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Kid Dynamo excerpt
Just because I was looking at it this afternoon, and marvelling how much I still like parts of this, going on 15 years or so after I wrote it....
The setup is this -- Jessica has started to settle in at the school, and the other students have learned about her telekinetic talents....
"Magneto must be thrilled," said Dani. "At last a student who'll give him a run for the money."
I looked at her -- her tone hadn't been what you'd call friendly. "What do you mean by that?" I said.
"Only that Big M has got himself a new prize pupil," said Dani. "'Cause you're the only one powerful enough to be worth getting excited about." I looked at her, uncertain whether to be mad or to wonder if she was right.
Amara save me from having to decide. "That is unfair, Dani," she said. "Our teacher does not discriminate on the basis of how useful our powers are."
"Tell it to Doug," said Dani.
The aforementioned student put down his sandwich. "Oh no, you're not getting me in the middle of an argument," he said. "Just 'cause you're spoiling for a fight doesn't mean I'll play. Anyway, how can Jess be the new prize pupil -- I didn't think Maggie had an old one?"
"You mean you don't remember Our Little Miss Perfect?" said Dani with a raised eyebrow.
Doug rolled his eyes. "It was easy for Magneto to understand her," he said to no one in particular. "It isn't Kitty's fault that she's a genius."
"And a stuck-up little snot," said Dani.
"Tha' is na' fair," piped up Rahne.
"Oh, you never had to put up with her in class," said Dani. "A born teacher's pet."
"There's no shame in striving to perform well in class," said Amara.
Sam had been silent during all this. "You're still burned that she's in the X-Men and you're not, Chief," he said.
"Remember the way she treated us when Professor X made her join our classes?" she said.
"She joined the X-Men when the rules were lax," he said. "And look what she's been through -- nearly killed a coupl'a times, still recovering in Scotland now. You envy her that?"
"Students," said Magneto in the doorway. He was dressed in a new costume, this one purple, with white gloves and boots, with a darker red cape hanging nearly to the floor. I've never seen anyone carry off a cape better than the Master of Magnetism. "It seems that once again I am called away on business," he said. "I regret the short notice. All my classes are canceled for the afternoon -- I will post a revised schedule for the remainder of the week." With a slight nod he turned and left.
A silence descended on the room that lasted until Illyana walked in smiling like a cat with canary on its breath. "Guess what's up with Maggie this afternoon?" she said.
"He already told us, O Dread Snowflake," said Doug with a smile.
"Well, fun and games all around," she said, picking up the last sandwich.
"Not for me -- got more than enough programming to do," said Sam, "especially if our review session's been canceled."
"Oh crumbs," said Dani. She looked over at me. "Do you want to do some reviewing this afternoon?" she said.
"Sure," I said. I still had catching up to do. Dani might be a little crotchety today but she was a fair tutor.
I guess three minutes went by without anyone speaking. Those who had reading material employed it. The rest of us ate in silence.
"Have you thought about a superhero name yet?" said Doug. I looked up to see who he was talking about and realized he meant me.
"No," I said. I hoped he'd drop it, but he went right on.
"You've got to have a code name if you're going to join the team," he said. From the corner of my eye I caught Dani frowning.
"Doug, I don't know how to break it to you," I said. "But I haven't the faintest desire to become a superhero. My mother ran around in a silly costume, and I figure one nut per family is more than enough."
"With all your power, you're not going to do anything?" he said.
"I don't see I'm obliged to," I said.
"C'mon, we've had enough arguin' already," said Sam. "Jess, a code name makes good sense when you're part of a team -- even temporary like. If, the Good Lord forbid, somebody attacked us in public a code name would help protect your identity."
"Yeah, like there are a lot of tall, curly-haired brunettes with telekinesis," I grumbled. "Yeah, you got a point. I'm just not thrilled about it."
"A code name should be special," said Doug.
"And if you don't choose one, we'll just have to pick one for you," said Illyana with a wicked grin.
"Ah suppose Magneto could choose one for you, just like Professor X chose for us," said Sam.
"I'm not letting anyone who chose to call himself 'Magneto' tell me what my name is gonna be," I said.
"That's the spirit," said Illyana.
"You've got a point," said Sam.
"He didn't do too badly with 'Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch,'" said Doug. At least, I think he gave them their names. Keeps their picture on his desk, anyway."
"'Course, he also named the Toad," I said.
"Two out of three ain't bad," said Doug.
"Besides, would you admit knowing the Toad if you could help it?" said Illyana.
"This isn't getting us any closer to a name," said Sam.
"Okay," said Illyana. "How about 'Telekinesis Girl?'"
I made a retching noise and Amara looked up from her book, an eyebrow raised. "Nothing with 'Girl' in it," I said. Or 'Lass.' Or 'Woman.'"
"'Ms. Telekinesis?'" Doug said.
I gave him a Look. "Or 'Ms.' or 'Miss' Anything."
"Something that strikes fear in the hearts of yuir enemies," said Rahne.
"'Taxes!'" said Doug. We looked at him. "'Death?'" he suggested.
"Already taken," said Illyana.
"'Jessica -- Mistress of Telekinesis,'" Doug said.
I lifted his chair three inches into the air and jiggled it slightly. As he looked down uneasily I said, "Doug, if I ever, ever, refer to myself as 'Mistress of Anything' you have my permission to shoot me in my sleep."
"Uh, okay," he said, and I lowered him to the ground without a bump.
"Besides, I think they use the term 'psychokinesis' now," said Sam.
"Great -- you could be the Psycho Kid!" said Illyana.
"I thought she was already," said Doug.
"You're really enjoying yourself with this, aren't you?" I said to him.
"Well -- it would strike fear into the hearts of your enemies --" he grinned.
"No, it must be a name her friends can say with pride," said Amara.
"I wasn't serious," said Doug. "You know that."
"I was," said Illyana.
"It should be beautiful," said Rahne. "Like 'Alystraea.'"
"Oh no, not 'Alystraea' again," said Illyana, making a face.
"That would strike confusion into the hearts of your enemies," said Doug. "While they're going 'Alys-who?,' you could put them into orbit."
"Who's 'Alystraea?'" I said.
Rahne gave the terrible twosome a green-eyed glare. "Alystraea is a character Rahne writes stories about," said Dani.
"She's a fairy princess, beautiful and brave and wise," said Rahne in a dreamy voice.
"Who just happens to have red hair," said Illyana. "Who just happens to be able to turn into a wolf."
"I should never have shown you my stories," said Rahne.
"Ah thought they were great," said Sam.
"I'd really like to see them," I said. "I like stories like that." Rahne smiled at me shyly.
"Well, we can't call you Alystraea anyway," said Doug. "We'd get confused. Hmmm- 'Something Kid,' 'Kid Something.'"
"All the good code names are taken," I said.
"Stuff and nonsense!" said Rahne. "We just have to be clever."
"Kid Dynamo!" said Doug.
"Ech," I said to him.
"It's a way cool song by the Buggles," he said. "I'll play it for you later."
"'Lucy in the Sky?'" said Illyana. "'Polyethylene Pam?'"
"'She's so good looking but she looks like a man?'" I quoted back at her. "No way. No thanks."
"There's a lot of names in mythology and literature that no one's used," said Sam.
"Umm," I said, looking at Amara. "Better leave mythology out. You never know when somebody from legend is going to show up."
"Well, that leaves the field wide open for literature," said Doug. "Hey -- we could call you 'Ripley.'"
"I don't think so," I said. "Besides, I wouldn't call Aliens literature exactly."
"Kitty used to call herself Ariel after the character in The Tempest ," said Sam. "I thought that was a pretty good name."
"For Kitty, maybe," I said. "I really don't feel like a spirit of air, though."
"Not a Juliet, nor a Kate," said Amara. "And certainly not a Desdemona."
"What about 'Miranda?'" said Sam.
I looked at him. "That's not bad," I said slowly.
"Great!" Doug said.
"Hey -- I didn't say I was going to take it. Maybe it's just the first decent one that's been mentioned," I said.
"You should sleep on it, at least," said Sam. "Picking a name's not a light business, even if we're joking about it."
"I like 'Miranda,' really I do," said Doug.
"I preferred 'Psycho Kid,'" said Illyana.
"You would," he said.
"I know a better one," said Dani. "How about 'Supergirl?'"
I stared at her, not knowing what to say. Of all the mean things Dani could have said, that one. As if Magneto wasn't offensive enough with his pet Ubermensch ideology. She knew how I felt about that. "No way," I said flatly.
"Cool out, Chief," said Sam, looking from me to her. "Ah don't think that one's very appropriate at all."
"Oh, I don't know," Dani said airily. I could see she was pleased she'd zinged me.
"Just don't call me Supergirl," I said. "That's offensive."
"Truth hurts," she said. I glared at her.
"Cool out, the both of you," Sam said.
"DC Comics would never let you get away with it anyway," said Illyana. "Get the Trademark Police after you."
"Oh no -- not the Trademark Police," said Doug, and the conversation veered away into the purely silly. Dani excused herself and I finished my lunch thinking lonely thoughts of how I really didn't want to get any closer to the superheroic life than I was already.
The setup is this -- Jessica has started to settle in at the school, and the other students have learned about her telekinetic talents....
"Magneto must be thrilled," said Dani. "At last a student who'll give him a run for the money."
I looked at her -- her tone hadn't been what you'd call friendly. "What do you mean by that?" I said.
"Only that Big M has got himself a new prize pupil," said Dani. "'Cause you're the only one powerful enough to be worth getting excited about." I looked at her, uncertain whether to be mad or to wonder if she was right.
Amara save me from having to decide. "That is unfair, Dani," she said. "Our teacher does not discriminate on the basis of how useful our powers are."
"Tell it to Doug," said Dani.
The aforementioned student put down his sandwich. "Oh no, you're not getting me in the middle of an argument," he said. "Just 'cause you're spoiling for a fight doesn't mean I'll play. Anyway, how can Jess be the new prize pupil -- I didn't think Maggie had an old one?"
"You mean you don't remember Our Little Miss Perfect?" said Dani with a raised eyebrow.
Doug rolled his eyes. "It was easy for Magneto to understand her," he said to no one in particular. "It isn't Kitty's fault that she's a genius."
"And a stuck-up little snot," said Dani.
"Tha' is na' fair," piped up Rahne.
"Oh, you never had to put up with her in class," said Dani. "A born teacher's pet."
"There's no shame in striving to perform well in class," said Amara.
Sam had been silent during all this. "You're still burned that she's in the X-Men and you're not, Chief," he said.
"Remember the way she treated us when Professor X made her join our classes?" she said.
"She joined the X-Men when the rules were lax," he said. "And look what she's been through -- nearly killed a coupl'a times, still recovering in Scotland now. You envy her that?"
"Students," said Magneto in the doorway. He was dressed in a new costume, this one purple, with white gloves and boots, with a darker red cape hanging nearly to the floor. I've never seen anyone carry off a cape better than the Master of Magnetism. "It seems that once again I am called away on business," he said. "I regret the short notice. All my classes are canceled for the afternoon -- I will post a revised schedule for the remainder of the week." With a slight nod he turned and left.
A silence descended on the room that lasted until Illyana walked in smiling like a cat with canary on its breath. "Guess what's up with Maggie this afternoon?" she said.
"He already told us, O Dread Snowflake," said Doug with a smile.
"Well, fun and games all around," she said, picking up the last sandwich.
"Not for me -- got more than enough programming to do," said Sam, "especially if our review session's been canceled."
"Oh crumbs," said Dani. She looked over at me. "Do you want to do some reviewing this afternoon?" she said.
"Sure," I said. I still had catching up to do. Dani might be a little crotchety today but she was a fair tutor.
I guess three minutes went by without anyone speaking. Those who had reading material employed it. The rest of us ate in silence.
"Have you thought about a superhero name yet?" said Doug. I looked up to see who he was talking about and realized he meant me.
"No," I said. I hoped he'd drop it, but he went right on.
"You've got to have a code name if you're going to join the team," he said. From the corner of my eye I caught Dani frowning.
"Doug, I don't know how to break it to you," I said. "But I haven't the faintest desire to become a superhero. My mother ran around in a silly costume, and I figure one nut per family is more than enough."
"With all your power, you're not going to do anything?" he said.
"I don't see I'm obliged to," I said.
"C'mon, we've had enough arguin' already," said Sam. "Jess, a code name makes good sense when you're part of a team -- even temporary like. If, the Good Lord forbid, somebody attacked us in public a code name would help protect your identity."
"Yeah, like there are a lot of tall, curly-haired brunettes with telekinesis," I grumbled. "Yeah, you got a point. I'm just not thrilled about it."
"A code name should be special," said Doug.
"And if you don't choose one, we'll just have to pick one for you," said Illyana with a wicked grin.
"Ah suppose Magneto could choose one for you, just like Professor X chose for us," said Sam.
"I'm not letting anyone who chose to call himself 'Magneto' tell me what my name is gonna be," I said.
"That's the spirit," said Illyana.
"You've got a point," said Sam.
"He didn't do too badly with 'Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch,'" said Doug. At least, I think he gave them their names. Keeps their picture on his desk, anyway."
"'Course, he also named the Toad," I said.
"Two out of three ain't bad," said Doug.
"Besides, would you admit knowing the Toad if you could help it?" said Illyana.
"This isn't getting us any closer to a name," said Sam.
"Okay," said Illyana. "How about 'Telekinesis Girl?'"
I made a retching noise and Amara looked up from her book, an eyebrow raised. "Nothing with 'Girl' in it," I said. Or 'Lass.' Or 'Woman.'"
"'Ms. Telekinesis?'" Doug said.
I gave him a Look. "Or 'Ms.' or 'Miss' Anything."
"Something that strikes fear in the hearts of yuir enemies," said Rahne.
"'Taxes!'" said Doug. We looked at him. "'Death?'" he suggested.
"Already taken," said Illyana.
"'Jessica -- Mistress of Telekinesis,'" Doug said.
I lifted his chair three inches into the air and jiggled it slightly. As he looked down uneasily I said, "Doug, if I ever, ever, refer to myself as 'Mistress of Anything' you have my permission to shoot me in my sleep."
"Uh, okay," he said, and I lowered him to the ground without a bump.
"Besides, I think they use the term 'psychokinesis' now," said Sam.
"Great -- you could be the Psycho Kid!" said Illyana.
"I thought she was already," said Doug.
"You're really enjoying yourself with this, aren't you?" I said to him.
"Well -- it would strike fear into the hearts of your enemies --" he grinned.
"No, it must be a name her friends can say with pride," said Amara.
"I wasn't serious," said Doug. "You know that."
"I was," said Illyana.
"It should be beautiful," said Rahne. "Like 'Alystraea.'"
"Oh no, not 'Alystraea' again," said Illyana, making a face.
"That would strike confusion into the hearts of your enemies," said Doug. "While they're going 'Alys-who?,' you could put them into orbit."
"Who's 'Alystraea?'" I said.
Rahne gave the terrible twosome a green-eyed glare. "Alystraea is a character Rahne writes stories about," said Dani.
"She's a fairy princess, beautiful and brave and wise," said Rahne in a dreamy voice.
"Who just happens to have red hair," said Illyana. "Who just happens to be able to turn into a wolf."
"I should never have shown you my stories," said Rahne.
"Ah thought they were great," said Sam.
"I'd really like to see them," I said. "I like stories like that." Rahne smiled at me shyly.
"Well, we can't call you Alystraea anyway," said Doug. "We'd get confused. Hmmm- 'Something Kid,' 'Kid Something.'"
"All the good code names are taken," I said.
"Stuff and nonsense!" said Rahne. "We just have to be clever."
"Kid Dynamo!" said Doug.
"Ech," I said to him.
"It's a way cool song by the Buggles," he said. "I'll play it for you later."
"'Lucy in the Sky?'" said Illyana. "'Polyethylene Pam?'"
"'She's so good looking but she looks like a man?'" I quoted back at her. "No way. No thanks."
"There's a lot of names in mythology and literature that no one's used," said Sam.
"Umm," I said, looking at Amara. "Better leave mythology out. You never know when somebody from legend is going to show up."
"Well, that leaves the field wide open for literature," said Doug. "Hey -- we could call you 'Ripley.'"
"I don't think so," I said. "Besides, I wouldn't call Aliens literature exactly."
"Kitty used to call herself Ariel after the character in The Tempest ," said Sam. "I thought that was a pretty good name."
"For Kitty, maybe," I said. "I really don't feel like a spirit of air, though."
"Not a Juliet, nor a Kate," said Amara. "And certainly not a Desdemona."
"What about 'Miranda?'" said Sam.
I looked at him. "That's not bad," I said slowly.
"Great!" Doug said.
"Hey -- I didn't say I was going to take it. Maybe it's just the first decent one that's been mentioned," I said.
"You should sleep on it, at least," said Sam. "Picking a name's not a light business, even if we're joking about it."
"I like 'Miranda,' really I do," said Doug.
"I preferred 'Psycho Kid,'" said Illyana.
"You would," he said.
"I know a better one," said Dani. "How about 'Supergirl?'"
I stared at her, not knowing what to say. Of all the mean things Dani could have said, that one. As if Magneto wasn't offensive enough with his pet Ubermensch ideology. She knew how I felt about that. "No way," I said flatly.
"Cool out, Chief," said Sam, looking from me to her. "Ah don't think that one's very appropriate at all."
"Oh, I don't know," Dani said airily. I could see she was pleased she'd zinged me.
"Just don't call me Supergirl," I said. "That's offensive."
"Truth hurts," she said. I glared at her.
"Cool out, the both of you," Sam said.
"DC Comics would never let you get away with it anyway," said Illyana. "Get the Trademark Police after you."
"Oh no -- not the Trademark Police," said Doug, and the conversation veered away into the purely silly. Dani excused herself and I finished my lunch thinking lonely thoughts of how I really didn't want to get any closer to the superheroic life than I was already.
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Of course, you realize you've just whetted my appetite for Body Swap even more...
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I think I need to read the whole thing again.
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Very fun stuff! Good X related fic is hard to find. It made me want to read the Talent WIP's you posted again. You have gotten so very much better at the writing.
It also got me even more excited for Body Swap! Your fun writing with a healthy dose of slashy goodness.
Thank you for the hours of good entertainment.
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So pleased that you liked it - I hadn't realized that you hadn't stumbled across it yet. I don't want to be too boring with the whole "Oh, I've written this stuff and I REQUIRE all my friends to like it." But I get all puppy-jumping happy when somebody does.
(Incidentally, the Jess that Dee refers to bears a striking resemblance to a grown-up Jessica. And Loki plays a major role in the stuff that I haven't written yet.)
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So, is there more stuff by you hidden out there? I would very much like to read more of your Talent/X fic. But then I seem to really like everything I have read of yours...
And I *thought* the name Jess was familiar when I started reading Kid! Yeah, Nosey Parker is already loaded up onto the PPC and will be read again next.
Did you plan on Jess getting pregnant by Loki then? That was my first though as I was reading the scene...
Way too cool.
KID DYNAMO
Gail of the Many Names