psinex@yahoo.com Academia Book 0: Aqua Vitae by Phil Hartman DISCLAIMER: They're all Marvel's. No money is being made off of this. Please don't sue. -------------------------------------------------------- 8/21/99: Manhattan YMCA: 09:12 hrs EDT: -------------------------------------------------------- "You're sure about this ?" "Arrthhuurrr," Sylvia Montegro purred to her fellow United States Olympic Committee member as she watched the boys' swim team at practice, "the boy's times are impeccable. His GPA for seventh grade put my university total to shame. And he's not only a media darling, he's a REAL darling - positively whitebread. In other words, he's our salvation from the nightmare of Salt Lake." Arthur Davis sighed, shaking his nearly-bald head as they walked down to the pool entrance. "But ... his 'uniqueness' ..." the USOC regional director mumbled. "Is moot. His powers are latent; you read the Bugle indepth, and he was quite clear on that," Montegro huffed, her black, shoulder-length hair shaking as she whipped her head around. "Even if he does manifest, I hardly see how high-end mental powers could help him cheat at swimming. Teleportation ? The camera would catch that. Mindscrambling the competition ? Not easy with the concentration swimming requires. No, the IOC will have to give in." "Fine. What do we tell his family ?" Davis asked. Montegro flashed him a smile and opened the door, replying, "Dearest, they'll jump at it - who WOULDN'T want an Olympic champion for a son ?" -------------------------------------------------------- "Away from home -?" "The training facility's defenses -" "What about the chicks -" "Does he WANNA do this ?" 12-year-old Frank Richards sat, still dumbfounded, on a bench beside the YMCA pool, while his family looked at the USOC representatives in doubt. "Franklin has, from what I can gather, survived quite well without any of you for weeks at a time, if the Daily Bugle report is correct," Montegro said, returning Sue Richards' icy stare. "And the training facility is hardened against even a nuclear attack, Dr. Richards." "I have no doubt the facility is quite well-equipped, Ms. Montegro," Reed said, giving Frank a glance, "but the final decision must be Franklin's." "'Bout time someone asked th' kid," Ben Grimm rumbled, giving his godson a smile. "Whud'ya say, Frankie ?" Frank sighed, opening his mouth to reply, as Sue interrupted, "Maybe he needs more time to think about it." "There is no time," Montegro replied, meeting Sue's renewed glare with equal fervor. "Franklin's training regime has been fine for someone of his caliber at this level. But without sufficient work at an Olympic level, he will fail badly at Sydney. That means getting him started now." Sue frowned, looking at Frank with concern, until the boy stood. "Ms. Montegro," Frank said confidently, "let's get it started." -------------------------------------------------------- #What the heck've I done ?# Frank finished packing his clothes into the tesseract-suitcase his father had designed and looked around his somewhat spartan bedroom. He sat at his desk, his buzzed blond hair almost glowing in the sunlight streaming in from the window. #I'm leaving my family, my friends, for a dream ... I'm good, but am I THAT good ?# Frank thought, swallowing hard as he looked at the shelves of trophies. #I chose swimming because it took my mind off ... my powers ... but now, I'm going to Colorado. And ... I'm leaving ...# He picked up a photo of himself and a horde of other kids, smiling for a moment at the sight of them on a beach. #The gang always teases me about my swimsuits ... I'm gonna miss them,# Frank thought, impulsively packing the photo in his carry-on bag. #Lun and Tom and May and Bill and Chuck and Nate and ...# He zipped his carry-on shut, turning off the light. #And Ray.# -------------------------------------------------------- "Where the HELL do you think you're going !?" Frank broke into a grin, looking over his shoulder at the crowd of kids just behind the security check-in for the flight to Colorado Springs. "I'm sorry I didn't call you sooner," Frank told the girl at the forefront of the crowd. Rachel Summers gave him an exaggerated sigh, shaking out her shoulder-length red hair as she looked him over. "Well, I can't always fit you into my busy phone schedule, dah-ling - I was away at camp on the Riviera," Ray teased in a bad French accent. "Seriously, go kick some butt. We'll be there in Sydney when you win the gold." "Ray ... thanks," Frank said, smiling. They hugged, drawing catcalls and a few giggles from the others, before Frank was nearly crushed by a giant group hug. "Don't let them sneak flies in your soup," May Parker advised. "Make sure your fly is shut," Bill Shade chortled. "Keep it tight and streamlined," Luna Maximoff offered. "E-mail. Once a week. Check it," Tom Shade ordered. "uh ... be careful, OK ?" Nate Summers asked. "Remember who's the mutant and who's the human," Chuck Lehnsherr exhorted. They released him, and watched as he entered the security area. Frank waited until his bags were clear, then waved back to the others as he walked up the jetway. "Please, please be careful," Ray whispered, watching Frank turn to go. #I will,# Frank thought, wiping his eyes. -------------------------------------------------------- #ugh - ?# "OUT of bed, Richards !" Frank heard a voice snap. He looked up, wincing, as a flashlight was crammed in his face. "Dude, it's, like, 5 a.m.," Frank's roommate/"beverage experimentalist" Kelly Riscneros moaned from across the room. "'Dude,' we are here to be Olympians, not poster children for those Gen X has-beens !" the boys' trainer, Martin Rajnowski, demanded. "Pay attention to Richards - HE gets up, doesn't he ?" #Thanks, coach - seperate me some more from the rest of the guys,# Frank thought, gathering his gear and heading for the locker room with a hidden scowl. #I'm the shortest, the youngest ...# "Well, Daddy's little mutie has arrived," Brock Davis snorted from across the locker room. Frank started getting changed, trying to ignore the 19-year-old backstroke specialist. "Stuff it, Davis," Kelly grumbled, shaking out his surfer curls. "Richards here's not some wanna-be. The usox recruited HIM, not the other way around." "Then prove it, little man," Brock snorted at Frank before turning to go. #Fine, 'man,'# Frank thought angrily. #I will -# "Dude. Do you, like, have a twin ?" Kelly asked, tapping Frank on the shoulder. Frank groaned inwardly as an identical twin of himself flickered in and out of visibility beside him. "Sorry - that's my 'dreamself,'" Frank muttered, driving the visible astral form off. "It's like my astral body." "Oh, that's frost," Kelly beamed. "My sister's boyfriend's dog's therapist was, like, into crystals and stuff. But you've got the aura thing goin' naturally, huh ?" Frank finished getting changed and gave his roommate a polite smile. "That's ... one way to put it," the boy mumbled, heading for the pool. #God, would Ray have a field day with this bunch ...# -------------------------------------------------------- 12/23/99: -------------------------------------------------------- F: scrap@olyus.com T: red@baldnest.edu Re: X-Mas Ray - Things are going good out here; I've dropped a few whole seconds off my time, not just tenths or hundredths. The other guys are starting to accept me, I think; Kelly offered to let me use his "stash" whenever I wanted. I've got enough head-trips from my precog as is ... Sorry I can't make it back; the weather's grounded most of the planes, and The Family are out in Skrull space, Roberta told me, so no joy there. I miss you guys. Thanks, Frank -------------------------------------------------------- #Push and shove and push and shove -# "YES, Richards ! There we have it !" Rajnowski yelled over the splashing. "Keep it going, that's it !" #Easy for him - don't lose rhythm -# Frank told himself, pulling another tight turn. #Not so bad today, though -# ~Beige uniforms, covering a field, with a man in a dark suit barking out orders in perfect time, demanding -~ #WHAT THE HECK !?# "OK, call it - Richards ?" Rajnowski called. Frank climbed out of the pool, ashen, and looked up as his coach walked carefully to his side. "What happened ?" Rajnowski asked, handing the boy a towel as Frank stood. "Precog flash - or maybe retrocog, into the past - it was like there were Nazis ..." Frank breathed, slowly drying off. The look of fear in his eyes made the coach step back. "But they were MY age, with guns ..." -------------------------------------------------------- 2/14/00: -------------------------------------------------------- F: red@baldnest.edu T: scrap@olyus.com Re: Visionquest Frank - Checked with the databases and media - no sign of teenage hate groups with guns, so maybe it was a retrocog. Hope you're not too freaked. Hang in there, OK ? We're all pulling for you. Think positive vibes - they really can affect how you do. "Action at a distance," and all that quantum/New Age malarky. Pfeh. Gimme psionic physics any day. Even IF the math is a skank. Miss you, Ray -------------------------------------------------------- "... the swimsuits are what always got me. It's like wearing underwear in public." "You hypocritical dork," Tom Shade huffed at his brother, watching Bill tear into a hamburger in the DeadBurger restaurant window. "You lounge around in boxers when VIPs tour Avengers Mansion, for heaven's sake. Frank's swimwear choices shouldn't affect your sense of masculinity, unless you're truly insecure." "I," Bill mumbled around a mouthful of burger, "am noh inshecure 'bout my mashk'linty." "No, you're definitely 100 percent guy, all right," May gagged. "Chew." "He tries, May, but somehow it escapes him," Chuck ineerjected, grinning evilly, watching Luna hit the suddenly-choking Bill on the back with her hand. "Agon's bones, you guys, he's really having problems !" Luna cried. She grabbed Bill's chest from behind and thrust upward, calling, "INCOMING !!" Nate and Ray ducked as something unidentifiable leapt from Bill's mouth. "Man, an' I'M the immature one ?" 10-year-old Nate snickered, watching Bill cough some more. "It's like pads and a helmet in football," Ray replied, telekinetically shoving the bolus of food away from her seat. "And if I remember, Mr. Shade, those tights football players wear -" "Alright, a'ready !" Bill wheezed. "Damn liberals ..." "Like you're any example of aggrieved white malehood ?" Tom growled. "Our mother is a Jewish-born, Gypsy raised, magic-touched mutant, and our father is an evolved toaster. Spare me the 'last real man' tag, sibling. We're sitting here shooting our mouths off, and Frank's had the guts to work for his dream." -------------------------------------------------------- #Ow.# "I vink you haff oververked zhe muscles, Meester Richards," the masseuse said in a truly bad German accent. Frank tried not to reply, stretched out face-down as he was in his swimsuit on the table. #Maybe, but the past seven months've been worth it,# Frank thought, looking up to see Sylvia Montegro enter the room with a huge smile and a whining poodle under her arm. #My times are kickin', and -# "Franky ! Darling ! Wunderkind, don't get dressed just yet," Montegro beamed. "We've got an interview with Squeak! Magazine." "The combo e-zine and - waitaminute," Frank asked, gulping. "Isn't Squeak one of those -" "Darling, they're much more tasteful than 'Lion Beat,' or whatever the teenage girls drool over," Montegro chirped, setting off the poodle. "Besides, your demographic is hungry for you. You're young, fresh, honest, mutant, and best of all you're NICE. You're the living example of mutant-human coexistence, darling, much more so than those uptight fogies in the X-Men." Frank climbed off the masseuse's table, wincing, and replied, "Ms. Montegro, the X-Men might've been quiet about their efforts, but they did it to protect their families. I respect the X-Men - a lot of my friends are their kids." Montegro gave Frank a quick nod, but burbled, "Politics after business, Frank. Trust me, Squeak! won't misuse your talents. Have I steered you wrong ?" "Well, no ..." Frank began, yelping when Montegro dragged him by the hand to the front office. "Fifi agrees, doesn't she, Fifi ?" Montegro said in a gushy voice. Fifi yipped, then tried to gnaw her own tail. #Oh God. My agent uses a poodle for business consultation,# Frank thought in horror. -------------------------------------------------------- 6/4/00: -------------------------------------------------------- "Prostitution." "Ex-CUSE me ?" Ray snapped, looking at Bishop over her cereal bowl in the X-Mansion kitchen. Bishop set down his copy of Squeak! with an annoyed expression and said, "Your boyfriend is squandering his fame and talents in this nigh-tabloid rag when he could have had his powers triggered by the Professor and be working on them here. Where he can do humans and mutants more good." "'Triggered' - nice euphemism for digging in someone's head and traumatically triggering their powers, Bish," Ray growled. "Did the XSE force THEIR trainees to manifest early ?" "Point," Bishop muttered. "But Richards has been hiding behind his psionic dampers for almost all of his childhood." "B'cause he wanted a childhood - right, Ray ?" Nate asked. "Precisely, squirt," Ray smiled, her expression shifting to anger as she gave Bishop another warning glare. "Not all of us are born to angst, big fella. You didn't have a childhood in your future - give the rest of us a chance." -------------------------------------------------------- #I feel used.# Frank focused on his algebra assignment, ignoring Kelly's snores and getting lost in the Xs and Ys until a knock at the door disturbed him. "I got it," Frank told his roommate, standing to open the door. #Maybe I should've used my ESP to see who's on the other side -# He very nearly fainted at the sight on the other side. "Hello, Franklin," Charles Xavier said with a faint smile. "May we talk ?" -------------------------------------------------------- After a light lunch, Frank reclined in his seat on the balcony of the USOC training facility and looked at where Xavier was looking at the city in his hoverchair. Finally, Xavier looked at the boy and said, "You were right - you are generating more psionic energy. If I am correct, and there is little reason to assume otherwise, you are nearing your full manifestation." "Then ... I don't have much time," Frank said, sitting up. He took a deep breath and said, "Sir, I don't think the IOC'll let an active mutant of any power compete in the Olympics ..." "You must decide for yourself what you think is right, Franklin," Xavier said gently. "Just as you were free to decide to come here, you must face the consequences of your freedom to choose. You are barely a month away from Sydney ..." "... but if I manifest in a city full of innocent people, I might kill them all, make mutants hunted, and start World War III," Frank finished, swallowing hard. "My dampers are holding, but how long ?" Xavier concentrated, arching an eyebrow, and after a moment replied, "It's beyond my ability to assist. Your mindshield is remarkably strong already - combined with your formidable will, your mind is one of the few which are closed to me." Frank gasped, then stood. "So you couldn't reinforce the dampers," he said, nodding slowly. "Thank you, sir, for looking at my case. I ... think I have to think some more." "Whatever your choice, Franklin," Xavier said, "there is a place for you at the school. I know ... certain persons there who would enjoy your company, even more than I would enjoy the chance to work with someone of your caliber." Frank tried not to grin too widely as he saw Xavier to the elevator. "I'd like to work with certain persons too," he mumbled. -------------------------------------------------------- 8/30/00: -------------------------------------------------------- "Cousin, why have you not ASKED him ? Did you see last month's issue of Squeak! ?" Ray rolled her eyes at Gailyn Bailey, who was sitting on the edge of her bed in what had become the girls' impromptu dorm room in the women's wing of the X-mansion. "Gail, I've seen Frank wear that suit ever since he started swimming," Ray replied matter-of-factly, digging through her drawers. "He's cute, sure, but I like him because he's a nice guy, too." "Like, or like like ?" Gail grinned, rolling over to look at Ray. Ray shot her an eyeroll and replied, "You and Bill would make a cute couple." She giggled as she ducked the hurled copy of Squeak!. -------------------------------------------------------- 9/1/00: -------------------------------------------------------- "You put a good word in for me with Gail !?" Ray covered her eyes with one hand as Gail and Joe glared at Bill outside the entrance to the natatorium. The nascent second team of New Mutants had teleported to Australia via Claudette St. Croix's powers, albeit in the middle of the night Salem Center time. Few of them were adjusted to the time change. "OK, here he comes," Ray called, thankful of the interruption. "Where ? Oh - neat trick," Tom nodded, watching the air ripple to reveal a swimsuit-clad Frank. "New power app, pal ?" "Image inducer wristwatch for my birthday - thanks for coming, guys," Frank laughed, letting Ray hug him. "I gotta hurry, though - Ms. Montegro gets freaked if I vanish for too long." "Don't let the Young Repubs catch you sitting down - wearing 'USA' on your butt like that ? You oughta be ashamed," Bill grinned. "Look at some other guy's ass, Shade - we all know Frank's belongs to Ray," May grinned. Ray and Frank blushed, but he looked in her eyes for a long moment. "I ... oh hell," Ray whispered. "I like you, you big doof. I didn't tell you last year, but -" "I like you too - Ray - !" Frank laughed, hugging her. He leaned towards her, and their lips brushed. "FRANKLIN !" "Damnit to HELL ..." Frank growled, looking over his shoulder at the positively-sweating Sylvia Montegro, Fifi dancing abour her mistress' feet. "Coming, Ms. Montegro," Frank fake-smiled, letting go of Ray reluctantly. "My friends' seats've been saved, right ?" "Of course let's go kids Frank DARLING what's with the chicky hmm ?" Montegro blithered, shooting daggers at Ray. Fifi sniffed Ray, then did a bizarre little dance. "CHICKY ?" Ray snarled, a visible glow forming around her. Nate clutched her hand, whispering in her ear as the New Mutants followed an USOC aide to the stands. "Fine. But if she hurts him, I'll SHOW her 'chicky,'" Ray growled under her breath. #ohmyGODheLIKESme... breathe, Ray.# -------------------------------------------------------- He shook himself, adjusting his goggles and swimcap and swimsuit before heading for the starting block. #No pressure,# Frank told himself, getting into position. #Only about a billion people and a gold medal and -# ~hungerfearloveFRANKpainwater~ #WHAT WAS THAT !?# Frank thought, horrified, as he reinforced his mindshield. #I waited too long ...# #my powers are coming out full-bore ...# -------------------------------------------------------- "Uh-oh," Leech gulped. "Uh-oh WHAT ?" Artie asked his best friend. "Image inducer batteries shorting out uh-oh, or Frank uh-oh ?" "Frank," Leech warned. "Leech just saw a power-spike in Frank's aura - Leech can see biogenetic energy auras." "He's MANIFESTING ? HERE !?" Chuck whispered loudly. "God above, if his dampers go -" "Leech, get down to the front row," Ray ordered, her eyes narrowing. "If things get messy, we'll clear you a path to Frank." "Uh, does anyone but me not see the headlines already ? 'Mutie punks attack Olympics' ?" Bill muttered. "We'd make the '72 games scandal look like a bar fight ..." "My God, he's thinking," Tom half-taunted. "He does have a point, Ray, besides the one on the top of his head." "Then I'll have to be waiting there," Ray said confidently, switching seats with Nate for the aisle spot. "And if Ms. Montegro is in the way when Frank needs me ... all the better." -------------------------------------------------------- He tensed. Shot ringing, sleek forms hurled forward - #Scared the first time I walked into the Y locker room, knowing I COULD swim, but that fast ?# Water on skin, gasping, pushing forward - #Ray ... God, Ray, I didn't even get to really kiss you, if I do go overboard I'll hafta teleport, maybe into space, can I LIVE in space ?# Burning, muttering growing to roar, flip-turn-kick-off - #Loud, God, so LOUD, never thought there were this many minds -# pull and drag - #IWILLNOTGIVEUP# -------------------------------------------------------- She gasped, seeing her meal ticket leap from the pool and hover in mid-air long enough to pull off his swim cap, glowing like a small star. #Sylvia, dear, you should've gone into poodle-breeding like Mummy wanted you to,# Montegro thought, never seeing the elbow that dropped her and sent Fifi flying into the salad bar. Ray flew over the wheezing USOC official, landing before the now-kneeling, shaking Frank as he dropped to the tile. "R-Ray ... ?" Frank pleaded, taking her hand. The tears he was dripping were translucent, glowing, as their minds opened to each other. She cried with him, holding him close as they began to laugh. ~Verbose, too,~ Ray teased, seeing white. -------------------------------------------------------- "Is it gaudy ?" "You can't wear it to the Danger Room," Ray teased, playing with the medal as she and Frank floated in the X-mansion pool. "But it's not gaudy." Frank blushed, smiling, as he sat beside her at the edge of the pool. "Guess I really oughta take it off sometime," he said, meeting Ray's gaze. "Yeah," Ray smiled back. "Frank ... about what we said -" "Slow," Frank replied, taking her hand. "We're just 13, we've got plenty of time." "Sure," Ray said amicably, nodding. "We're good friends who ... like each other. A lot." "Yeah," Frank nodded back. They leaned over, and kissed. "Gold is sexy," Ray grinned, playing with the medal about Frank's neck. "Funny, I thought it was red," Frank breathed, slipping an arm about Ray. "Thank you so much. You always believed in me, even when Poodle-Woman tried to keep me away from you guys." "'Poodle-Woman' - geez, I know we're superhero trainees, but even WE rate a better first villainess than 'Poodle-Woman,'" Ray deadpanned. They looked at each other again, and Ray slipped an arm around Frank when he started to snicker. "'Able to leap fire hydrants in a single bound' !" Frank boomed. "'Faster than a swinging doggie door' !" Ray added. They burst into laughter, and kissed again. ~Your mindshield OK ?~ Ray sent. ~Never better,~ Frank thought back. ~I don't wanna risk transmitting just yet ...~ ~Well, it would be embarassing if you broadcast your thoughts to most of New York State,~ Ray teased. ~Especially the ones where you're - er ...~ Frank concluded, blushing. "Dangit, Richards, kiss me before you dream us into a Roman bathhouse or something," Ray ordered. "Yes, mmmmmm ..." -------------------------------------------------------- TBC in Academia Book 1: Starting Block -------------------------------------------------------- __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Photos -- now, 100 FREE prints! http://photos.yahoo.com ___________________________________________________________ T O P I C A The Email You Want. http://www.topica.com/t/16 Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Your Favorite Topics