**************************************************

The original plan had been for them to rendezvous at Crisscoula's Pizza for their lunch break, then head back to school. However they soon realized the girls were probably expecting to meet them in the usual spot instead, a few blocks down. Walking towards the school, Ace and Peter struggled to think of a good alibi for their last night’s disappearance, in anticipation of the girls. Paul walked back behind them five paces alongside of Gene, who was muttering to himself with his hands thrust into both front pockets of his jeans.

"What's with curly?" Ace whispered to Peter. "He's got a fly up his ass about SOMETHING."

Peter shrugged, saying, "What am I, psychic? Ask him."

"Um, he gets pissy if I bug him," Ace cackled. "Besides, I don't want him to crap on our party man... if he's having issues..."

"Paul’s the psi, let him figure it out," Peter chuckled. Ace jingled his coins rather loudly as they walked down the street towards the next block, with the express goal of annoying Gene. So far as he could tell, it was working all too well.

"Gene, what's shakin man?" Paul asked. "You're pretty ticked about something... Ace is stating to notice, and you KNOW that it's serious when HE gets the drift."

"Something’s different, don’t you notice it?" Gene asked. "I feel positively invincible…"

"Last time I checked you were pretty damn happy feeling that way…" Paul reminded him. "When you were a human Bic…"

"Ha ha," Gene snorted. "Look, I don't deny enjoying this sensation, but I have a nagging suspicion that we weren't told the whole deal about our powers…"

Ace and Peter, hearing their discussion, slowed their pace, so Paul and Gene narrowly avoided colliding with their backsides. "Say what?" Peter asked. "You feelin' like you still did when you were the Demon?"

"Whoa, that's heavy," Ace observed. "Far out Curly. Seems I'm not the only one with the vibes still hanging around…"

"Wait a minute… hold on guys… I thought Dizzy said our powers only worked at night," Peter protested. "You meaning to tell me…"

"Don’t you feel it, Peter?" asked Gene. "You’re wrinkling your nose and cocking your head like some damn watchdog…"

"Hey can I help it if I smell pizza?" Peter asked.

"I can’t smell it," Ace shrugged.

"Neither can I," Paul said slowly.

"That proves it then," Gene nodded. "Don't deny it Paul. You too must have felt something, if Ace and Peter here are…"

Paul drew in a huge sigh, and glanced at Gene with extreme discomfort, "Man Gene, I hate to admit it but you’re right. I figured it was just my imagination, but SOMETIMES I can swear I hear someone saying something, and it isn’t something they’re saying, I mean like they are saying it not in words but…"

"Can ya be any more confusin, Paul?" Peter asked. "Christ, you're giving me an ear ache. Enough already! So what if our powers last… it’s not like we don’t know how to control them… I mean they’re not full power…"

"It’s the talismen, the energy’s still inside us, like some damn battery," Ace said. "And the charge is still there… till we drain it down…"

"You see?" Gene asked. "That proves it. We weren't told the whole story… and I for one hate being in the dark… although it DOES make sense…"

"Why should my power come and go?" Paul asked. "Even if I WERE still feeling the effects of the power, I should be able to sense everyone's thoughts around me, which I'm not totally claiming I did… I can't read everyone's mind…"

"Maybe it doesn't work like that," Gene said quickly. "In comic book stories telepaths… can't read each person the same way…"

"Gimmie a break, will ya?" Paul groaned, shaking his head. "This is NOT one of your SF mags, this is real life here!"

"What's the diff between a psychic and a telepath?" Peter asked. "Other than a crystal ball?"

"A telepath is like Marvel Girl, someone who can read minds… and transmit thoughts," Gene explained, as if it were apparent to everyone. "While a psychic can foretell the future… or else it's a catch all phrase for any being with mind powers…"

"Thanks for clearing that up," Peter muttered sarcastically. "Sorry I asked."

"Depends on who you're talking to," Paul rolled his eyes. "ANWAY…."

"So, our powers won’t completely shut down, big deal?" Ace shrugged. "That’s not a bad thing, huh guys?"

"It is when you're a psi," Paul whispered.

"Great," Peter said, apprehensive. "But that Dizzy guy said he'd call us or somethin' when he needed us t' use the powers again or somethin'… maybe he's holdin' out on us so's we don't abuse the powers, or some crap like that?"

"You're probably right, Peter," Gene nodded. "That would tie in with the whole philosophy of student depending on teacher…"

"Ah so, grasshopper," Ace chuckled.

"Ohhh kay, then what does that all mean? Are we cool with this Dizzy guy or are we saying that we don't trust him cause he's withholding, or what?" Paul asked, shoving his hands into his pockets. "C'mon now, let's make up our minds already dammit… cause I for one don't like someone messing with my head."

"Your powers'd let ya mess with someone's head, so why should you bitch?" Peter asked him.

"Enough of this rap, Curly," Ace cut them off. "So what? We don’t know all of what we can do, so why don't we just hang out with the guy till he teaches us all he can, and then cut out if it gets too heavy? I mean he like did say it was our choice, right?"

"I hate it when you're right, Ace," Gene muttered annoyedly. "Dammit why can't you be this lucid more often instead of once in a fricking blue moon?"

"I dunno," Ace shrugged. "Maybe it's cause of the powers? Some kinda cosmic connection…"

"Guys… I don't think we're alone," Paul shushed them.

"Clam up, the girls are coming…" Peter said at almost the same moment.

"Where?" asked Ace, and then Paul nodded.

"I can sense it… they’re coming around the corner… now…"

***

Rachel Levine stood at the usual morning meeting spot with her best friend Corinne Jameson, waiting for everyone to show. They were early as usual, and as Rachel glanced at her watch she was mildly surprised Gene and Paul weren’t there yet. The others were usually late but never those two. "Where do you think everyone's at?" Rachel asked, earning a shrug from Corinne. The former wore a corduroy jumper that came to her knees, with a horizontal striped turtleneck underneath, and brown leather knee high boots. Her friend sported a pleated plaid skirt, and white pullover sweater, and long white stockings. Her black penny loafers were scuffed and well worn. She wore her long curly hair, light brown in color, down around her face while Rachel wore her red hair in a twist. Corinne glanced back. Beth and Pat were off in the distance, making their way over slowly as they chatted to one another.

"Gene better show..." Rachel muttered, glancing at her watch. "I tried calling him last night at around 10 but his mother said he was still out."

"Uh oh, that's WIERD." Corinne shivered. " I didn't get hold of Paul... his sister said he was off with his friends... playing games or something…"

Rachel raised an eyebrow. "That’s not like them. I mean they do play that one new game like I do… that everyone’s playing but they only play it on Thursdays. And its DEFINATELY not like them to be late either." She caught sight of Beth Moreno and Patty Smith. "Hey girls! Over here!" she yelled with a wave.

"Hey, what's up?" Patty asked, snapping her gun. She thrust her hands into the pockets of her blue jeans jacket and shifted her weight from one clog to another, which protruded from the legs of her long bell-bottoms. Beth's long broomstick skirt fluffed in the breeze, and she readjusted the long strap that slung across her shoulder, and settled her bag on her left hip more securely.

Man, couldn't she wear a bra? Corinne asked herself when she saw how the yellow peasant blouse left some things to the imagination, while others were less apparent. Probably wore it for Pete's sake anyway. Just how a streetwise guy ended up with a Hippie was beyond her, but it floated Peter's boat, so who cared? They'd lived up the street from each other for years, so he knew her as the girl next door… or up the stairwell since Pete's family lived in an apartment building.

"Peace, sisters," she said. "What's new in the world n' shakin?"

"Me," Rachel quipped, "Gene's late...how scary is that?

"Um, pretty scary if you ask me like," Patty nodded. "You see or hear from Ace last night?"

"You mean Ace is capable of using a telephone? Now I’m shocked." Rachel teased.

"No, he left his communicator back on the Enterprise," Patty groaned at the bad joke.

Rachel chuckled, and then coughed, "But seriously. If they don’t show up in the next few minutes I’m filing a missing persons report."

"Or put them on a milk carton?" Beth asked. "How commercial…"

Rachel shook her head, "Nah. No milk cartons. They wouldn’t let Paul's ugly mug onto one." She smiled innocently at Corinne.

"He is NOT ugly!" she snapped, curling her lip in disgust and tossing her head.

"Whoa, meow..." Patty laughed. "Too bad the boys aren't here. They love a catfight…"

"You'd say that," muttered Corinne.

"That's MY department," Beth laughed. "Where is Pete? That reminds me..."

Rachel shrugged, "Uh...earth to Beth. The guys haven’t showed remember?"

"Um... oh yeah..." she said with a chuckle. "Well, I figure they're mellowing out, so why doncha do the same?"

"Shit I thought Ace was out to lunch," Patty laughed. "That’s HIS trip…"

"And relax Corinne. I was teasing. You’re always picking on Gene," said Rachel.

"Ace is supposed to be the space shot, not YOU!" Patty tugged Beth's sleeve.

"I did the charts, I know for sure, so mellow out," said Beth with a shrug. "They WILL come… Pluto wasn't in Sagittarius, but the moon WAS in Virgo, and Venus WAS in Capricorn… so there IS something goin' down… but I gotta finish the charts to…"

"Oh shut up," she stuck her tongue out. "Paul Harvey Stanley, get your butt here now..."

"Speak of the devil..." Rachel muttered catching sight of a very disheveled looking Gene and Paul. Both of them looked as if they hadn’t slept OR combed their hair in days. Behind them walked Ace and Peter, equally ragtag.

Gene walked up to Rachel, smiling sheepishly as she glared at him, saying, "Hey sweetheart..."

Peter and Ace slowly dragged themselves over and Patty said, "Where were you, Space Ace?"

Ace winced at her sharp tone, and Peter shook his head. "Here it comes," he muttered.

"Paul where on EARTH were you?" Corinne cried as she threw herself at him. "I was worried SICK!"

Peter crossed over to Beth, and his nostrils inhaled her scent. "Mmm, roses..."

"Where were you?" Beth asked as he nuzzled her hair and hugged her tightly.

"Ace, where WERE you?" Patty demanded. She rested her hands on his hips as he wandered over with a grin.

Rachel dropped her glare, not able to keep it when she saw Gene's smile, "Gene...I swear if I didn’t know you better, I’d think you were on a bender last night. You and Paul look like shit."

Gene rolled his eyes. "Thanks Hon, what little self-esteem I had this morning is now gone," he muttered sarcastically.

"Um it WASN'T booze!" Paul broke in as Corinne sniffled into his shoulder. "Give us a break..."

"No they’re clean, I don’t smell any liquor," Corinne shrugged. "Which is LUCKY for you…"

"Sorry lady, I was um... chasing across time and space?" Ace cackled. Peter glared at him.

Gene shot Paul a warning look. "We just had a late night last night. Sorry to keep you waiting."

"Uh huh, yeah," said Patty unconvinced.

"Doing what?" Rachel asked puzzled.

"Playing Dungeons and Dragons?" Ace said. "A long campaign, right guys?"

"Man, it figures! You guys have your fun and don't even THINK of us! You could have called!" Corinne said angrily.

"Oh... of course," Patty nodded, accepting the cover story without question. "You guys get LOST playing that new thing."

"No wait, you only play on Thursdays," Corinne said accusingly. She didn't buy it, and Paul shifted his weight from one foot to another uncomfortably. Gene thrust his hands into his pockets, biting his tongue as he stifled a laugh while Peter nervously drummed on his thigh. Now what? Ace had dug them into this hole, so let him bury them deeper.

"Well, we got caught up with the chagmat campaign," Ace said. "You know the spider one…"

Gene muttered something but nodded, discretely motioning for Paul to do the same. Judging from the look on the girl's faces, it seemed they were at least willing to listen. Far better to go run with the story since it was working oddly enough. Paul nodded. "Um yeah, here's my dice if you don't believe me..."

"Your dice…" Beth asked, but Corinne shook her head. So saying, Paul fumbled in his pocket, and realized that there was a bulge there that hadn’t been present before. Ace’s wink told him the source. Fingers closed around sharp objects. He pulled them out, realizing they materialized from SOMWHERE as Ace flicked his thumb discretely. A D-20, a D-12, a D-4, and a D-10 went clattering on the sidewalk.

"Whoops, clumsy of me," Paul laughed and leaned down to grab the dice.

"Oops," Patty laughed as Ace pulled her into a hug. She felt him give her a kiss, but it functioned to distract her attention from Paul and Gene's brooding looks.

"That’s why I carry them in a pouch," Ace cackled. "Any self respectin’ gamer does it!"

"True, here's mine if you girls still don't believe us," Gene nodded; reaching absently for the small leather pouch that held his dice. He pulled it out of his jean pocket, and held it in front of him. Rachel had made it for him in home-economics class, and he never seemed to be without it, being the gamer he was. She chuckled when she realized she had her own bag of dice somewhere stashed in the bottom of her bag in her room back at home.

"Don’t look at me, I got dragged into it," Peter held up both hands as Beth glared at him. Rachel looked at Gene, wondering why he was being so careful. It was like if he answered wrong the world would end.

"You could have told me you were going to finish module Q1…" Rachel pouted. "I didn’t find out about the spider queen…"

"Sorry," Gene said as he glanced at Ace gratefully. He may be spacey but he often came through when they least expected it.

"At least call next time," Rachel scolded him. "So I can join in on the fun…"

"So you can whip their asses?" Patty joked. "With your 12^th level mage?"

"I'll call next time, shit, I’ve already got a mom," Gene muttered. Peter stifled his laugh and made a distinct whip cracking noise towards Ace who cracked up as well. Gene thrust his dice into Rachel’s hands, and shot a nasty glare towards both of them.

"Guys, mellow out now… let's take a breather here," Paul muttered as Corinne hugged him tightly, and her thoughts boom into his head. They all bought it so far, her realized. Yet suspicion still surfaced. How long could they keep up the charade before they ran out of excuses?

"We’ll forgive you if you buy us a pie," said Patty. She glanced at Peter hopefully. He shot her a glance back that seemed halfway between irritation and relief.

"Money...Always money ain't it," Gene chuckled, reaching for his wallet meaningfully.

"Which you won't spend if Pete here pulls his connections," Patty grinned.

"You are taking advantage of my man's good nature and generosity," Beth pouted as she hugged Peter and gave him a kiss.

"And keep your damn dice to yourself, Paulie, before you poke your girl with the wrong thing," Patty teased.

"Patty, can you be MORE blunt, jeez?" Corinne snapped.

"How about it, Pete?" Paul asked. "Pies all round before these two kill each other?"

Beth slid her arms around Peter from behind and kissed his neck softly, then rubbed his chest from behind. He caught her hands and kissed the back of each. Her feminine scent wafted strongly into his nostrils, awakening his own desires. Relaxed, Peter shrugged, "Sure, why the hell not? We have like an hour to kill."

"You smell like musk," Beth whispered into his ear. "Are you wearing cologne, Tiger?"

Peter made a noise almost like a purr. "You like it Hon?"

"Mmmm," she whispered. "Yes… hell yes…"

Rachel eyed Paul and then Gene again. There was something they weren’t saying. She could tell... but she wasn’t going to push it. Instead she smiled, "Let’s go then. Time's wasting…"

"Good idea," Paul nodded. His throat went dry when he sensed Corinne's hand stealing down to caress his ass. Blushing he remembered their galaxy jaunt with what they THOUGHT were women, but were demons from hell... or robots. If Corinne knew she’d kill him.

Ace slid his arm around Pat's hip, and she felt a zap of static electricity. From nowhere, a bouquet of flowers materialized in Ace's hand. He mentally congratulated himself at the realization that he had control over his teleport powers even in human form.

Still grinning, Ace passed the floral arrangement to her, and she gaped, "Where did you... blue roses... how?"

"Magic?" he cackled. "Or would you believe this is from Planet Jendel… the famous Sapphire spican rose, especially for you?"

Gene shook his head as he watched Ace. "Friggin show off's gonna get us killed..." he whispered to Paul, as he pulled Rachel up next to him. "Let’s listen to the lady. Time's wasting. Come on children…"

Corinne reached down to stroke Paul's butt, and then realized how firm it is. Weird. She gave it a pinch and Paul yelped. "Corinne..." he breathed, realizing she's rather frisky today. Was it because she was feeling his back and chest through the shirt, and it seemed she was more turned on then before? He smelled rose chikara, and realized his powers were on a low setting without knowing it. Gene watched as Ace, Patty, Peter and Beth started walking and lightly kicked Paul’s rear.

"Come on Romeo. Pull the friggin plug..." he growled, as he took Rachel’s hand. Rachel raised her eyebrow at Gene. Was she imagining it or did Gene seem even taller than usual...or was it that he was broader? She shook her head. She was definitely seeing things, she figured. Instead she leaned up next to him.

"My parents are still out of town..." she hinted.

Gene turned towards her, forgetting all about Paul and the others. "Really? Is that a clue sweetheart?" he asked leaning down to nuzzle her neck. Paul felt the rush of sexual energy from everyone and moaned. This was not getting easier. He focused on Corinne's mind chatter, and tried to block everything out. Damn, what was happening to him? Dizzy had said their powers would only activate at night... but now...

Meanwhile Beth walked with Peter, her arm around his waist, and her hand tucked into his back pocket as he had his arm possessively around her shoulders. Paul walked the same way with Corinne at his side. Casually Ace and Patty strolled hand in hand. Ace still grinned mischievously at the sight of Patty holding her roses tightly.

Ace was feeling the buzzing of cosmic rays filtering down from the sky, and everything buzzed with electricity and the vibration of atoms. He thought it was weird, but figured it was a side effect of the powers. Paul seemed as if his skull was pounding, and Peter seemed very much like he was attenuated to scents and smells. What was going on here, she wondered?

Paul's thoughts echoed in Ace's mind, *~"You sense it too, Ace?"~

~*"Curly, how can ya talk in my mind without your talisman?"~ Ace blinked as he telepathed back.

~*"I don't know... I can't shut it off,"~ Paul's frightened telepathic response came.

~*"Relax curly, and just build up a wall..."~ Ace's thoughts returned. ~*"You know it's like Mr. Spock..."~

Paul winced and sighed as he concentrated on blocking everyone’s thoughts out. Why did Ace take nothing seriously? Sometimes Paul felt like he wanted to pound his friend, but he hated to admit Ace had a very good handle on things right now. It worked, for the time being...

Gene glanced and saw the others were ahead of them and grabbed Rachel’s hand. "We better follow them...hold that thought ok?" Rachel grinned and pulled him along to catch up with the others.