Aberrant: Infinite Earth - Fiction - Doorway into Infinite [Complete]

[Sonja Bahaar]

Time/Date: January 20th, 2010

Location: Downtown Manhattan

A crimson-edged wound in space tore open in the small alley between the towering buildings of Manhattan, the stillness broken by the whistling wind rushing from the unnatural fissure hanging in the air, rustling old newspapers and Chinese take-out menus along the ground. Suddenly, a young man, still in his teens, was thrown from the rippling surface of the wound, hitting the brick facade of a building with ungentle force. He groaned with aches that didn't seem to be solely from his rough landing and shakily got back to his feet, turning to face Weft's Warp...

To find another figure being hurled at him, about his own age, though this one was taller, blonder, and considerably more feminine in appearance. He barely got his hands up in time to cushion the impact, finding his fingers in contact with a pair of very prominent protuberances that possessed an impossible blend of softness and firmness. Unfortunately, said protuberances were backed by the solid mass of a tall and athletic figure and Daniel found himself thrown back into the side of the building again, Sonja sprawled on top of him in a tangle of limbs. Still, it was better than being hit with the hundreds of pounds of steel and silicon that Sonja held in her hand, the torn-off arm of the Dreadnought.

Sonja tossed the arm-cannon aside to clang against a dumpster, swept her silvery-white hair from her face with her free hand, then scowled down at Daniel laying beneath her. Daniel hastily removed his hands from where they rested, heeding the warning light in the purple eyes of the woman who could have ripped his arms off is she had a mind to, and at the moment, it seemed she did. The two teens quickly righted themselves then stared at the Warp again, its edges a violently fluctuating vermilion.

"What the hell happened?" the stunningly beautiful, stunningly voluptuous young woman asked rhetorically.

The handsome boy frowned, still trying to work out the kinks from being slammed into a wall... twice. "Dunno. Looks like Weft's warp-portal-thing messed up and sent us back to where we started."

"Then where is 'Neca and Curtis?"

"Okaaaay... it only partially messed up." The edges of the tear began to twist and writhe, the colours flashing erractically, the 'surface' roiling violently. "Should we try going through-"

Sonja didn't let him finish. "Yes!" she exclaimed, grabbing his shirt and plucking him like a ragdoll, rushing for the Warp with pavement-cracking speed and... nearly crashing into the far side of the alley as the Warp vanished with a bright pulse of red and silver light. "Fuck!" Daniel found himself unceremoniously dumped back on his feet.

"Okay, okay... We can deal with this. I'll call 'Neca, Dan, you call Glacia or Curtis or somebody, get them to get Weft to open another portal to the same location." Sonja pulled out her iPhone, hit the speed-dial for her annoying sister and waited for it to connect, and waited and... waited. "What's going on?" Sonja said with disgust, then glanced at Daniel with an inquiring lift of her brow.

"Nothing here either. Maybe the Warp fried the circuits?"

"Maybe," Sonja grunted with a pout, crushing the useless cellphone on her hand and tossing the remains in the dumpster with the Dreadnought arm-cannon she had no intention of dragging along with her anymore. "Well, we can't stay here, waiting for more of those Dreadnoughts to find us. Let's see if we can sneak out and find a payphone so we call back to LHA and see what's up. This must have been some sort of fluke or something."

"Sounds good," Daniel agreed.

The two of them crept to the mouth of the alley, hugging the walls on opposite sides, then peeked around the corners for signs of danger - and they didn't forget to look up either. To their surprise, everything seemed... normal. No one was screaming in terror from the giant, destructive, mutant-(and everyone else)-killing robots, the wreckage of Sonja's silver BMW was nowhere in evidence, and traffic was moving smoothly, well... smoothly for downtown Manhattan. People were going about their business without any seeming cares in the world, talking, laughing, on their phones, or in groups walking down the sidewalk, or in their cars.

Sonja and Daniel shared a confused glance, then cautiously stepped out of the alley and began warily walking down the sidewalk, looking for a phonebooth, rare in this age of mobile connections. With each step they took however, the sense of surprising normalcy began to erode, bit by bit.

The sounds of the city weren't as overwhelming and it took them a moment to realize it was the cars. Their engines didn't roar as loudly, in fact, some barely made a noise at all. Their exhaust was far lighter and less pungent, the air itself was much cleaner, as fine as anything you could find in the country, rather than the downtown core. The stylistic lines of the cars even seemed... off somehow. The buildings looked taller, their facing more elaborate, sharp and pristine. It was almost like they were viewing New York through a comic-book lens.

Displays advertised products Sonja and Daniel didn't recall seeing, NovaEyez and Hyper-combustion Engines and the new opPhone 3G with new 3D-Display. Sonja stared up in shock at a movie poster, showcasing someone called Lydia Divine in a new Tomb Raider movie. Sonja didn't like to boast, but she had never seen a woman she considered more attractive than herself before. But whoever this movie star was, she made her feel suddenly... pedestrian, over-sized, and ill-formed.

"Who's that, Daniel? I've never seen her before. What's going on?" Sonja said in a soft, bewildered voice. Daniel could only give her a speechless shrug.

Sonja was vaguely aware of the comments directed her way, ones that someone built like a Barbie Doll couldn't help but garner. But she didn't hear the other ones, the muttered, sour curses about the mutie flaunting herself, that she would dare show herself in public with so little shame. Instead, there was awe, envy, lust for the girl whose proportions and beauty could only belong to something called... a Nova?

"What's going on?" the tall blonde whispered, straightening her shoulders in annoying as a pair of boys across the street, a few years older than her, began to loudly debate if a girl with a rack like hers had to be a Nova or not, and began wondering if they should try to get her autograph.

[Hotstreak]

The young Fire-controlling nova had inadvertantly lived a dream of most of the men at LHA, and his arms were still attached and his hands weren't broken, though if he'd not trained hard for so long he was sure he'd have some cracked ribs from the impacts.

The odd adds, and all were bad, but when Sonja showed him the poster he had to fight hard to restrain himself. He Knew Sonja was amazingly hot, but this woman made her seem very, well, dull. His aura of heat seemed cooler somehow, almost tolerable.

Without any means of communication, they were Isolated, with only the cash and plastic they had on them. He looked around and listened, noting the use of the term nova over and over, mostly directed to Sonja, but his looks garnered attention from women as well, especially his red eyes.

"Sonja, do you know how Weft's power actually works?"

"This looks like New Yourk, but it's not like it was a few minutes ago. This is totally insane."

He spotted a phone,way down the block from them and pointed to it. "There's a phone, let's hurry up and get the hell out of here. This is too damn freaky."

[Sonja Bahaar]

"Agreed." Sonja stood straight and glared at the boys starting across the street toward them, who stopped uncertainly then stayed on their side. Sure, the girl was a class-A, maybe even Nova-class, babe with epic tits, but she was awfully tall, her leather jacket didn't hide her athletic build, and her tight jeans showed off a pair of strong legs that looked like they could snap them in half. And the look in her purple eyes said she wanted to do nothing better at the moment. Better to stay here and watch her from afar. As soon as her back was turned, they pulled out their opPhones and used the zoom on the cameras to focus on her amazing ass.

Sonja strode briskly down the street, Daniel pausing a moment to admire the same view as the two boys - and many others - before catching up, almost at a jog to match the strides from the amazonian blonde's remarkably long legs. Stepping into the booth, Sonja found it a bit eerie. It was clean, not marred in graffiti, it didn't even smell of urine. If not for the phone, she might have considered the possibility that the booth was some sort of Police Box like the Brits used to have. She still considered the possibility as she dug out some loose change from her tight jeans.

Patiently waiting for the phone to connect, Sonja stared out of the booth at the New York City that wasn't the New York City she knew, not quite. She saw Daniel's gaze go up to the sky and leaned against the inside of the booth to try to see what he was staring at. Her eyes widened in surprise at the man flying through the air, a leather jacket thrown over some sort of uniform; there was a logo she couldn't quite make out. Even more surprising, other than a glance, most people ignored him, others waving or cheering.

This is... is just wrong- <I'm sorry, the number you have called is not in service. Please hang up, and try your call again...> a pleasant sounding, synthesized female voice informed her. Sonja stared at the receiver, then tried again, getting the same response. Taking a moment to calm herself, she refrained from smashing the phone to bits and instead, called the operator to connect her directly to the Lawrence Hunt Academy. She grunted as if punched in the gut, her concern ratcheting up another big notch when she was told there was no listing for the Lawrence Hunt Academy. She almost slipped the last of her change in the slot to call her mother, but stopped, hand closing into a fist (and unintentionally bending the last of her coins out of shape). She couldn't bring herself to call home, a growing anxiety building at what she would find.

The phonebooth was suddenly stifling and she almost tore the folding door off trying to get out. Daniel took his eyes off the flying man as he disappeared around a skyscraper and looked up at Sonja. "Well, what did they say?"

"They said nothing. The phone-number wasn't in service and the operator had no listing for such a place," Sonja growled.

"But... we were there just a few hours ago. It has to be there."

"I know. Look, maybe those Dreadnoughts fucked up the communication grid, trying to isolate us and the others at LHA..." Sonja took a deep breath and folded her arms beneath her breasts, suppressing a shiver that had nothing to do with winter chill. "Let's just go there - I'll cover the bus tickets - then see what's what." Her purple gaze glanced up to where the flying man was last seen then turned back to meet Daniel's red eyes. "Some people might be willing to risk flying around and whatever despite the Dreadnoughts, but I'm not."

"After what that thing did to your car and almost to us, I feel the same way," Daniel agreed. He raised an arm to flag down a cab.

Sonja smirked and raised her own hand, a cab screeching to a halt in front of them almost immediately. At least, that still works. Sonja and Daniel slid into the back seat, the cab flowing back into traffic almost before the doors were closed. Sonja could see the driver's wide smile in the rear-view mirror.

"Where can I drive a fine, young Nova woman like yourself, Miss?" the driver - a John Smith, according to his license - asked courteously. "You are a Nova, yes, you're too beautiful to be anything else, if you don't mind me saying. Utopia headquarters maybe, to join the new Teen Tomorrow? I think a strapping lass like yourself would be a perfect fit, you too, young man. Utopia is fixing the world you know - they cleaned the oceans, swept the mafia out of good ol' NYC - there's nothing better if you want to change the world."

"Uh... no, I- thanks, I'll keep that in mind," Sonja stammered, while sharing a confused look with Daniel. What in the world is 'Utopia', was clear in their eyes. "We just need a ride to the Port Authority, thanks."

"Right away, Miss." The driver sped through the streets with the grace of long familiarity and soon, they arrived at massive bulk of the Port Authority Bus Terminal. Sonja tried to hand him some bills through the slot, but John Smith waved her off as he turned to face her. "No charge, Miss. A fine, decent young woman like yourself, who doesn't look like to have fallen for all the Teragen and Divis Mal nonsense, just promise me to come back and give Utopia a chance. You help them help the world and they'll help you become the best you can be, earning you a pride you couldn't get being a shill for Devries."

"Uh, yeah... sure. Utopia, yay! I'll do that sir, thank you." Daniel felt a pair of long fingers jab him in the side as Sonja urged him to get out and quickly followed. The two of them cut through the crowd to get in line to buy tickets to the sleepy upstate town where LHA was located. The attractive couple turned heads and earned some gawks and stares, but little more as everyone was trying to get somewhere, including the two mutants. They just hoped their somewhere was still there.

[Hotstreak]

He Followed in silence. Sonja's beauty was an advantage as no one seemed to notice the heat radiating from him. He tried to focus on more pertinent tasts at hand, like finding their friends and getting back to the academy.

When they finally got their tickets, he made sure the depot there had other departures available, because in the back of his mind, he already had the feeling something was well and truly different.

The Talk of Utopia, Teen Tomorrow, Divis Mal and Teragen all sounded almost like different team franchises to him.

"What do you suppose that cabbie meant Sonja? I've never heard of any of those things he mentioned before."

He was being vague, mostly because he didn't want to give away their ignorance, and draw any more attention than they already did.

"I can try calling my folks next, but hopefully this is all it takes."

[Sonja Bahaar]

"Let's wait 'til after we get back to the Academy, 'kay Dan?" Sonja suggested, hoping he didn't hear the worry in her low, sultry voice. If he called his family, she'd have to call hers and would have to face an impossible possibility she wasn't willing to consider yet. It was too... disturbing.

As the two of them sat down on the molded seats, waiting for their bus to be called, Sonja crossed her eminently long legs and leaned close to Daniel, so they wouldn't be overheard. A warning glanced in her purple eyes warned Daniel to keep his hands to himself, despite her nearness. And it was hard, especially after she unzipped her leather jacket to deal with his radiating warmth, her cerulean ribbed-knit turtleneck straining against her impressive contours.

"Those other things, maybe they're other Initiatives and Projects that were rolled at the same time as the Dreadnoughts?" the teenaged Valkyrie conjectured uncertainly. Many eyes turned their way, especially the men, eying Sonja in desire and Daniel in envy as the sat close together, whispering in each others ears like any other attractive couple (admittedly, they made a couple more attractive than most).

When their bus was called, Sonja popped to her feet, hauling Daniel along behind her with inexorable strength, regardless of his desires. The other passengers were more than fine with letting the apparent Nova girl barge ahead as she claimed a back seat for her and Daniel. Normally, she didn't really mind people noticing her appearance, as long as they didn't gawk, but people were staring at her like she was a super-celebrity or something. Sonja took the window seat.

The ride to Garrel Hill, a small, quiet town in Upstate New York took just under two hours - which had taken them a little over an hour in her BMW. For the two of them, it was taken mostly in silence, both of them lost in their thoughts, imagining what they would find... or not find. Sitting so close to Daniel, Sonja had to take off her jacket to deal with Daniel's supercharged body-heat.

Daniel noticed Sonja's long fingers trembling slightly as she unconsciously tightened them into a fist, then relaxed, over and over again. Despite being well aware of Sonja's superhuman endurance and athleticism, having seen her exert all out during sports and come off the field with even breathing hard, her face grew flush, skin beginning to shine with perspiration.

Watching the terrain flow pass, darkening under the blanket of winter night, Sonja was beginning to consider simply running the rest of the way to Garrell Hill. The need to see - to be sure the place that had been almost as much a home to her in the last two years as her place in LA, was still there, was growing overwhelming, when the conductor finally announced their stop. Sonja threw on her jacket and swiftly made her way off the bus, ignoring the comments and catcalls of the people she passed, as well as the attempted gropes (for which Daniel knew they were lucky).

Outside, full night had fallen, the stars glimmering in the sable sky over the sleep town of Garrell, their breaths pluming in the chill air. Sonja and Daniel looked around, considering how to get back to LHA.

"You ever take the local bus to the Academy, Daniel?"

"No, just the school's shuttle service, and I don't think it runs this late." Daniel looked around, spying a dedicated phoneline to call a taxi service at the terminal stop. "I guess we can get a cab-"

"Screw that! We're almost there!" Sonja whisper-exclaimed. "If that guy in the City can fly without everyone freaking out, I can run! I'm warning you, watch your hands!" Before Daniel could protest, he found himself effortlessly swept up in Sonja's sleekly toned arms. She took one long stride then another, stepping into the street, then she was off!

They sped away like jet-fueled hot-rod, the air screaming around them, snow swirling wildly in their wake. Cradled into Sonja's arms, like steel cables wrapped in silk and a leather jacket, Daniel thought it would be a rough ride, but Sonja moved with an eerily smooth gait, she strides more like graceful leaps, like a gazelle's. Cars began to swerve from the near blur on the street, but even as they started to react, Sonja was pass them.

In less than a minute, they were on the quaint, quiet road on the outskirts of town that led to the Lawrence Hunt Academy. There was a sharp rise in the road before the Academy came into view and Sonja took it without slowing. They topped the rise, Sonja's powerful legs propelling them with such speed that they were launched through the air, able to look down on...

[Hotstreak]

there was nothing there, just an empty field by a familiar lake. "Aw hell." He climbed out of her embrace, wandering down to the field, wondering if somehow one of the students had cast an illusion on the school. After five minutes, he looked back to Sonja. This is where my dorm was, there's nothing here."

he scowled. "There's never been anything here."

He had to admit the ride was unique, and soon he was aloft, pillars of flame propelling him. "There's nothing anywhere around here, no boathouse, nothing." He dropped to the ground, his aura of heat blazing intensely, the plants by his feet withering. "dammit Sonja, what is going on?"

He was more agitated than she'd ever seen him, like an animal removed from his home and thrown in a whole new area.

[Sonja Bahaar]

Sonja began to shake, fear and panic coursing through her veins. Seeing the empty field was a slap in the face, forcing her to confront the impossibility that she had been trying to deny. This is so fair! We stopped the Dreadnought, couldn't we have just been able to go back home? Ever since she had broken a boy's back during a football game when she was thirteen, she tried to control herself, since she was intimately aware of how strong she was, how much damage she could do. But God! she wanted to lash out, better that than tears...

CRACK!

The three foot thick bole of an old oak tree didn't stand a chance against the power in the teen amazon's fist and Daniel had to move quick, helped with a boost of fiery assistance, to avoid the tumbling bulk of the trunk. Despite everything that was going on, Daniel couldn't help but wonder how much Sonja restrained herself when playing team sports at LHA. He glanced at Sonja with his crimson eyes, thinking she didn't look too great - she was pale and shivering, but beads of sweat dotted her brow and neck despite the chill air.

"Sonja, are you okay-" Daniel began tentatively, his flames dying out again as he placed a hand on her shoulder, but was interrupted.

"No! No, this still our wor- This..." The tall blonde looked like she was going to be sick, but she tightened her jaw stubbornly and pushed his hand away. She tried to sound resolute, but there was a thread of uncertainty in her voice. "Director Drumm is a smart guy. He must've had a contingency or something for when the Dreadnoughts came out. He... he must've had a way to move and hide the entire school and... couldn't get a hold of us, 'cuz Weft's Warp busted our phones. Yeah..."

It was an impressive display of denial from an impressive looking girl, and she clearly didn't believe a word of it either.

"Hey! You guys need ride or something," offered a feminine voice from the road. Sonja and Daniel looked around and saw a cute brunette about their age looking at them through the open window of her car. "I was heading back home after my shift and saw your fire out here in the middle of nowhere. Wow! You must the first Nova ever in Garrell Hill." She caught a better look at the leggy, busty figure of the girl in the field, her open smile growing slightly tight unavoidable envy. "The two first Novas in Garrell Hill."

Daniel looked at Sonja to see what she thought, but she her purple eyes were distant and desolate, her fury leaking away. Daniel hid his concern and gave their benefactor a friendly smile.

"Sure that'd be great. We were... having a sort of... bet and didn't expect to be out here at this time. Thanks! I'm Daniel and this is Sonja." Daniel dared to place a hand on her arm and nodded towards the car. Sonja gave a small start, then followed, offering her own grateful smile, but it looked weak.

"Awesome! I'm Anna. Are my parents ever going to be surprised who I brought home," she said brightly, leaning over and opening the passenger side door. "Here, you sit in front Daniel and your girlfriend can sit in the back. She's really tall and sorta looks sick, she can stretch out on the back seat. Sorry, my accord isn't a big car."

"Okay, that works. And, uh, Sonja isn't my girlfriend." Daniel helped Sonja into the back, who flopped down with little of her habitual grace. She gave Anna a murmured thanks, then huddled in the back, sitting sideways to give her legs more room.

"Oh, reeeeally..." Anna said speculatively, and Daniel couldn't fail to hear the smile in her voice. Slipping into the passenger seat, Daniel got a better view of Anna. If not model material, let alone comparable to Sonja, she was still very cute with chocolate brown hair and pale blue eyes, slender and of average height, about their age or year or two older. "Pleased to meet'cha." She eagerly shook Daniel's hand, waved at Sonja in the rearview mirror, then took off down the lonely road.

"I can't believe I'm in my car with a pair of real, God-to-honest Novas! I saw you on fire in the sky. What else can you do? How about her?" She nodded over her shoulder at Sonja - slumped and seemingly barely conscious - and leaned towards Daniel, whispering, "She do anything more than make Barbie Dolls feel inadequate? You guys planning on joining Utopia? The do do great things, I guess, but they seem a little too good, y'know? And after the whole Slider thing... If I was a Nova, I'd totally join DeVries. They just seem so... glamorous and I bet the money is better than Utopia. Private sector always pays better. You said Sonja there isn't your girlfriend, do you have one?"

As the excited girl prattled on, Daniel could see lights in the near distance of a sprawling farmhouse.

[Hotstreak]

Daniel had watched Sonja with more than a wary eye. Clearly she was taking this harder than he was. Then the young local girl showed up. Immediately he but up the front of nonchalance that had served him at school, The natural ease with which he seemed so carefree coming naturally.

He smiled as they rode, Anna was an attractive woman, though nowhere close to Sonja. He decided it would be best to venture a little knowledge here for more information. "I can control fire and heat." The car's air condition was working overtime to overcome his aura of dry heat, and he focused a moment, trying to lower it for them all. "As to Sonja, she's a real physical prodigy obviously, though I'll confess to not knowing just what all she can do."

He smiled. "We haven't really made any plans yet, mainly just looking to get more information on everyone out there, and have a little fun before we actually have to start being responsible with our abilities." He gave her the smile that had charmed many of the women at the Academy. He wasn't a ladykiller, but he did have a way to set people at ease, and encourage camraderie.

When she asked about a girlfriend, a crack formed in his facade, and he nodded. "I do, her name is Diana." For a moment he looked sad, and then his face cleared. He didn't want to think about not seeing her again, not so soon, besides, one of them needed to be grounded in the here and now.

"The Glamour and money are fine, but that just can't be what it's all about. Whatever I choose to do, it will be something I enjoy."

[Sonja Bahaar]

Stupid! Anna thought irritably, silently cursing herself. Of course he has a girlfriend. Look at him! He's gorgeous and a Nova. She glanced at the girl in the back seat once again, and even sick, she was still a hundred times hotter than her. Barbie the Barbarienne there probably needs the entire basketball team to satisfy her 'needs'... Okay, that might have been a little unfair, I don't even know her. She's probably a really nice person. Gah! You don't compare yourself to Alejandra or Lydia Divine do you? Don't compare yourself to this Nova girl. Yeah, but I never personally met Alejandra or Lydia Divine, either.

"Of course do something you enjoy, Daniel," Anna agreed, as she pulled into the driveway of her home, the snow crunching beneath the wheels of her car. "But make your own choices. If I was a Nova, I'd totally help my friends and family, but the idea of having going halfway around the world to get involved in a fight that isn't my business... no thanks. I'll take the money and glamour. Anyway, we're here, home sweet home."

Anna hopped out of the car, Daniel following suit but moving to back to help Sonja. He reached out a hand to help her, but she glared at him. "I can do it myself, thanks," she muttered curtly. She had never been sick before and if this was what it felt like, she never wanted to be sick again either. She climbed to her feet unaided, though she placed a hand on the roof of the car to support herself as she wiped the sweat from her face and took a deep breath of the cool air.

Anna looked up at the towering girl with genuine concern, stifling her jealousy. The night air seemed to be doing her good, but... "You sure you okay? Maybe you just need a good meal, huh? Running that fast must burn up a million calories. Come on in guys, my mom always makes way too much food, she's still not used to my older brothers not being there after they moved to the city for college."

"... I guess it could be something like that-" Sonja agreed uncertainly, glancing at Daniel with a raised brow, then giving a shrug as she pulled her long, metallic, silvery-white hair over her shoulder into a somewhat neater pony-tail.

"Told ya! Let's go!" Anna grabbed Sonja's hand, then linked her other arm with Daniel and tugged them towards her home. She barged through the door, shouting, "Hey! Mom! Dad! Guess who I brought to dinner?"

[Hotstreak]

Daniel followed the two women in and smiled, greating Anna's parents warmly. "Good evening. My name is Daniel, My friend here is Sonja." He was obviously not a normal young Asian man, as the room seemed to warm dramatically as he entered. "It's nice to meet you both."

He Smiled. "Anna graciously gave us a lift, I confess we got a little lost out here."

[Mr Fox]

Anna's father sat in a chair newspaper in hand, and gave the young man an appraising and vaguely threatening look, the kind that all fathers give unexpected young men brought home by their daughters. "Welcome to our house Daniel and Sonja. I'm Jason Vanders and this is my wife Alice." Smiling at Daniel with just a hint of 'be careful with my daughter's affections' he added, "You can call me Mr. Vanders."

Alice tisked in mock exasperation and gave the young novas a warm and welcoming smile, "You two come on in and make yourselves comfortable, we'll eat in a few minutes. It's only spagetti, but there's lots of it and I make my sauce fresh so it's better than you'll get at Olive Garden."

Click to reveal..

Please make a perception + awareness roll

If you get more than 3 successes, you notice an article on the front page of the paper with the headline:

'Simmons does it again!' In smaller bold print are the words, "John Simmons makes news again today by personally facing down known Teragen terrorist member Shockwave. Grand Jury set to hear case next week."

[Hotstreak]

Click to reveal..

9d10 perception check
(23:44:27) ChatBot: (Hotstreak) rolls 9d10 and gets 8,2,5,8,4,10,8,5,3.
(23:44:37) ChatBot: (Hotstreak) rolls 1d10 and gets 10.
(23:44:47) ChatBot: (Hotstreak) rolls 1d10 and gets 3.
5 sucesses

Daniel smiled. "Thanks Mr. Vanders. It's a pleasure to meet you too Mrs. Vanders."

[Sonja Bahaar]

Click to reveal.. ( Perception)

Perception + Awareness: 8d10.hits(7) = 3 successes

Slipping off her leather jacket, it took Sonja some effort to keep a grateful smile on her face, considering what she felt like. Getting a better look at the extremely well-built young woman, Mr. Vanders casually laid his paper across his lap, concealing his reaction, though there was an amused light in his wife's eyes. "My, she's certainly a big girl," Alice murmured softly.

"Thank-you for welcoming us to your home, Mr. and Mrs. Vanders-"

"Alice, please, I'm not as formal as 'Mr. Vanders' here," Mrs. Vanders interrupted with a smile, the amused glint remaining in her eyes.

"Alice," Sonja agreed, her expression growing more genuine under the Vanders' welcome. "I love spaghetti, as long as the sauce isn't any of that store bought stuff."

"Oh, I quite agreed. This spaghetti recipe has been in my family since my great-grandmother." Alice pointed her guests - and her daughter - to the bathroom to get cleaned up, then led them to the dining room. "Come along, please, sit, sit. And don't worry, I'm used to cooking for a pair of over-sized boys, I'm sure I've made enough to satisfy a pair of fine Novas like yourselves."

At the constant references to Novas, Sonja and Daniel shared another glance as they sat down, silently agreeing not to reveal their ignorance of the term. True to her word, the plates of spaghetti Mrs. Vanders set in front of her guests were heaping mounds, the sauce thick and aromatic.

"Come, eat up! We don't stand on ceremony here," Alice said brightly as she sat down next to her husband. Everyone around the table dug in, silence reigning at first as appetites demanded sustenance.

[Hotstreak]

Daniel's appetite had always been prodigious. They ate in a Cozy warmth given off by the young asian mutant, and he barely slowed down after his second helping.

It seemed amazing that he ate so fast, yet he didn't make a mess at all. Between planes he smiled as he wiped his mouth with a napkin. "This is very, very good."

Mr. Vanders had never seen someone as relatively small as Daniel eat like he did. The food just seemed to vanish from before him. It was noticeably warmer in the house since Daniel's arrival, though with the cold outside, it was welcome.

[Sonja Bahaar]

"It's very good indeed, Mrs. Va- Alice," Sonja agreed between bites. And it was, as fine as anything she had tasted in any of the high-end restaurants in LA or France, and in considerably larger portions. The amazonian girl maybe have been big and tall, but a woman with a trim waist like hers had no business consuming such quantities. And yet, the Vanders took it in stride, just chalk it to a Nova's appetite. Well, at least I don't have to be embarrassed about eating four times as much as other girls.

Anna sat close to Daniel, basking in the heat the more than just handsome boy gave off. "I'm a pretty good cook myself, Daniel," she boasted. "I've been learning all my mom's recipes so I don't have to live on cafeteria food when I head to the City for college. I'd love to show you sometime." He can keep me warm on any winter night.

Alice look amused with her flirtatious daughter, but Mr. Vanders concealed a frown from the object of his daughter's attentions by mopping up the remaining spaghetti sauce on his plate with a piece of crusty bread. "So, Daniel, what brings you to Garrell Hill? Just passing through or do you, and Sonja, plan on being in town for a few days?"

[Hotstreak]

Daniel's mind raced, thinking up half a dozen replies, and discarding them all, because he couldn't back up any of them.

"We were looking for some friends. We stopped because Sonja said she did't feel well, and then we realized we were kinda lost."

He wasn't technically lying, as everything was true in a sense.

[Mr Fox]

Mr. Vanders opened his mouth to speak, but Alice spoke first, "You poor dears! You should stay with us for the night then. We've got a pair of extra bedrooms with the boys being away at school."

Sonja tried to protest, but Alice shushed her objections away. "Nonesense, you are both tired from your trip and unless I miss my guess completely you don't have a hotel lined up. I insist. You'll find it much more comfortable here than at the Day's Inn in town." She gave Sonja a wink, "Just don't mind the posters and sports stuff in the boys room, you know how boys are."

Mr. Vanders gave his wife a sharp look, but she just raised a challenging eyebrow at him and he kept his mouth shut. He obviously wasn't pleased with a nova teen boy staying under the same roof as his teenage nova worshiping daughter, but he knew better than to be rude to guests when his wife gave 'that look'.

He did say however, "Daniel, I'll let the ladies talk and I'll see that you get settled in comfortably after dinner."

[Hotstreak]

As the dinner finished, Daniel allowed Mr. Vanders to show him around. He waited until they were out of earshot and waited for him to turn around to him.

"You have something you'd like to say to me, Mr Vanders?" His tone was calm and flat, though his guard was definitely up.

[Mr Fox]

Mr. Vanders turned and raised an eyebrow, "Do I need to say something?" He shook his head, "No, I think we understand each other."

He turned to go but then turned back and his expression was a bit softer and he spoke quietly. "Listen, I'm sorry, if I've been a bit rude. My daughter has a thing for novas, I know it's no different than when I was a kid and the girls all had crushes on the rock stars, but it's not every day that a rockstar comes home and stays under the same roof as my teenage daughter. I just don't want to see her get hurt. I'd appreciate it if you locked your door tonight." It was pretty evident that it wasn't Daniel that Jason Vanders was worried about.

[Sonja Bahaar]

Sonja would have preferred to stay somewhere else, but the truth was, she really wasn't feeling well and she didn't know where she'd go anyway. The only place she could think of was home, or what the... equivalent, and she was more than willing to postpone that. So, dinner finished, including a very generous piece of homemade bumbleberry crumble, Sonja got up and helped clear the table, chuckling wryly, winking back at Alice as Mr. Vanders and Daniel left the room.

"Yeah, I know how boys are," she said to the nice woman with amusement. "But the sports equipment won't seem out of place. I actually quite the athlete myself," she added with blatant understatement.

Alice smiled with her guest, humoring her, then took another look and revised her opinion. Despite being built like no sixteen year-old should, Alice noted the breadth of her shoulders and the solid tone of her arms as she helped clean the dishes, the way her muscular legs strained her tight pair of jeans. "I see that you are. That's alright Sonja, just rinse the plates then put them in the sink. There you go dear. Now let me show you to your room."

Alice led Sonja up the stairs, then to the back corner to her oldest son's room. True to her earlier claims, there was sport equipment all around the room, though neatly placed along the walls. Shelves held a few books and several video-games and DVDs, while the walls were directed with the promised posters. Despite herself, Sonja glanced at the mostly more than half-naked women. She didn't recognize any of them except for the one she'd seen in Times Square, Lydia Divine. None of them had proportions as impressive as hers, but some of them made her feel a little self-conscious. Who are these girls, Alejandra, Narcosis, Freya? Why haven't I ever seen them or heard boys talking about them? She frowned, as a small part of her said, You know why.

Sonja spun and sat down on the bed, the spring-mattress squeaking and gave Alice a grateful smile. The thought of running anywhere at the moment was really unappealing. "Thanks, Alice, this will be fine."

"Glad to hear. I'll get you some toiletries so you can take a shower if you like." Alice smile apologetically as she eyed the tall, voluptuous girl. "I'm afraid my daughter and I have nothing that'll fit your statuesque figure Sonja. Would you be okay with one of my sons' oversized shirts to wear as a nightgown? They're big boys, it should do well enough."

"That'll be fine, Alice," Sonja assured her as she laid down on the bed and stretched. Alice was privately relieved that there had been no girl like Sonja around when her boys had been her age. "Let me get those things for, then."

Alice came back shortly with some of her daughter's toiletries and a soft, thick-cotton shirt. She pointed out the bathroom for her, then left, giving her time to change. Sonja tiredly pulled off her turtleneck and jeans, unhitched her heavily burden bra with a sigh, then pulled on the long shirt. It was very soft, clinging close to her curves and stopping at mid-thigh. It wasn't actually that different than what she often wore to bed, other than being a blah-grey.

She debated between taking a shower or just staying in bed, but noticed the blood crusting on her calf from when she had broken her leg kicking the Dreadnought and decided on the shower. Besides, she hoped the hot water would ease the aches permeating her body.

What did Weft's Warp do to me - to us? she wondered as she shimmied out of her boy-cut panties and made for bathroom.

[Hotstreak]

Daniel nodded. "I will. I have already told her I have a girlfriend, and before you worry, She isn't Sonja."

"I'll do all I can to make sure We leave things as we found them. Thank you for your hospitality. It reminds me of what things were like with my family back home."

Once the elder man left Daniel made his way to the bathroom to shower, locking the door behind him as he went, after Sonja finished of course. A good scrubbing later, he donned the loaned clothing that belonged to one of the boys, which was about three sizes too large for the slim Asian mutant. Clean and dressed he made his wat to Sonja's room to check on her.

[Sonja Bahaar]

Getting clean felt great, but the hot water coursing down her skin didn't ease her aches as much as the expected, or desired. She couldn't imagine what it would be like to get sick routinely, year to year. She washed her hair, dried off briskly, then wrapped a towel around herself and her hair.

After knocking softly on her door and getting no answer, Daniel steeled himself for a possibly brutal retaliation and opened the door and peeked in. He found Sonja sitting on the bed, glistening, silvery-white hair pulled over a shoulder and her bare, fantastically long legs pulled up to her chest. Her purple eyes were distant as she stared out the window at the winter night, fat snowflakes falling lazily pass the pane of glass.

"Sonja, are you okay?" Daniel asked gently when he realized he didn't have to fear a repeat of the first time he entered the amazons room uninvited.

She didn't answer for a long moment, her cheek pressed against her knees. Daniel took a step forward, then another, noticing her pink panties and the copious cups of her bra scattered on the floor. Finally, she tilted her head slightly, looking at Daniel sadly.

"I'm... I'm worried what we'll find when we go check on our families, Daniel." Sonja took a deep breath, her impressive bosom spreading against her thighs, then let out a long, shakey sigh. Daniel watched her shudder, sleek, toned muscles twitching and rippling beneath smooth, creamy skin. "Or not find... I hope 'Neca and Morri are okay."

[Hotstreak]

He smiled. "We have to hold on to some hope Sonja. I know my parents are alive." He laid a hand on her shoulder, and stood by her. "I don't know what happened to us, to the world, but at least neither of us is alone to face it."

He looked out the window. "I wonder about what we're going to find, but I'm not going to let it worry me. We're here and all we can do is take things one day at a time."

"If it helps, we'll go check on my folks first. It's a long drive, but it's not clear across the country."

He gave her an impish smile. "I always wanted to bring home a beautiful girl to Mom and Dad, and I never got the chance before.."

[Sonja Bahaar]

If he didn't already radiate such heat, Daniel might have noticed the feverish warmth of Sonja's skin. Then again, he might have still been distracted by the muscles tensing and flexing with molten steel beneath her incredibly smooth and soft skin. She glanced up at Daniel with a scowl, but it faded under his teasing smile.

"Yes, well... Don't get any ideas..." Sonja trailed off and if she hadn't been feeling so ill, she might have even blushed. "And thanks. I suppose we could take a plane, but I... I think we need the time to adjust... to find out what's going on..."

She patted his hand on her shoulder, then firmly moved it off as she rolled over and pulled the covers over her. Daniel couldn't help where his eyes looked as she shifted, making certain curves bounced and jiggled beneath her improvised nightshirt. Her lids lay heavy of purple eyes.

"Gods! I feel exhausted," she muttered muzzily. "Good night, Daniel. Hopefully, I'll feel better tomorrow and we won't have too much trouble finding a decent car for sale..." She muttered some more, but sleep made her voice thick and Daniel couldn't make out she said, save for something that might have been, "'Neca."

"Good night, Sonja."

Daniel quietly left the room, closing the door gently behind him, then got into the other bed the generous Vanders had provided for him. The room shared a wall with the one Sonja was using, both beds butted against it. He could hear her shifting, trying to get comfortable, but when he heard the soft, muffled sounds, he forced himself to ignore any sound emanating from the other room. He didn't think Sonja would appreciate him hearing her cry.

[Hotstreak]

Daniel slept easily, once he got past not thinking about Sonja's room. His dreams were of Diana, and what he already knew to be the case, he wouldn't see her again any time soon.

He was a sound sleeper, and unless he was disturbed, wouldn't rise until the sun did.

[Sonja Bahaar]

Sonja couldn't get comfortable, muscles feeling tight and cramped. First, she felt feverish, warm, and threw the blanket off in her haste to open the window wide open. Then she was shivering and needed to close it again, going back to huddle in a ball under the thick quilt, shivering. Finally, sleep rolled over her as an exhaustion she couldn't ever remember feeling assailed her. She last words to cross her lips were her sisters' names. Both of them.

~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~

Bright, winter sunlight streamed though the window pane and pale blinds, falling on Daniel's eyelids. The blackness of forgotten dreams lightened to the orange-pink of light passing through thin flesh. Daniel woke with surprising ease. At first, the house seemed totally silent, then faintly, he heard the sound of a radio emitting the news downstairs. The smell of breakfast cooking drifted upstairs.

Getting dressed, Daniel was surprised by the silence coming from the room Sonja was given for the night. The tall, athletic young woman had an incredible constitution, needing little sleep, and rarely waking up later than the break of dawn. Hearing footsteps coming down the hall, Daniel got up and opened the door.

"Ah, good-morning Daniel. I was about to see if you were awake," Mrs. Vanders said brightly. Over her arm, hung Sonja's clothes. "If you hand me your things, I'll put them in the wash while you're having breakfast. Anna is making omelets this morning." Her smile turned a touched concerned as she glanced towards the other room. "Sonja, the poor dear, is still out like a light. I hope she's feeling better this morning."

[Hotstreak]

He handed over his clothes and nodded, "I'll wake her up and bring her downstairs." He smiled and watched her leave before going to Sonja's room. He knocked to no answer, and resolved to accept the beating he was about to get.

"I'm coming in." He opened the door and went over to the bed. Only one foot was visible, and a few of her silver-white locks.

"Sonja, it's time to get up. Breakfast is ready. Mrs. Vanders is going to wash our clothes so we can be on our way."

He waited a moment to see if she responded, and then reached out to what he figured was her shoulder. The sheets did little to hide her curves. He was trying to be safe.

"Come on, I never thought you would be a late sleeper like this. Deacon sure, maybe some of the others, but not you."

[Sonja Bahaar]

Daniel breathed a silent sigh of relief when he felt his hand touch a firm, solid shoulder. But all his motion earned him was a small moan as Sonja curled away from him, turning into the wall, mumbling intelligibly in her sleep. Daniel frowned, then gave Sonja a stronger jiggle.

Despite being relaxed in sleep, he could still feel Sonja's solid, superhuman strength. When he felt the muscle tense powerfully beneath his hand, he barely had time to take a step back before she surge fluidly to her feet and stood up... and up.

Daniel found his eyes level with the hollow of Sonja's throat, her impressive chest thrust forward just beneath his chin. He craned his neck up in time to see the imposingly stunning young woman shaking her head as the confusion of sleep faded from her captivating purple eyes. The grey shirt she had slept in was at the bursting point, straining to contain her six-foot-six figure, somehow both subtly and obviously more athletic and perfectly - maybe somewhat overly - proportioned. Her staggering beauty was more radiant than ever.

The unfamiliar exhaustion she had been feeling last night was completely gone, driven away by an incredible vitality. She felt stronger and healthier than ever before, everything seeming in sharper focus and more vivid than ever before. She took a deep, refreshing breath, then glanced - down - at Daniel, mouth opening in surprise.

"What happened to you, you're smaller..." the truly amazonian girl began before trailing off as she caught the way she was overfilling her improvised night-shirt, feeling the hem, which had fallen to mid-thigh last night, now barely covering her ass. "What happened to me?"

[Hotstreak]

"Aside me saluting you at the moment, I got a good sleep. You, you grew alot, in alot of ways." He didn't even try to hide what was going on with him. He smiled. "You know, it's not a bad thing, I've heard of grow spurts, but you just hit a major maturation spurt."

He looked to the drawers and found a pair of shorts. "Here, try these, I'll turn around." He gave them to her and smiled and turned. She managed to get the shorts on, they hugged her curves like spandex, and if anything almost made her look even hotter.

"Come on, Let's go downstairs."

Ready now, and after a moment to regain his composuure he led her downstairs to the table. "Good morning everyone, how are you?" He took a seat and nodded to Mr Vanders and Anna who stopped to look at him with a peculiar smile. She stared daggers at Sonja, who seemed to have gotten even prettier, and even worse, she was taller."

[Sonja Bahaar]

"I've had growth spurts before, Daniel," Sonja muttered, her hands slowly moving across her body, feeling her new changes. "This is a mutation spurt. Mom never said I'd ever have to deal with something like this..." she said softly, trailing off weakly. At least her boobs had maintained the same relative proportions, though with her overall greater size, she wasn't sure if her bra would still even fit, it had been sort of tight before.

Still, Sonja pulled on the snug shorts - otherwise, she'd be flashing any- and everyone as soon as she sat down - then followed Daniel downstairs. The wooden steps of the old, well-worn and well-loved farmhouse creaked beneath her solid weight.

"Oh, my!" Alice said, startled, a hand going to her breast as she looked way up at the even more impressive stature of the young woman. "It must be a complete trial for both you and your parents, being a Nova when you're still growing." Mrs. Vanders' friendly, motherly face hardened with practicality as she eyed the towering teen up and down. "You sit down Sonja, and eat, I know my boys ate like horse when they were going through growth spurts. I'll see if I have anything of theirs that might fit you."

Mr. Vanders' dropped his paper at the sight of the huge blonde, his even equanimity shattered for a moment by the pang of guilt he felt instinctively responding to the superhuman attractiveness of a girl younger than his daughter. He coughed, took a big sip of his coffee, then picked up his paper. He gave the young Novas a quick glance over the top of the Sports section. "Good morning Daniel, Sonja. Sonja, you seem to be... feeling better today."

Sonja sat down next to Daniel, blushing slightly as she poured herself a glass of orange juice. "Yes, thank-you Mr. Vanders, I'm feeling much better. I... haven't been a, uh, Nova for very long. I wasn't expecting this."

"That's understandable, Sonja," Mr. Vanders agreed, carefully not looking at the voluptuous teen. "It's been twelve years since the Galatea explosion and the world is still getting used to Novas. So, what are you kids up to now? Still staying in Garrell Hill?"

Sonja shook her head, long, glistening hair of silver-white swishing against her back like a waterfall of milk and ice. "No, we're... we have to head home. But we have to go buy a vehicle first."

Anna turned from the stove, placing an enormous omelet in front of Daniel and Sonja. The attractive firestarter got a friendly, flirty smile, but Sonja earned herself a much tighter, almost hostile, grin. It wasn't enough that the super-sized Barbie Doll was insanely gorgeous, taller than her brothers, with boobs at least as big as her head and that cared less for gravity than her own modest bust, but she also had to be rich, nice, and polite. It was so unfair, the over-sized sex-doll wasn't even a bitch or snob.

"We don't have a dealership in Garrell Hill, but Mike's Garage usually has a few cars for sale," Anna offered to Daniel - and grudgingly, to Sonja. "I can drive you there when I leave for work."

"Thanks, that would be great, Anna." Sonja ate a large mouthful of the omelet, then nodded her gratitude at the relatively tiny girl. "And this omelet is delicious too. I wish I knew how to cook, more than just throwing something in the microwave, anyway."

"No problem, it's my pleasure," Anna replied, cheeks faintly red. Bitch, she thought, but there was no heat behind it.

Everyone finished breakfast as they chatted, Daniel and Sonja letting the Vanders do most of the talking, as they realized whatever had happened, there were even more changes than they thought. Mr. Vanders thanked them for the company before he had to leave to do some shopping and Alice said they were welcome to stop by anytime they were in Garrell Hill before telling them the laundry was done and that she had set out a few things for Sonja upstairs, along with their freshly laundered clothes.

Daniel and Sonja did the dishes while Anna went to get ready for work, then ran upstairs to get dressed. Sonja's snug jeans and shoes were too tight now, though her carbon-fiber reinforced fuzzy pink turtleneck still fit, barely, and it left a slice of her midriff bare. A pair of baggy, faded jogging pants were almost long enough, though tight at the hips, and loose at the waist, and the worn boots were adequate, if hardly stylish. Her leather jacket still fit, though was snugger across her back and shoulders than she preferred.

As she had guessed, trying on her bra, her breasts bulged outrageously over the top the cups and she was afraid one full breath would snap the band. Reluctantly, she took it off and instead, put on two 9very tight) T-shirts under her sweater to help manage the bouncing. Not perfect, but at least she didn't need a bra to deal with saggage, just jiggling.

She stomped downstairs to where Daniel was waiting, since he hadn't taken nearly the time she had. Right after her, Anna joined them, keys in hand. Seeing how Sonja was dressed, she wanted to smirk but couldn't - damned Basketball Barbie still looked good. It was completely unfair.

"Ready to go?" Both mutants nodded then climbed into Anna's car, Sonja taking the backseat again since she wasn't sure the front seat went back enough for her legs. Soon, Anna pulled out of the drive way and was heading back into town, stopping at the local garage. Sonja thanked her then headed out right away to look for the proprietor, 'Mike' presumably.

Before Daniel could follow, Anna caught his hand in hers, then leaned up and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "I was great meeting you, Daniel. Here, here's my number, I hope you'll call me sometime." She pressed a small piece of paper into his hands. "Maybe you'll visit again?" Her eyes cut to the incredible figure disappearing inside the rolled up door of the garage. "Just you, this time."

[Hotstreak]

Daniel ate in silence, letting Sonja answer. When Anna passed him her number he smiled and took it. "It was good meeting you too Anna. When I come back this way, I'll be sure to stop by. I have to find some way to repay your kindness after all."

The ride was uneventfu and at the garrage he smiled. "Let's see what we can find."

[Sonja Bahaar]

Daniel entered the garage to find Sonja with her hands on her hips, tapping her foot impatiently as she waited for the mechanic. The mechanic was working on the undercarriage of a classic muscle car, a '69 Charger - just like the General Lee on the Dukes of Hazzard though this one was painted a solid black with chrome trimmings, only his thick legs visible, wriggling to the music emanating from the radio.

" - and please, if you'll just give me a moment, it won't take long for to choose-" Sonja was saying, but the mechanic cut her off, not pausing in his work.

"Don't get your panties in a twist, toots," Mike the mechanic grunted, hiding a smirk beneath his girl, Black Fury. Keep the chicks waiting and they'll buy anything you tell them. Woman sounds hot, though with those work boots, she's probably a flannel-wearing dyke. "I'm almost done here. The day is slow and I don't get much time to work my girl - Black Fury needs her love."

Daniel hid a wince at the mechanics dismissive, macho tone when he saw Sonja's gorgeous eyes narrow dangerously - though really, every bit of her was gorgeous. That last time Sonja had been called 'Toots' it had been accompanied by a slap on her ass and resulted in Tony 'The Tiger' Esposito being thrown into the middle of the lake.

Sonja growled low in her throat, took a long step forward and bent over, grasping poor, poor Black Fury by the edge of undercarriage. Mike barely had time to notice the long, feminine fingers before his Charger was rose like a rocket up in the air, but when he saw the reason, any annoyance died under a flood of lust-stricken awe.

From his place on the ground on his back, Mike saw the worn workboots, then his eyes traveled up the longest, most incredible legs he had ever seen, shown off in painted on jogging pants which were little more tights. His gaze skipped over the chick's tight, relatively tiny waist and the delicious slice of midriff bared then came to a skidding stop at the divinely projecting shelf of her massive rack, which from his angle, blocked her face from view. But who gives a fuck?! I'll be whacking off to this until I die.

Practically feeling his eyes boring into the undersides of her breasts, Sonja twisted her torso to the side so she could look down on the mechanic with a fierce smirk, shifting his car to one hand and still surprised at how light it felt. She had almost thrown it through the roof, expecting it to feel heavier. She slowly and smoothly pumped the car over her. Damn! My 'Growth Spurt' must've more than doubled my strength.

Finally noticing the bombshell blonde' face, Mike felt a slight pang of guilt, but it didn't slow the procession of fantasies running through his mind as he climbed to his feet. How often did one see an Amazon-Stripper-School Girl-Nova. Finally facing her eyes-to-tits, Mike felt dangerously close to blowing his load right there.

"Now, your business hours say eight to eight and it's almost nine now." She gave him a mockingly bright smile. "So why don't you show me the cars you have for sale and I'll put down 'Black Fury' here in one piece?"

Mike was all too willing to agree.

Mike never had much for sell - mostly what he held onto when people refused to pay for the work he'd done, but he still rolled his eyes when the towering girl skipped over the standard compacts and when straight for the silver Mustang. Teen girls, even huge Nova babes with hooters enough for the entire cheerleading team, always go for the Mustang. Must be something about girls and horses...

Sonja smiled. It wasn't a BMW, but the Mustang was cute and the same colour as her Dreadnaughted Beemer. She took the proffered keys and slipped behind the wheel, getting a feel for the vehicle and... frowned, noticing something. She had always been a leggy girl - often overlooked for more up-front attributes - and after her night-time blossoming, she was even leggier. The car felt a little... cramped. She sighed with annoyance and clambered out of the sporty car.

"What else do you have?" Sonja asked.

Compact. Compact. A low-rider that was twice her age. The Taurus would have been tolerable - barely - save that is smelled like someone had detailed it wit a dead skunk. Daniel when suggested the Smart car with an amused grin, Sonja almost threw it at him with a scowl. Finally, Mike led her around the back to the last vehicle he had for sale, one he thought he'd have to sale purely for scraps.

It was a 1995 Hummer, massive and solid, in great condition, rust-free and paint undamaged. But since the introduction of the hyper-combustion engine, no one wanted to touch the gas guzzling monstrosity and it's lack of updated electronics made it even more unattractive. He was almost giving it away.

Sonja glared at ugly, brutish utility vehicle. On the other hand, it actually didn't feel like she cramming herself into a sardine can and the price was very reasonable. She gave up, defeated. Besides it was only a temporary thing, until her dad could replace her BMW. If... Dad is still...

"Fine." Some papers were signed, a fancy black credit card was swiped and surprisingly soon, Sonja and Daniel were on the road in the powerful demilitarized vehicle. Considering how far they had to drive, Sonja asked for a road map. His eyes barely shifting from the improbable bustline that hovered near eye-level, Mike gave her an extensive book detailing the roads and byways of the US, not even wondering why she didn't just use her smartphone to check the Opnet like everyone else.

The highway passed swiftly beneath the massive wheels, other cars giving them a wide berth. Sonja glanced down a Daniel beside her, still getting used to amount of space in the Hummer. "Just have to stop in New York City and buy myself some clothes, then we'll be on our way to Louisiana, 'kay? I can't stay in this!. I hope Long Tall Sally's is still there..."

[Hotstreak]

The hummer suprised him he figured she'd never be caught dead in something like it. Of cource necessity required it though, she was simply too big for all the others, and it was a very long drive.

Ge chuckled at her outfit. Only Sonja would worry about it at a time like this. "That's fine Sonja."

The drive to New York was uneventful and he smiled. "I don't think I've had a normal girl take an interest in me like that. It's like the heat didn't bother her." In truth the aura wasn't nearly as hot as Sonja remembered it being.

[Mr Fox]

Listening to the radio did put the two teens somewhat more at ease. The music was the same old stuff, angst, anger, sappy love songs and the like, in fact except for a few new songs, they were all familiar. What came as a bit of a shock were the occasional commercials for Nova based products or agencies.

---

"Looking for something to do with your life? Want to make a difference in the world? Join Project Utopia! We've saved the world from pollution, we've cut organized crime to almost nothing, imagine what we could do with your help! Give your life meaning and feel a sense of accomplishment on a job that matters. Call a recruitment center today. Whether you are a Nova or not, you CAN make a difference." The very attractive voice of the reader changed then to the legalese fine print that is a familiar anyone who has heard such commercials. "Positions subject to availability, Novas will receive a signing bonus not to exceed the legal limit in the area of application."

---

And later another commercial referred to Novas...

"DeVries!" The voice was strong and male and charismatic, "It's not just a job, and it's not about the money, DeVries is a way of life, it's a lifestyle, it's a Brotherhood. They don't call us Elite for nothing! If you've got what it takes call us, it'll be the best decision you'll ever make." Even over the radio you feel yourselves pulled to want to show this man that you are worthy, that you could be his brother. As before another voice in the rapid legalese finished, "Employeement with DeVries is on a contract basis and subject to the laws of South Africa not in the country of recruitment, all terms and conditions apply, Novas only please."

[Hotstreak]

"This place is insane. These novas ca do most anything and what's more they actually advertize as much."

He smiled. "That woulda been nice back home wouldn't it?"

He chuckled. They were somewhere in Kentucky, and he'd grown bored. "Want to play a game?"

[Sonja Bahaar]

Listening to the radio, Sonja shook her head in wonder as she carefully tried to park the Hummer. Long Tall Sally's was where she remembered it being, but she hadn't driven there herself before and she still wasn't used to the immensity of the vehicle. A poor, little econo-car almost paid the price for her unfamiliarity, saved only by superhuman reflexes. With a disgusted snort, she gave up trying to park in a single space and left the Hummer sprawling across two of them.

Sonja leaned forward to turn off the radio, certain curves shifting distractingly under the inadequate clothing, and sighed as she heard her jacket rip at the shoulders. Dammit! I liked this coat. She glanced at her passenger warningly, but Daniel was still staring at the silent radio, a small smile on his face as he thought about Anna. He was right, his 'hotness' wasn't nearly as intense as she recalled it. Bah! I must be getting used to it, unless... He's changing too, sorta like I did...

"Why wouldn't she, Dan?" Sonja said, unable to keep a hint of bitterness out of her sexy, slightly accented voice. "It's like we stepped through Weft's Warp and history was rewritten. People love mutants - Novas or whatever they're calling them - now." As she climbed out of the humongous SUV, she muttered under breath, "And I guess that being pretty good-looking might've helped too."

She straightened her clothes ineffectually, then strode inside the store that catered exclusively to women of tall stature on her endlessly long legs. "C'mon. Hopefully, this won't take long."

Daniel wasn't sure what Sonja considered long, but for him, two hours was long, and the oversized Barbie didn't even model her selections for him. And it was a little odd - and maybe even a bit intimidating - to be lounging around a store where all the female customers - meaning, all all the customers - were six feet tall and more, as were the staff. And really, the heels some chose to wear were a complete and unnecessary extravagance.

The looks he got from the women ranged from amused to condescending to... predatory. Especially from one woman who was about as tall as Sonja used to be, except she had to be twice as wide and was the most muscular woman he had ever seen, while somehow maintaining a lavish beauty, though not up to Sonja's caliber. Tori 'ThorGirl' Dawson called herself an XWF Star, said he was cute while ruffling his hair and suggested he ditch Too Tall Barbie for a real woman.

Sonja on the hand was thrilled. There selection was even more extensive than last time she was here and the saleswoman, though exclaiming over her stature and figure, assured her that it would be no problem to outfit her. They even had bras - nice ones too - that were made for someone of her proportions, or near enough. Though by no means common, she mentioned Sonja wasn't the only nova-girl who had suddenly found herself towering over a boyfriend.

"He's not my boyfriend," Sonja pouted.

"Of course, dear," the saleswoman, Erica according to her nametag, said with an amused smile. "Now, let's see what we have over here, we just got in these new demin-synthetic eufiber blend..."

When Daniel finally saw Sonja again, he found her dressed in something much closer to her usual style: tight jeans, low-cut boots, and a wide-necked, cream-coloured, cable-knit sweater over a snug, pale-purple shirt that showcased a hint of cleavage. Admittedly, he had never seen jeans like hers before, they shimmered with every step, the colour flowing through a variety of shades of blue, and with the low-heels of her boots, he found himself nearly eye level with huge boobs of the hotter than ever Sonja.

I better get used to never being looked in the eyes again, Sonja thought with a sigh, pulling her long, silver-white braid back over her shoulder. She had braided it while in the changeroom.

"Wow." Daniel couldn't think what else to say. Finding herself horribly outclassed and forgotten, Thorgirl slunk away, circumspectly for her over-muscled bulk.

"See? That didn't take long," Sonja said with a bright smile. She was a faintly annoyed with where Daniel's eyes kept lingering - he actually wasn't nearly as bad as most men - but she couldn't help but preen a little under his admiration as she slipped on her new waist-length, leather coat. "Let just pay for my things, then we'll head back out on the road."

Another swipe of the glossy black credit and Daniel found himself volunteered into carrying some of her bags as they left Long Tall Sally's - not because Sonja wasn't strong enough of course, simply because she had so many it would have been awkward for her to carry them all herself.

At least the Hummer lacked nothing in the space department. They stowed her bags then climbed in to the front. Wearing clothes that fit and were stylish, Sonja seemed in a much better mood. "Next destination... Louisiana." Sonja tossed the roadmap book onto Daniel's lap as she shifted the Hummer into gear and pulled out of the parking lot. "Plot me a course to your parent's home, Danny-boy."

[Hotstreak]

Daniel was speechless after the shop, and simply nodded. After about ten minutes he directed her onto the highway, and smiled. "I don't know what happened, but You know it may not be so bad."

With that, he plotted out the best course home and settled in. It was going to be forty hour drive.