psinex@yahoo.com Academia Book 1: Starting Block Chapter 4 by Phil Hartman DISCLAIMER: Everyone here is Marvel's, except for Soraya, who's mine. No money is being made off of this. Please don't sue. ------------------------------------------------------ 9/9/2000: Somewhere in Bombay, India: 23:58 hrs local: ------------------------------------------------------ She slipped between the shadows, her feet never moving. #I could DEFINITELY get to like this,# the girl - slender, black-clad, with a red dot on her sepia-colored forehead, brown eyes flashing inquisitively - thought with a flash of white teeth in the darkness. #The shadows are like a second skin !# She screamed, hating herself for it, when a strobe-pulse of light filled the alley, forcing her to solidity. "Apologies, child," a voice - odd accent to the English, coming from a blue light floating in MID-AIR, the girl noted - boomed. "I thought you were an assassin." "The Thuggees - KGHAF - went out of style long ago, 'sahib,'" the girl replied acidly through chunks of her returning supper. "That HURT !" "Again, my apologies," the voice said, softer. "Tell me, what is this country ?" "India - Bombay," the girl snapped, standing. Her vision adapted to the returning shadows, locking onto her accidental assailant. He was old - well-filled-out, but anyone over 18 was old to the girl - and Caucasian, with piercing blue eyes and white hair cut short. A trenchcoat hid his frame, but his shoulders were broad. The man gave the girl a half-smile and said, "How embarassing. To wake up two years and a continent off my mark ... I should leave the temporal displacement to those who know how best to use it. My mistake. If you'll excuse me, I have a Sentinel to dismember." "You're making absolutely no sense," the girl snorted. She cocked her head, breaking into a grin, and added, "I like that. My name's Soraya Haspurinam - mutant street rat and thief. Shadows are my power." The man grinned back, putting Soraya both at ease and raising hairs on her neck. "Miss Haspurinam," the man said, "I AM power." ------------------------------------------------------ INTERLUDE 1: Spuytin Dyvil Woods, rural Salem Center, NY: 9/9/00: 20:00 hrs EDT: ------------------------------------------------------ "Golly, Biff, this sure is a great adventure !" Squirrel Scout Jimmy Smith smiled to his fellow camper. "It sure is, Jimmy," Biff Jones smiled back, spreading his bedroll out underneath the stars. "Isn't it, fellow Scouts ?" The other eight Squirrel Scouts murmured their assent, setting up camp as their Scoutmaster David Bigelow watched and checked off his list. #Not bad,# he thought, examining his clipboard. #They're earning merit badges left and right, and becoming fine young men in the process.# "Uh, excuse me please, Scoutmaster ?" little Mikey Davis asked. Bigelow looked down, going white at what Mikey held up. "That's a ... human finger," Bigelow whispered. The Scouts collectively gasped, jumping when a cry came from across the clearing. "Scoutmaster ! SCOUTMASTER !" Alex Stane shouted, crying. He held up a lower leg, making the others gasp again. "Oh, THAT'S where that went." Bigelow went ashen when a human head rolled out from the shadows surrounding the campsite, an Asian face looking up at the Scouts. The mouth moved, and the bodyless boy asked, "Got any glue ?" The Scouts collectively screamed, running from the site, as Bigelow fainted. "You," Nga frowned, stepping out of the dark with Leong's headless, limping body, "are a sadist." Leong grinned, letting his sister dust off his head before she set it on his shoulders, and replied, "THEY went to pieces, sister dear. Besides, whatever happened to 'be prepared' ?" ------------------------------------------------------ INTERLUDE 2: Somewhere in Idaho: 17:03 hrs PDT: ------------------------------------------------------ He scowled, reviewing the latest reports, and looked out over the parade grounds. "TEN-HUT !" he heard the sergeant bark, and smiled as platoons of young faces replied in perfect order. #At least the Children are coming along well,# the brown-haired man thought, nodding as the teenaged trainees moved in perfect time. #Even if I lose the election - the battle - soldiers are assured for the war.# "Mr. Creed ? We've gained another two percentage points !" Graydon Creed turned to smile at his PR staff, and nodded. "It's time for Phase Two," Creed said. "Get me CBNC." ------------------------------------------------------ INTERLUDE 3: X-Mansion: 20:06 hrs EDT: ------------------------------------------------------ "Leong, you've earned yourself five demerits," Xavier scowled, watching as the Vietnamese boy refastened his leg to his body. "But Professor, the norms were ASKING to be scared," Leong said with a pout. "Besides -" The phone in Xavier's study rang, and Nga picked it up. "Xavier Institute for - oh, yes, I'll get him," she said, covering the speaker before asking Xavier, "Sir, it's for Franklin." "Ring the pool," Leong smirked. The kids and Xavier didn't blink when a damp Frank appeared in a towel. "Sorry about the wet spot, sir," Frank said sheepishly to Xavier. "I precogged the call and got out of the pool ..." "Superb teleportational control," Xavier murmured, watching Frank take the phone. The boy gave a greeting, then covered the receiver and looked at them with wide eyes. "It's CBNC's 'Confront,'" Frank said, surprise evident in his voice. "They want me as a guest !" "Isn't that the news magazine ?" Nga asked. Frank nodded, turning back to the phone. "Yes ... WHO !? But - hello ?! HELLO !?" he yelled, setting the phone down with a scared expression. "Why the panic, big guy ?" Ray asked, running into the room. Frank looked at the others with utter panic and breathed, "They want me to be on opposite Graydon Creed. And my contract with Ms. Montegro means I HAVE to do it. "On national TV." ------------------------------------------------------ NEXT: One FOH presidential candidate. One uber-powerful teenage mutant Olympian gold medalist. Millions of rabid viewers. (Check local listings >) ------------------------------------------------------ __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! 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