of things can be snuck in the same manner should others develop the same capabilities."

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"Not to mention that now each of our e-mails are now on record with him..."

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She sighed. "To be honest when I gave him the address to my web site I should have tried to figure some way to track him. At least have some sort of IP to see if this isn't being worked on from here."

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She adjusted her blazer. "Hello Siva, I'm Naomi Minami. Pleased to meet you."

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Just after Naomi introduced herself to Siva, there was a beep of an intercom, and the secretary stood up, "If you would all just follow me, Mr. Santiago will see you now." Without looking to make sure everyone was following her, she made her way down the hallway to a large pair of dark wooden doors. The doors automatically open as she approaches, but she stops just outside of the room. "Please, go in everyone." As you step inside, you notice that the lights in here aren't as bright or stark as the florescent lights in the hall. The walls are tastefully decorated with artwork from Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso, but they look to be prints rather than originals. The room is a bit dark in color scheme, the walls are paneled with a rich brown stained wood and the furniture is also dark. There is a long couch against one wall, made of black leather. There are also chairs made of the same material with wooden legs. Behind a large mahogany office desk you see a man seated in another leather chair. He is Hispanic-looking and has dark hair that is slightly graying at the temples. His clothing is immaculate and he is wearing a light gray suit with a burnt umber tie and white shirt. The one feature that seems completely off-putting is the halo of numbers and equations rotating around his head made of pure light. "Welcome to my office. Please take a seat. Would you care for something to drink? Tea, coffee or water are available, just ask." he says with a slight south-american accent. He presses a button on his desk and a small screen lowers from the ceiling, along with a projector. "When you are ready, I'll begin my presentation. But I must ask of you no questions until the end once I begin. Is that understood?" He smiles pleasantly and stands up, showing his height to be around 5'7". He presses another button and the doors silently swing closed.

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((OOC: Please wait to post, I need a bit more time to finalize the presentation, but he will proceed right into it after the doors close))

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The projector starts up, and a hum fills the air. "Everyone of us in this room is a Nova, except for Teagan. But being associated to a Nova by blood, she should be able to handle this. Since the eruption of the Fireman, Novas have begun appearing all over the world. There have been calls by those who are afraid of what we can and might represent to destroy all Novas. There have been calls for Novas to become the new gods, like the pantheons of old. There have even been people saying we are not human at all. While I disagree with the last and am frightened by the first, the second has intrigued me, but not in the way that most would think. I think that with great power such as ours, we must guide and enlighten humanity from within. Therefore I have called you here because I have seen that you five have the potential to show that Novas and Humanity in general are capable of great things. "

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He turns to look at each of you in turn, as he speaks your name.

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"Quinn, you are a man of humble beginnings. You know what it takes to succeed is hard work, but also a bit of luck and inspiration. To you, I say, become a 'father-figure' for this new humanity. Do not look upon this as a burden. Look at this as a chance to secure a great legacy for your family. In return for you working with me as a general troubleshooter, I will create a foundation. This foundation will be started with a donation of 10 million dollars. It will be dedicated to the memory of your wife, and will focus on the eradication of cancer in all it's forms. All the money donated will be going towards research. CORE International will pick up the operating costs."

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"Siva, you are a paragon of intellect. You are more capable than even you would know. You can influence society by your words and your research. I wish to secure your services as a general troubleshooter as well. If you decide to join with me, I will see to it that your patents from this point forward are your own, and not bogged down by being done at a school or company. I will also grant you access to the resources of CORE International for your personal research use."

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"Janet, You are one of the enigmas to me. You have great potential both physically and mentally, but you are not using it. I understand you better than most of the others. I will require your services as a general troubleshooter as well. In return, I will enable you to take any route you choose to succeed. You will become my personal project as it were. I will grant you the title of special assistant. You will have a paid internship as my aide."

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"Naomi, you are a woman of many talents and great curiosity. While this has landed you in trouble a few times, it also allowed you to succeed where others would have failed. You were called here because your talents are of particular interest to me. I have need of a troubleshooter who can help me determine what influences are affecting my equations, and thus cancel out the variations and narrow it down to the most accurate finding of the true path. In return, I will give you information from all my resources to assist you in this endeavor as well as your own career. You will have access to my networks."

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"Cassidy, you are a woman of great influence, even if you haven't seen it yet. Within 3 years and maybe sooner, you can completely revolutionize the world, and it's prejudices and preconceptions. I wish to use your talents, unconventional as they may be to make the world better. I will enable you to go as far as you want. I will hire you as an unpaid intern. However, I will set up a trust fund for you that will revert to you on your eighteenth birthday. That trust fund will be for all your pay for the time you serve as a troubleshooter. I will also create a concert venue for you to run and perform at whenever you wish me to do so. In the meantime, I will pay for you to attend a school for young performers to refine your considerable talents."

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He returns to looking at the screen, "While there are few of us now, there will be more. Many more. And how they are shown the way will be a pressure on the future that cannot be denied. While it may start small, it should end up as a grand adventure. Who is with me?" He turns around and looks at each of you as he awaits your response.

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Naomi stroked her chin.

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"A big... big platter here. If I understand my role properly; I am to start with what you're giving me, the role of being someone who analyses intel from your various contacts to formulate a proper response? What sort of responses on my end did you have in mind in particular for running into potential interference that is more than just bureaucratic red tape?"

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She steepled her fingers where she sat... her eruption did somehow program in her some useful combat ability, but she felt she wasn't completely polished on that if he wanted more of a bodyguard. "I am sure we are going to have enemies as easily as allies in all of this."

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"The question you should have asked, sir, isn't if I am interested, because you had me at first glance. The question is how deep I'm about to go? I'll need to know everything I need for my job. It's what a Detective does. I Ask."

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Janet's expression went from puzzled during Santiago's philosophical statement to annoyed when he seeming harp on her failure to act to looking down and thoughtful as he addressed the other two novas after her. She frowned, staring into her lap and sucking a breath into her nostrils. Mr. Santiago seemed to mean well, seemed to addressing her in an adult sense, and darn it, she'd try to respond in an adult way. It'd help her keep face in front of new peers at least, and that was something she wanted: respect. You had to respect others to be respected, right?

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The red-headed nova waited for Naomi to finish her question, wondering if there was a polite way to ask just what another nova's powers were, before looking up and fixing their host with a green-eyed gaze.

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"I don't like the idea of hurting people, and my powers aren't... I mean, they don't seem to be... subtle. At all. But I'm not going learn how to deal with what's happened to me by hiding in my parent's apartment. Let alone dealing the rest of the world when it decides what to do with people who can... Um, I mean, nova is the word right, and I'm a nova, so I should really get used to using it..? I'm sorry, I'm babbling, but... Yes. I'm interested. If you really mean it when you say I get to say where I go from here outside of the job."

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Her cheeks were flushed as she made herself stop talking, hoping against hope that hadn't made herself look even more the fool in her answer.

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Teagan leaned over and whispered down into her little sister's ear with a note of victory, "See? I told ya!"

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Sean squirmed in her chair as she listened to Mr. Santiago echo the words Teagan had shared on the ride over here, and then expanded on them. Before, she hadn't been sure what to feel. Now, she was starting to get a little frightened, maybe more than a little. Teagan had only mentioned her influencing the fashion industry, but Mr. Santiago was suggesting her impact on the world could be far more extensive.

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Just because I'm attractive - okay, more than merely attractive. Helen of Troy and Deirdre of Ulster, Marilyn Monroe and Sophie Loren, Pamela Anderson and Cindy Crawford, and now there is Alejandra... And me...

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Oblivious and insular as she could be, the literal new girl had still noticed hints of what Mr. Santiago was talking about in the two weeks she had been immersed in the microcosm of high school. She had destroyed Brittany's popularity today in a small moment of anger, and had caused at least nine accidents in the student parking lot. She'd been accused of breaking up seven couples, including a pair of seniors who had been together since they were freshmen and were talking about marrying after they graduated. Two girls claimed she turned them into lesbians.

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Most of her teachers treated her far differently, positively and negatively, based on her new looks and apparent age. Sean felt her heart race, remembering her... encounter with Mr. Gorman, but he had been only the most drastic example. So far.

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Hoodies were even more popular now and half the school was playing Magic - including a fair number of girls instead of the two who used to before - just because she did. There were already jokes about her boobs entering a room an hour before the rest of her did - despite her trying to downplay them - but she had noticed the girls who had them were trying to emphasize their curves.

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Too many of her fellow students made assumptions about her based on knowing her before her eruption and how she appeared now. And maybe that was part of the problem - too many she knew casually, professionally, or personally, were trying to reconcile two distinct versions of the Sean Cassidy they knew. Part of Mr. Santiago's proposal might be an answer to some of her problems.

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At a new school, her classmates would have only one Sean Cassidy to get to know. Even if they had heard of the boy-turned-bombshell, they wouldn't have prior experiences with her to dictate reactions with her now. They would have to get to know her as is, just as she was getting to know herself.

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Sean frowned slightly, conspicuously aware of the heavy weight on her chest as she shifted and uncrossed her long legs, considering the other part of Mr. Santiago's proposal, to help her grow and develop as a performer. After how music class went today, and agreeing to participate in the SING! event, a small part of Sean couldn't help but admit enjoying the reaction she had provoked, the admiration she had garnered, while performing...

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"You've been coasting, Sean," Teagan continued, whispering. "Even before all this, you were doing... okay in school, even though we all know you could be doing much better if you just tried. I know you're only sixteen, but it doesn't seem like anything is really driving you. Maybe you aren't aware of it, but you sometimes sing with the radio, in the car or the shower."

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Sean did look up at her sister, surprised, cheeks glowing pink. She hadn't been aware of that. "You have a real gift. Maybe give this a shot and see what you can do with it, hmm? At least for a while and see if you like it? And maybe you'll learn a bit how to deal being... well you, in the meantime."

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Sean sucked a deep breath through luscious lips, her blouse pulling tight as she considered Teagan's words and Mr. Santiago's proposal. When she had been younger, she had wanted to be an engineer or architect. As she grew older, doing something in the video game industry began to pique her interest. But she wasn't particularly good at programming or drawing...

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On the other hand, she seemed to have sprouted an inherent skill in song and music along with the tits and hole between her legs. It felt surprisingly good to excel as something, and she'd be lying if she said that now that the opportunity had been presented to her, she wasn't at least a little interested in seeing what she could do with her gifts.

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There were all those stories, though, of famous musicians and actresses and the like OD'ing on drugs, getting into other trouble with the law, or completely losing touch with how most of the rest of the world lives. Let alone putting herself on display, performing for millions, billions...She didn't want to get involved in that lifestyle if it completely changed who she was, inside.

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"Stop just going with the flow and take a chance," Teagan continued. "You're on the biggest rollercoaster of your life, sis. Start opening your eyes and see where the ride takes you. You might even have some fun instead of puking your guts out like you usually do."

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Sean shot her sister a scowl, then raised a hand, lowering it when Mr. Santiago acknowledged her with a nod. Though he was a man who was obviously looking at an ineffably attractive woman, he stayed reserved, professional, his eyes locked on hers. Much better than the guy who had come in with the Asian woman who wore glasses - guess her eruption didn't clear that up like mine did. Sean was growing disturbingly aware of being checked out, by men and women, even when they thought they were being sneaky.

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"Mr. Santiago, sir, this is a lot to take in at once," Sean said, her exquisite soprano filling the room with music. Siva reassessed the potency of the young woman's appeal and the affect it could have in the media after hearing that distinctive voice for herself, while Cedric couldn't help but wonder if the former boy was interested in men now. "Do we have to make a decision now, or can we have a day - a week - to think this over?"

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"I'm afraid I need your answer tonight," Pedro replied, glowing numerals shifting and flowing around his head. "My equations and calculations for future events are based on this very moment. To input your answers at a later date would require a reworking of all the functions and equations."

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"Um... okay." Dark brows lowered over glorious twilight eyes. Sean didn't really understand Mr. Santiago's response, other than he sounded a bit like that Siva woman, and he needed an answer now. "Just one more thing - how long are we signing up for? I mean, what if our interests grow to differ, or we find we have different goals?"

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"That is a valid concern, Cassidy. What say we start off with a firm six month trial period, to see if our working relationship is compatible and of mutual benefit. Afterwards, we can go our separate ways or have the option to extend our agreement indefinitely, for whatever length of terms we mutually agree upon. Sound fair?"

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Sean nodded, nibbling a full underlip as she considered the proposal, then took a deep breath, sat up straight, and nodded again. Time to take a chance... Inside, she was nervous as all hell, afraid the butterflies were about to explode from both ends and maybe even her boobs, but her perfect features were composed, her mellifluous voice clear and resonate and assured.

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"Mr. Santiago, I accept your offer for the initial six month period. After that, we'll see where we are."

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While she listened to the offers and the response of the others to Mr. Santiago, Siva found her mind moving quickly though the potentials of the offers even as her heart struggled emotionally with a confused mix of emotions. She separated each of them out and considered them carefully, first there was a degree of elation at how his offer could make her own plans easier, there was a degree of irritation that he had basically stolen a march on her, and there was a degree of pride at having her suppositions about him confirmed based on what he was saying to Cassidy.

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First to consider as she listened to Cassidy's response, was the negative emotion, and she was quick to identify the major source of the problem here, it was the sheer beauty and presence of the other girl that had her wanting to possess her in some way, so when Mr. Santiago had made in essence the same offer she wanted to make to her, it had her disgruntled.. and that attitude that she was appalled to discover within herself. Especially sense she had found how irritating the same attitude had been in her professors at school initially when they realized how intelligent she had become. Janet had the same affect, to a lesser degree, but the other girl didn't quite have Cassidy's presence..

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Second, added to that was a degree of pride, she had become rather proud of how smart she was, which was fair, but Mr. Santiago had just proved that he at least was on the same level, and that was something she had better take to heart, just because she was as capable as she was, didn't mean others weren't remarkable on their own level. She was pleased to discover that her own calculations were fairly well confirmed, though she had better not let emotion overrule reason..

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Her calculations also indicated one major improvement on having things turn out this way, she was on a even keel with the others here, which gave a better chance of being a friend to them over an employer, which is what she would have been if she had the opportunity to make the offer she had been thinking of and it had been accepted by any of them. That had already created a degree of distance between her and Cedric, though she was working hard to break it down, both of them were still aware of a certain distance due to that situation. Having clarified the matter in her own mind, her emotional reaction was hidden by the time she was ready to speak.

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"A most generous offer, and one that will make my own studies and research much easier, I accept." It was a short response, but she wanted time to consider and take how in the others reacted to his offer as well.

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Quinn listened to Pedro Santiago with quiet, stoic attention, though internally he found there were many parallel thoughts aflutter. The rise of ideologies on both extremes - both for and against novas, and Quinn did not disagree with Santiago in the slightest that those would exist. After all, he'd seen it all his whole life in other forms. Der Ubermensch, No Colored Allowed on a restaurant door, a fact of life for a while, yet over time broken and shown to Quinn as the repugnant and specious hatreds that they were.

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Likewise J. Edgar Hoover, Stalin, Pol Pot, power in the hands of the wrong men would corrupt and taint. So in that opening respects, Santiago was not wrong, and Quinn did find the suggestion of guidance - trying to bring out the better in the world and mankind, baseline and nova appealing. Of course, the idea of a father-figure was....

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Flattering, Quinn found, but flattery itself would get you nowhere. He'd raised sons, and played his part as a present grandfather with their children in turn... but there was never anything like grown individuals, or young, with abilities like these. Siva Moore was less than half his age, he guessed, and from what Santiago had implied, far smarter than any genius like Einstein or Hawking.

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And Quinn made a silent prayer for the good fortune of the Cassidy patriarch, as if Quinn Torano had been the father of these two, particularly the newfound female Sean, he'd have become bald already. From tearing out his hair. A thought which did serve as some shield - along with the widower status, against her magnetic appearance and sultry voice.

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Still, he didn't want to rise to a challenge he did not feel he could honestly measure up to --- but Santiago added the offer of the foundation in Wendy's name, and the campaign against cancer.

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Quinn felt a momentary tightening in his chest at his own memories. Well played, Mr. Santiago. This was something Wendy would not have opposed, dignified to the last, and Quinn could not do so now. "All right. I agree."

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Pedro smiles as each person chimes in. "Good. I am most glad to have each of you working for me and towards a bright future for us all. Now, I understand that most of you have no self-defense training. If you wish to receive such training, I have a capable instructor lined up. I recommend at least a few classes with Max even if you do have skill with martial arts or combat arts of some kind. Max will serve as backup for you in case a major combat, or incident were to take place. I have secured the services of a nova with the power to transport you all over the world, so you must be prepared for many different situations, Her name is Xandia. I will leave you here for a few minutes, then I will return with your first assignment. I suggest you discuss among yourselves what your capabilities are and what you can do aside from just your powers. " Pedro presses a button, and the door opens, "Oh, by the way, Mr. Torano, I suggest you take the lead on this team. It will be to everyone's benefit." With that cryptic statement, Pedro walks out and the doors close behind him.

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Naomi scratched her chin. "Was about to offer to help train with marksmanship..." She pointed to her trenchcoat she had on the back of her seat. "Then again I'm a unnatural dead-eye. But I wager I could teach a thing or two. Although I might need to sharpen my hand-to-hand."

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"But... I might as well start off so Mr. Torino knows what I can do." She said to the group, nodding to Quinn. "I can see the entire electromagnetic spectrum, as well as hear ultrasonic and sub-sonic sounds. I am capable of regenerating damage to myself and my brain seems to love sussing out a puzzle or two. That and outside of these cute new ears and tail... That's me in a nutshell."

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She smiled. "Oh, and I learned how to speed read, I've always been ambidextrous, and it's hard for me to get lost. Just try to keep dogs from me and knives and we're golden. If anyone wants pointers on deduction and investigating a situation like a crime scene, I'm your cat. I'm also literate and fluent in Japanese and Italian."

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"Well, I can speak Gaelic, so if we visit some backwater hamlet in Ireland or Scotland, I have us covered," Sean added with a wry twist to her delectable lips. It was doubtful she could make her lilting, enchanting voice anything but sensual, but she managed to add a hint of self-deprecating bitterness to her tone.

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"I'm just a high-school student. I'm okay with computers and I like math and science, but really..." The improbably attractive woman gave an expressive shrug that made the contents of her blouse shift with distracting appeal and brushed some glistening red and gold hair from her face with an unconscious gesture. "... all becoming a... a nova did for me is make me too sexy for my shirt and too sexy for anything else too. So, yay me, I make a great distraction. Guys just want to bone me, hell most can barely talk around me."

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Those enticing lips curved into a gentle, seductively melancholy smile. Had she known she was going to turn into epic-level jailbait, Sean would have dedicated herself far more to studying jiujitsu, instead of growing bored of it after a few months. Having grown up tall early and generally self-effacing, Sean had never been in a fight before. But as the new her, she was quickly learning that knowing how to defend herself was almost mandatory - there had already been a close call or two. I guess I'll have to take to Mr. Santiago up on his offer and get some lessons from this Max guy, in case I can't talk my way out of trouble...

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"On the other hand, sometimes, I can tell somebody to do something, and they do it, just like that," Sean admitted with a snap of her fingers. "Oh, and I'm seem to be a pretty decent singer now. So, yeah, if that ever matters, I'm your man. Er, woman. Whatever!"

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Sean crossed her arms in annoyance at her slip of the tongue, then recrossed them when she was impeded by her impressive bust, something suspiciously like a pout on her face. Teagan snorted in disbelief and reached over to give Sean a one-armed hug.

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"Decent? My sister here is way better than decent. Fiona Apple and Sarah McLachlan don't stand a chance against her despite their Grammy's, and Alejandra better watch her back if Cassidy here decides to get into the biz."

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"Teag!" Sean whined melodiously, squirming out of her sister's embrace.

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'It's not *just* men who have trouble thinking around you,' Janet managed to internalize as Cassidy's voice peeled off her list of skills. It made the red head feel better that she wasn't the only one with doubts about her usefulness.

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"Well, skill wise, I can't do much special, certainly not a detective or able to speak Gaelic. Just in my first year of classes at BCC for my computer science degree and a bit of basic street smarts to make sure I can stay out of trouble. I do know how to protect myself, more or less, been taking lessons at White Lotus Kung Fu. Sifu Pratt has helped me a lot or I'd be even more of a mess than I'm afraid I seem right now," contributed Janet nervously, a shy smile aimed at Cassidy before she sucked in a breath through her nose.

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"Annnd... If we're talking powers... There's the obvious," Janet started to wrap up, indicating her improved, well, everything, "But I haven't been able to hurt myself yet since last week. And if any of you have heard about the giant footprints on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard... That was me. Haven't tried to do it again, though."

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Naomi's ears twitched on Janet's comments. "I've been trying to figure that out, those footprints. I thought they were just some clever prank." She said sighing. "I guess I wasn't ruling out the impossible properly."

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Turning to Sean she simply smiled. "You know, if this Santiago has some techies working for him, he might be able to engineer some clothes that not only would be comfortable, but perhaps control your... ahem... no offense intended but your... umm..." Naomi cups her hands near where her underwhelming breasts are. "...let's just say to properly protect your body."

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She let off a strained grin. It was a bit awkward to bring that up. "Hey, I got problems too... finding hats that are compatible with my ears and having to modify my pants and skirt!" She said, her tail creeping up like it was saying 'hello!'.

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Quinn waited when Siva was the only one left, but she remained silent, and so did Cedric, for whatever reason. Mentally this was almost a bit too much. Santiago seemed to be conflating age with wisdom a bit wee too much. Father figure to Homo Novus and now a team leader of 'troubleshooters.' The first thing, then, to be fair to the young people present, was to be frank.

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"Honestly, I'm not sure what Mr. Santiago is thinking. I have my years of experience, I've raised three sons and helped them raise grandchildren, but I've never had a relative who flew." Demure of voice, straightforwardly Quinn continued, "So don't get an inflated sense of my value. I see you all having far more potential than I ever will - including Miss Teagan. I've paid my dues in life, in business, in Vietnam. That's it. The powers don't mean much, save helping me restrain any nova getting out of line."

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There was a hint, ever so slight at the end, of fierceness. Quinn still remembered the brash, abusive, careless youth from Central Park, and no regrets whatsoever about stopping and thrashing him. Now it was over to the authorities.... even if containment might be a challenge.

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Siva wanted to see what Quinn would say before she spoke up, and when he finally made his own personal assessment she responded, speaking up herself. "You undervalue the asset of wisdom and experience, Mr. Torano, if nothing else your past will give you a insight into matters involving human reactions that some of the rest of us may not possess.

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Myself, I find that in the last month I have obtained dozens degrees in various sciences and intellectual pursuits, to the point of doctorates actually, been quite a bit of negotation with NYU involving that matter, but my business understanding has allowed accumulation of a good degree of resources in short order, predicting economic trends is not too hard. That and the ability to alter the molecular structure of matter, which gives me the capable to produce materials that simply can not be easily had upon the planet."

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She then turned her gaze to Cassidy, and gave the girl a smile. "Might I make a suggestion? Your humility does you credit, but from the inside things look different then they do from the outside, I suggest you consider your sister's assessment over your own. Also, should you ever need help with anything, let me know and I will be pleased to assist.

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On a different note, all things have a resonance to them, find that resonance and you can make use of it, your voice naturally moves on harmonic resonances that sounds exquisite to those around you, I suspect that certain harmonics in your voice allows you to command others by the shift in tone and harmonics. If you can find those harmonics, you will likely manage greater control over your voice, and if you can control it enough, you may be able to use it offensively if you need to. After all a normal human can shatter glass with their voice, it is likely possible for you to shatter stone, steel or even flesh and bone if you find yourself in a dire situation."

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She then turned to Janet and smiled at her, then looked at Cedric who had been standing behind her chair, trying a bit to avoid looking at the superhumanly beautiful women. "This is my friend and bodyguard Cedric, he is able to control his own density, rather then grow and shrink, possesses superhuman strength and toughness, so it sounds like you may have something in common with him, at some point if you folks want to gently test such matters we might be able to find a place to do so."

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At which point Cedric spoke up. "That could be interesting, you covered my capabilities fairly quick there Siva, so I'll just add while she played it down a bit, Siva here is smarter then a supercomputer, so far there isn't any idea she can't wrap her brain around, and she has about a dozen projected inventions she's working on that should affect the world as much as Cassidy's music or modeling might."

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When Naomi awkwardly commented on her figure, Sean unconsciously pulled her leather jacket closed, though she couldn't zip it up without uncomfortably compressing her boobs. She still wasn't used to people remarking on her breasts - she still wasn't use to having breasts - but at least Naomi seemed almost as embarrassed as she was, and was a far more polite than: "Dayum! You have the sweetest tits! Can I see 'em? Can I touch 'em?" She's heard that more often than she ever though she would.

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Cedric trying to be subtle ogling her didn't help Sean with her self-consciousness, though admittedly he wasn't as bad as most. Sean was quickly learning a lesson most women had years to learn - guys weren't nearly as sneaky at stealing looks as they thought they were. She was pretty sure there guys at school who still didn't even know what her face looked like.

,,

Adding insult to injury, Sean couldn't help feeling a sharp spike of envy. Cedric erupted and got to stay a dude, and gained super strength and toughness in the deal. Janet was the second hottest woman she had ever seen in real life, and apparently could grow into a giant if a guy tried to mess with her, while Siva was scary smart and didn't even need a month to become fabulously wealthy. Even Mr. Torano could at least turn the powers of other paranormals off if he needed to.

,,

All she got was getting turned into a living wet dream.

,,

But none of those were the reason why her lush lips bent in a faint, pensive frown. Siva's conjecture on the potential power of her voice filled her with a lingering worry. Right now, she just how to worry about making people aroused with her voice and sometimes having them react literally to an idle or sarcastic comment.

,,

She had learned about resonance in physics class. That she might be able to inadvertently make steel or someone's head explode merely with tone of her voice was frightening. Even scarier was the idea she might be all too willing to resort to such a power if she felt threatened. She'd never been in a real fight before, though she'd defend herself as best she could if needed, but she didn't want kill someone, even by accident, especially someone who didn't deserve it.

,,

Sean tried to conceal her dark thoughts by returning Siva's smile, though she couldn't but wonder with people offering her smiles and help all the time now, what they wanted in return. As if I didn't know.

,,

"I'll keep your offer and words in mind, Siva. Thank-you." Her smile turned wry as she glanced at Naomi. "I don't need protective gear, just clothes that fit right. Admittedly,for me, that might take a structural engineer instead of a tailor, I guess."

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