Throughout the night, Vesper was tossing and turning.  Craig was beside her having fallen asleep shortly after their tryst.  Gail didn't come home.  Vesper was plagued by dreams that were not her own, literally.  Her dreams, or what she could remember of them, were from someone else's point of view and contained symbolism that meant nothing to her.  In one dream she saw herself, or at least an ideal representation of herself doing things she probably normally wouldn't do. 

When Vesper did finally awaken, Craig was slack jawed and sucking wind sprawled across the bed with one leg hanging out from underneath the covers.  Hearing his thoughts during the waking nights activities were a little distracting, but not so much as proving that he was more of an action figure than an action hero.  The urges of the morning forced her out of bed and into the bathroom.  Maahes was asleep on the back of the sofa and upon hearing Vesper, stretched and squeaked out a morning greeting mid stretch.

Sleepy-eyed, Vesper walked over to Maahes and lightly touched her face to his and rubbed noses. Leaving her best friend in the living room to wake up, she headed into the bathroom. Closing the bathroom door, she decided that after taking care of the other reasons for being there, a shower would help her wash herself clean of the previous night's entertainment.

Vesper stood in the shower's warm embrace, letting the water cascade around her.  The liquid running over her face felt especially good.  Vesper did notice after little more than a minute that her feet were submerged in water whereas the amount of water coming out of the shower head was normal.  Looking down at the drain it was still the normal swirling whirlpool proving that the drain was not clogged.  Then Vesper noticed that she herself was exuding copious amounts of water from her skin all over her body.  Also the washcloth, the bar of soap, the shampoo bottles, and Gail's loofah sponge were floating beside her.

Vesper had almost convinced herself that the stranger events of the previous night were a combination of too much wine and a too active imagination. Even the supposed reading of whats-his-name's mind was explainable as just extrapolation and a general knowledge of the workings of the male mind. However, all of her rationalizations and simple explanations drowned in the water around her feet. 

Time to find out how this works then she thought. First she turned off the shower and observed the reactions of her body and the items around her. Then she concentrated on drawing all of the water out of Gail's sponge and the washcloth into her body. The water of the shower went off and the water from her body stopped as well.  The objects still floated around her and she reached out with her mind and started drawing the water to herself.  The sponge and washcloth came close to her side and touched her and the water flowed out of the objects and onto her body.  The water ran in thin streams up her body and around the curves of her flesh.  Up her neck and into the corners of her mouth where she could taste that the water was somehow slightly impure but it wouldn't matter.  Inside her mouth the water disappeared.  Out of the corner of her eyes she caught a distorted reflection of herself.  One she had seen many times.  Her natural curves distended along the length of the faucet's metal.  Leaning close however there was a difference.  Her eyes, they didn't look human, but rather like the glowing white rimmed eyes of a lion.

Uncertain of the image that she saw in the metal of the faucet, she stared at the reflection of the inhuman eyes for a moment and then remembered the floating soap and the shampoo bottles. She concentrated on having them settle back to their regular resting places, then she quickly stepped out of the shower to look at herself in the full length mirror on the shower door.

The objects returned to their rightful place by force of will and Vesper glistening but not dripping looked at herself in the mirror.  An impressive figure, but one she'd seen before.  A beauty to most anyone with only one difference her own eyes looked like those of a white Lion.  Solid white rims with a singular dark pupil soft around the edges. {http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Europe/Greece/photo25989.htm}.  Craig could be heard groggily stirring in her bedroom.

Vesper found the look of her eyes both fascination and slightly disturbing. She studied the look of her eyes and how they affected her face and her overall appearance. After taking a few moment to play with her hair and applying some kohl eye shadow in the style of ancient Egyptian women, she wrapped herself in a robe and walked out of the bathroom.

With long, elegant strides she walked into the living room over and sat next to Maahes. With a playful regal tone she said, "Greetings Maahes, my warrior son. As the solar boat crosses the sky so has your mother, Ubasti come to see you."

Maahes butts his head immediately into Vesper and purrs like a motorboat, rubbing and nibbling on fingers that don't scratch just the right way.  Craig emerges from the bedroom squinting and smiling in his boxer shorts.  "Mornin'" he says and looks at her and makes his way into the bathroom.  He closes the door behind him and the sounds of a man's morning begins.

The key in the front door clicks silently indicating that Gail was finally coming home after a long night.

Vesper nuzzles her 'son' Maahes and pets him affectionately until Craig stumbled past on his way to the bathroom. Once he's inside, she gives Maahes one last scratch and then pads over to the bathroom door. She calls into the bathroom, "Good morning Craig There is a set of brown towels with wash cloths and a travel bottle of mouthwash under the sink. Please feel free to use them, especially the mouthwash. Please put the toilet seat down when you're finished using it. And if you behave and are very nice, I might be convinced to show you where the coffee is after you come out."

Hearing the front door unlock she walks over and waits just inside to greet her room mate.

Gail tries to be quiet and opens the door and takes a quick step in side turning without ever seeing Vesper.  Then she closes the door quietly and turns around right into Vesper, "Aaaahhh!" she shouts and takes a step back.  "You scared the living bejeezus out of, Aaaaahhh!  What the hell happened to your eyes?  That is just freaky looking.  Contact lenses?"

Gail is dressed in the same thing she left in and is obviously coming in alone.  The faint smell of stale beer in on her clothes and hair and if the past in any indication she will be heading straight towards the shower as soon as her questions are answered.

Vesper grins at Gail throughout her entrance like the cat that ate the canary. "Something like that, Liebchen," she replies with a grin. Her expression turns mildly serious and she says, "By the way, you owe me. For your sake, I sacrificed my night to keep your boyfriend's wing man off the radar. I was hoping for an action hero, what I got was an action no-show. One other thing, I wouldn't walk into the bathroom right now because Mr. No-go is in there. Hopefully he remembers to put the seat back down and open the window to let the odor of sexual failure out."

Vesper sniffs at Gail and says playfully "What an interesting perfume you have on this morning. So tell me, was Mr. Wonderful everything you thought he'd be? Have some coffee with me in the kitchen and dish all the details while you wait for the bathroom to become a safe zone."

"Ouch, that bad," Gail wears the pained expression of sympathy and sighs as she takes the first cup of coffee black, wincing at the bitterness.  "It was a non-starter, Couldn't even get out of the starting gate.  I had my fair share, but you'd think he was a light weight by comparison.  I stayed up half the night drinking with his roommate and playing super mario brothers.  Did you know that even drunk it's possible to beat Bowser without taking a single hit?"  Gail waves the notion away like dusting away a fly and rubbing her head.

"At any rate, you got more action than I did.  And those contacts are really freaky, kind of disturbing.  Aren't they Maahes?"  Maahes squeaks his appreciation about being included in the conversation.  The sound of a flushing toilet and the seat lid being dropped with a muffled, "Aw, Hell," comes from the bathroom.

Vesper sighed at the sounds coming from the bathroom., "Another result of a night not well spent. Next time you get to stay  home with the wingman. And I hope we can find better dates than Craig and Nehemiah "  Smiling after a second sip of coffee she adds, "My warrior son does not think my eyes are freaky. He likes them very much. Don't you, Maahes?" She turned to Gail and patted her hand sympathetically, wondering if she could listen to her room mate's thoughts too.

Maahes purred and stretched.  As Vesper pats Gail's hand, the sound of her roommates voice is in her head, "Probably would have had more fun.  Don't feel like doing much of a next time right now.  Those eyes seem so real, those much have been expensive contacts, when did she get those.  She would have told me."

"Thanks, but I think I'll stick with the regulars at the trivia bar.  I will foreswear jocks for a while.  No more dates until I can complete the first 20 pages on my thesis."  Gail looks at Vesper eyes and shudders slightly.  Then Craig stumbles out of the bathroom and journeys back towards the bedroom to collect his clothes.  he glances over briefly at Vesper and Gail and offers a weak smile. 

When he is dressed he comes out into the kitchen area and pours himself a cup of coffee.  Gail just stares at him silently, and he looks from Gail's face to Vesper's, "That is messed up, Vesper.  When did you put those in?"  he looks a little nervous.

Vesper replies to Gail, "Now that is a winning pair of ideas. No more jokes pretending to be jocks and using the time otherwise wasted on them to complete your thesis."

After Craig's comment, Vesper looks at him with a predatory grin and says, "These came with the glory of the rising sun. They are the eyes of Panthera leo. If you are confused, I will explain it for you. These are the eyes of courage, power and potency. By your performance last night, I am not surprised that you don't recognize them."

Gail stifles a laugh and Craig looks as though he is confused and a little off guard.  "ok," he says and puts the cup on the counter.  He backs up a little and follows up his stunning repertoire with, "That's just not right."  his head bobs a little and he walks out the front door closing it behind him. 

Gail then laughs out loud, "That's telling him."  Maahes squeaks out a concurrence and hops down and heads off to the laundry room for his own morning duties.  "What are you into today?  I'm heading up towards Redding today.  I've got some research to do that requires a meeting with some folks who work for that company ESRI.  Mapping software, who knew.  You'd think google would have been on top of that by now.  You can come along if you aren't doing anything.  Lose the eyes though."

Vesper grinned playfully at Gail and replies. "I think that after everything that has happened, I am going to take the day off from school. A road trip sounds like just the thing I need."  She slowly stands up and walks past her room mate, lightly touching her on the shoulder as she passes. "I'll go get changed while you make yourself more presentable. By the way, last night you looked good enough to eat. I'm sorry all that good work went for nothing."

Vesper gets a quick vision of a drunken date at the trivia bar and fumbling hands and a disappointing evening.  Through Gail's eyes she saw Nehemiah in a different light.  There is also a slight hint of apprehension as Gail sees Vesper's eyes and a "good riddance" as Craig exited.  Some excitement and foreseeable boredom with her project research in Redding.

"Thanks," Gail says and slips into the bathroom to freshen up as well while Vesper changes.  Maahes locates one of his small felt covered cardboard mouses and runs at breakneck speeds throughout the apartment throwing the toy and meowing happily at it and anyone who'll listen.  Quickly Vesper and Gail are on their way to Redding, California.

Vesper and Gail discovered long ago that they both enjoyed singing old songs while driving. It was after a mutual chorus of "I Can't Drive 55" and a infectious case of the giggles that they settled down and Vesper silently began to think.

"What am I doing? I know I'm with Gail but maybe I really should have stayed home.  But hanging out with Gail is so much fun and after the last 24 hours I need some good solid fun. I mean what has happened to me? I seem to be able to control the movement of water, even the water inside other objects. I also seem to be able to exude large quantities of water as well as purify any water that enters my body.  I can read the thoughts of people when I touch them and sometimes even those in close proximity. Finally, my eyes change to those of a white lion. But how can I do these things and what do they have in common. Water? Oh mother goddess, I could use the wisdom of Bast herself."

Only questions bubbled up from Vesper's subconscious.  The answers were not forthcoming.  Along the way, Gail switched over to news talk radio, "... rumors.  There is no such thing.  This ranks right up there with Big Foot and Loch Ness."

"Dr. Swanson, are you saying that it is impossible for super-powered individuals to exist?  If you stand me next to the strongest man in the world, then I and everyone around will think he's super-powered for sure."

"That is accomplished through hard-work and effort.  There is no amount of hard-work and effort that can generate the ability to fly, or turn into gold as some new 'sighting' along the west coast surfaces.  Look, billions of years of evolution doesn't produce the ability to turn a gun into slag."

"This is Peter Hagar, and you are listening to California World Talk Radio.  We are talking with Dr. Mark Swanson, an expert in evolution and genetic sciences.  Dr. Swanson, what then are we to make of the sudden rash of super-powered sightings, hero reports, and the whole hooplah that is popping up this year?  Mass Hysteria?  A world delusion?"

"I think it's the influence of Hollywood and media.  The last two years, a swath of movies and games have been produced involving comic book heroes and the reality of the movies have finally taken their toll on young and old alike.  It's wishful thinking.  The people want a superhero and so they create them.  I would like to point to the Ancient Greeks' need for a multitude of gods who bore very human like emotions but very inhuman powers.  Those gods never existed but they believed in them.  Urban legends of today like Candyman, Bloody Mary, midnight killers, etc. fulfilled our need to fear the dark and remain moral as we thankfully began losing our adherence to  some kind of deity worship.  I can predict at best we are coming full cycle and as people are losing their faith in a god, they need to place it in something greater than themselves.  Thus new legends of superheroes are born.  The danger will be in those who try to emulate these new gods we are for some reason creating."

"Wow.  Well, that's a can of worms doctor.  Let's go to the phones and see if someone is willing to offer any other explanations or perhaps there are some questions for Dr. Swanson, while he's here.  Yes, Micky from San Bernadino, you are on the air."

"Dr. Swanson is full of it, Pete.  We may be modern gods but we are not myths.  I can mentally control dirt that ants have built their homes in.  Shape it and shift it around."

"Perhaps you'd like to demonstrate this ability in a controlled lab setting," Dr. Swanson says.

"Perhaps, not.  I'm not some lab rat.  I've got a life to live, man.  I'm not about to become someone's pincushion.  You'd just better be careful, doc.  Some don't take kindly to being told they don't exist.  God Bless! Go Supers! Peace out!"  Micky hangs up.

"Dr. Swanson?"

"Clearly delusional.  And come on, Ant Hills?  I hope he's in pest control," Dr. Swanson laughs.

"Ants make my skin crawl," Gail says and shivers in her seat rubbing her arms and legs quickly.

"Well if you use enough chocolate, they are good eating. Lots of protein, you know." Vesper joked with her room mate. Then a wickedly playful smile spread across her face and she said excitedly to Gail, "Hey, I'm going to call into that show and throw out a few choice words. Lets see what they come up with."

Vesper quickly dialed the number for the talk radio program and waited to be connected to Peter Hagar and Dr. Swanson.

"Hello, Peter. I have a two related questions for Dr. Swanson and one for you."

"Yes, Caller, go ahead," Peter answers once the production manager switches the call over to him.

"First two questions are for Dr. Swanson. Isn't it generally accepted in the scientific community that mutation in a species is the foundation of evolution within that species? And that without mutation many of the abilities that we have, including sentience itself, may not have developed?

And for you, Peter. The US military and several well-known universities experimented with Remote Viewing and Telepathy in the late 60's into the early 80's. If I recall the conclusions correctly, they established that ESP talents such as clairvoyance and telepathy exist but were of little use and are unreliable.

Here's your question: What do you think that people with money and influence would do if they found that there really were individuals who had functional and reliable versions of those or similar abilities?"

"Very Intelligent, Doctor?"

"Yes, caller," Swanson begins, "that is all quite basic.  I'll answer the question in the relevance to the super powered rumors circulating.  Given the diverse nature of say the mutants of the x-men comic books and movies, it's quite unreasonable to expect a wide diversity.  If different groups of people parted ways for millions of years and suddenly came back together then you might hope to have some semblance of a unique power or ability if it was bred for or perhaps naturally selected based on the conditions of their environment.  The sudden occurrence of a diversity of abilities would in my opinion have nothing to do with the evolution of the human species.  And therefore, not a condition of science.  If I were to suddenly believe in fantasy, then perhaps."

"Good answer, Doctor," Peter quickly fills in the pause.  "As for the rest of it.  Tests following those early ones which had been conditions, more specific and restrictive requirements proved those early experiments to be false.  Such clairvoyance is simply a myth best left to the x-files.  Your final question though does bear some merit.  If somehow, someway, we were suddenly inundated with people with supers and they were willing to sell to the highest bidder, then the markets for those abilities would suddenly become high demand.  Assuming that these people were few and far between.  Security, Services, hell, even the Sex Industry would probably have a boom. "

"Yes, if we actually stooped to following that line of thinking then the guy who makes mountains out of ant hills would have a great job in landscaping," Dr. Swanson comments with a little laugh.

Vesper says politely, "Thank you Peter and Dr. Swanson. Before I go, let me remind you both of a few things. First, before 1969, the idea of human beings walking on the surface of Earth's moon was considered sheer scientific fantasy.  By the end of that year, it was history. Second, all reputable scientists were certain that the coelacanth had been extinct for 80 million years. In 1939 one was caught alive and a second of a different subspecies was found alive in 1999.  To quote Shakespeare, "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy."

The signal is clicked off and the radio speaks on, "And thank you caller.  I'm sure that many people will point out that we are gradually moving towards a Star Trek level of technology.  Wireless light bulb technology is nearly perfected at MIT to name the most promising event on the horizon.  There is a big difference between directed technology, the discovery of a single species even after 80 million years and the diversity of proposed discoveries in the news.  There is no cause for someone to direct acts without precedence.  Or to turn to gold or melt guns.  No precedence.  Regardless, let's find another caller."

Gail laughs it off, "You told them.  They get all serious when you talk.  Who's laughing now."

Vesper noted to herself that the entire purpose of the radio show was clearly to refute the entire discussion about sightings of super powered individuals. She also noted that neither the host nor Dr. Swanson offered anything solid to dispute the existance of people like herself. People like herself. That thought gave her a moment's pause and she decided to look up Dr. Mark Swanson and see what she could find out about him.

Before reaching into the backseat for her laptop, Vesper replies,"Did you notice that they seemed to be trying very hard to convince people that none of those things could happen? I mean they almost seemed desperate at the end there, don't you think?" She paused and then asked, "What do you think about all the sightings and the reports of people disappearing?"

"It's just like atheists and religion.  They try the hardest to convince everyone otherwise when it would probably be more effective to simply ignore the matter.  Afterall, I think it's a matter of faith to believe there is no such thing as faith.  As far as super powered human beings and all the media bunk,"  Gail waves her hand in the wind as the car sails along the highway thinking.  "I don't know.  It's all comic book stuff to me, y'know?  How's it going to change my life?  I'm not exactly running away from doctor evil and being held captive in a crumbling tower.  I suppose it's possible that if they existed all along hiding along side of humanity like the coelacanth for instance, then yeah sure, bring on the powers.  But to just suddenly appear out of no where?  That's not evolution, that's just bizarre.  Assume however that you've suddenly been found out, that your ability to grow super vegetables out of the desert sand is national news.  I'd make myself disappear.  Not all comic book superheroes are bullet proof if you know what I mean."

Vesper replied, "Well I never have been one much for comic books but I think I get your point. So what do you think would account for powers just showing in different people from nowhere. I mean what if you woke up one morning and found out that you had some strange kind of power?  Let's say for the sake of discussion, you found out that you could control small amounts of water. What would you do?" She glaceed over at Gail while her Google search for Dr. Swanson started.

Dr. Mark Swanson popped up on google as simply a research professor for University of California, Berkeley in the biology department.  He seems to have some accolades in genetic research and is a professed atheist having appeared with more notable people such as Gould and Hawkins.  Otherwise fairly boring material.  "If I could control water.  Well for one I'd make sure I didn't retain any water at any time of the month.  No more bloating.  And I'd have some additional fun at the pool.  No more slide burn if you know what I mean.  If you're that interested in the super junk, I heard there is a seminar in Redding about that very thing.  Some obscure nutjob is talking about super powered human beings in the modern age.  I'm sure we could find a flyer when we get there.  Won't be long."

"But I thought the whole reason for you going to Redding was so that you could do some research? Hey roomie, I'm not going to abandon you over some seminar if you want me to help you with this research." Vesper offered, looking at Gail. After a pause she continued, "Besides, if I was going to this seminar, you'd have to go with me so you can explain all the superhero and comic book jargon I won't understand."

'Goddess Bast, I hope I don't sound as desperate to Gail as I do to myself, I am not in love with her or anything like that." she thought.

"The research is mostly comprised of interviews with ESRI execs.  It's a one person job.  I just figured since I'd be up here, why not have a little fun, and who better to have fun with!  I won't be talking it up with ESRI all day.  I can probably meet you in time for the seminar.  I've heard it has a late start instead of the typical early afternoon stuff.  So no worries.  I can explain what a mutant is versus a space alien.  And if we are both stumped, I have my baby brother on speed dial.  He'll be extremely jealous." She smiles devilishly.

"Well you know getting your little brother jealous is one of my life's greatest goals. Oh, so there are different kinds of aliens too? Or are non-space aliens just mutants without the long name? " she said with a playful smile. Then her expression turned slightly serious, "I guess that I'll go sightseeing while you're with ESRI. Or maybe I'll go shopping for a girl friend for Maahes and check out the local shelter. Or maybe I should go have some lunch and then visit the location of the seminar. I've never really been to Redding before. Suggestions?"

"Well I've only been twice and I saw the Sundial Bridge, Turtle Bay, the National River Park.  Those kinds of things.  Not as much time to enjoy them I think, you can always go shopping downtown.  Maybe take in some of the local boutiques.  There's a pet store that I think you would love, just across from one of those shops that sell's Christmas stuff all year round."  Gail shrugged as she entered town navigating streets with the help of GPS and some memory.

Vesper listens thoughtfully to Gail and comes to a decision. "Alright then, shopping at the pet store while I wait for you. By the time you're done, I should be able to supply the needs of an entire Ark. Oh, but then Maahes might get jealous." she says with a playful grin. "Okay, since my time will be somewhat limited, I'll start with some of the stores nearby the pet store and then meet you there. Does that work for you?"

"Works for me," Gail says with a smile and stops in front of the pet store.  Across the street a tiny village in the window bore extra shadows in the glass as figures stared out from the display.  Some people walk in front of the store and suddenly two women are stepping back around the mountain in the display.  Perhaps they worked there but it was strange how they were only shadows initially.  Other stores were around the little strip on both sides of the streets.  The Pet Boutique stood boldly behind Vesper as Gail drove off towards her meeting.  Even on this upper end strip, flyers could be seen in the windows regarding the events of the Convention and seminar.

After glancing back to the Pet Boutique for a moment, Vesper was led by her curiosity to the store front with the mountain village display. Crossing the street, she searched for the two women who stepped out of the display. Coming across one of the flyers, she took it and folded it into her purse as she continued to look for the two women she'd seen before.

-> To "The Redding Seminar"