The girl's dorm mas a four storey building with a simple red brick design. Each side of the building had a set of doors and as you approached, you can see that the first floor has a simple gathering area with chairs, couches and a TV or two.

...this was fine, but it was such a comedown compared to what she was used to.  Still, much less cramped than a spaceship, so that was to the good.  She went up to Room 303.

It seems you were the first to arrive. The room had a bathroom, three bedrooms and a living room with a couch, a couple of desks and a computer.

Well, that was fine.  She picked a bedroom and put her bags down.  At least her technology saved her from having to pack too many clothes...

She set about unpacking.

Nitocris entered the dorm.  Really, such humble surroundings for her...

"H-hello?" a nervous voice called out.

It certainly wasn't the worst. She remembered the early days she experienced in this time, stuck in a small apartment that Ramses had.

Kinexa's mind examined the girl as she turned to see her.

"Hello," she said.  Voice was better with strangers.  "I'm Kinexa Goddard, and I think I might be one of your roommates?"

Well-Informed 30 kicks in now for what I know about her, due to passive telepathy.

But this wasn't her room, yet.  It might be smaller still...

The girl went by the name of Terri and was a member of subterranean race. You can tell she has always been curious about the surface world, but she tends to very shy. She clearly thought that this was a good way to learn.

"Yes, my name is Terri," the girl said. She was dressed in a simple manner with pale skin and white hair.

"Pleased to meet you," said Kinexa.  "...you aren't a baseline human.  Is there a name for your people?"

She would have to make to do. She had been long suffering...

And so she found her room.  At least her bedchamber was private, but there were two others.  And another resident-- a young woman with looks so flawless that she appeared, at first, to be a statue of some kind, until she moved.

"Not really?" Terri said. "We've never needed one before."

"Ah. Hello, I assume you must be one of my 'roommates'," Nitocris said.

"That makes sense," said Kinexa.  "So not much contact with other cultures, I assume?  That's a shame.  I'm glad you're here, at least."

"Yes, I am," she said.  There was something a little odd in her perfection, but it was hard to put a finger on.  "I'm Hermoine Dahl."

"I am too, the surface world is a strange place," Terri said.

Clearly the problem was that this girl wasn't her.

"I'm Faten Ahmed Karim. Pleased to meet you."

"I've been here a bit," said Kinexa, realizing that Terri might not know who she was, "but I've spent a lot of my life, probably most of it, further away, traveling between the planets and moons."

"Likewise," said Hermione.  "...Do you care which bedroom you take?  I need to get my parts stowed."

You can see Terri get a starry eyed look.

"That's amazing!"

"Parts? I don't know what you mean," Nitocris said.

"It's pretty cool," Kinexa admitted.  "But it's... I don't know.  I'm not used to having a normal community around me, or a lot of friends, or things like that."

"My spare parts," she said, hefting easily a very, very large bag that gave a *CLUNK* when she set it down.

"Ah, you are welcome to join my circle," Terri said.

"Ah, so you are one of those metal people, then?" Nitocris asked.

"Thank you," said Kinexa.  "If I may ask, who else is in that circle?"

"No," said Hermione.  "But I have... a condition.  I use prosthetics to live a more normal life."

"Just me and my family. I suppose a few of the other dwellers," Terri said.

"Ah, take any room you like," Nitocris said.

She easily lifted the large bag and went into her room.

"...so is this where the party is?" came a voice from the door.

"Well, we might both be able to have a bigger circle here," said Kinexa.  "...You don't know who I am, do you?"

"Should I?" Terri asked nervously.

"There is no party here," Nitocris said.

"And that's where you're wrong," said the girl, walking in.  "Anywhere I am is a party!"

She was flashily dressed, and her skin and hair were a riot of different colors.

"Of course not," Kinexa assured her.  "But many surface humans will.  I don't know how they'll take it, but I was... involved with many well-publicized matters over the past few years.  I should tell you directly, also:  I am a telepath.  I have not probed your mind, and I don't plan to, but I can still sense your presence mentally, and anyone else nearby as well."

"Ah, well, if you haven't, that is fine," Terri said.

"I see...are you the third person living here?" Nitocris asked.

"You know it, babe," she said.  "Hey, aren't you that Egyptian Witch chick?"

"Among my mother's culture-- a telepathic society-- probing someone for no reason is extremely rude," said Kinexa.  "Don't worry about that."

"Ah, you must be the roommates," a voice from the door said. The girl speaking had brightly coloured multihued skin and appeared fish-like.

"'Babe'? Do not refer to me like that,"" Nitocris said. "But yes, I am a sorcerer."

"Yes," said Kinexa.  "I'm Kinexa Goddard..."

She considered what she could pick up about the newcomer.

"Yeah, I thought I recognized you, hon," she replied.  "The one who's supposed to be from ancient Egypt, right?"

You can tell that this girl is much more comfortable here than Terri. She is from another Terran species, known as the Ningyo.

"I'm Terri," Terri said, a little nervous.

"I'm Taia. Nice to mee you both," the girl said.

"That's correct...," Nitocris said, waiting to see where the girl was going.

"So how long have you been in America?" Kinexa asked.  "You're a Ningyo, correct?"

"Cool," she said.  "I'm Toxie."

"I've been going between here and Mu for several years now," Taia said. "And yes, I am one."

"Nice to meet you," Nitocris said, she was very wary of this "Toxie".

"We should swim together," said Kinexa.  "My mother is from Enceladus, and an aquatic species; I swim well and can breathe water."

"I think my old lady used to get into fights with your big bro, or whatever the guy is," said Toxie.  "Uh, sorry if you got involved.  Mom's whack."

"Sure, why not?" Taia said.

"I wish to swim as well," Terri said.

"I am not sure of who you are talking about...," Nitocris said.

"My mom's Deathkiss," she explained.  "I inherited, well, not the pure death touch, but a lot of weird chemical shit."

"It's a date, then," said Kinexa.  "How well do you swim, Terri?"

"I have no idea!" Terri said.

"Ah, is your touch dangerous?" Nitocris asked.

"Only when I want it to be," said Toxie.  "And, you know, not like mom.  I don't go around trying to kill people anyway..."

"Ah," said Kinexa.  "Do you breathe air?  I ask because unskilled swimming can make that difficult."

"I do. Is it that much of a problem?" Terri asked.

"Ah, I see," Nitocris said. "Certainly an interesting blessing."

"It has downsides," said Toxie.  "I can only wear certain kinds of clothes, or they fall apart eventually."

"Well, if you don't have breathing apparatus adapted to extracting oxygen from water, you have to swim without inhaling water," said Kinexa.  "There are lots of ways to do it, but I never learned them, because civilization on Enceladus is amphibious."

"Ah, I can hold my breath for a long time," Terri said.

"That is unfortunate," Nitocris said.

"Very true," said Toxie.  "But I work with it.  It's not like I'm ever going to blend in anyway, ya know?"

"You should be fine, then," said Kinexa.  "We can try and help you learn swimming, but I don't swim the way normal humanoids do."

"I am very willing to learn!" Terri said.

"Yes, you are quite noticeable," Nitocris said.

"I'll certainly be happy to try to help," said Kinexa, surprised at the girl's enthusiasm.  "I'm also telekinetic, so I can help if you get in trouble... out of curiosity, what kinds of powers do the two of you have?"

"Of course, if you're recognized, you will be, too," Hermione pointed out.

"I can direct the earth," Terri said.

"well, besides the usual Ningyo stuff, I have a few magic tricks," Taia said.

"As only suits a pharaoh...though I am in my 'secret identity'...," Nitocris said.

"I don't know that much about magic," Kinexa admitted.  "Only a few basics... what kind of tricks?"

"That should help, of course," said Hermione.  "So how did you wind up here?  I thought you were already an established hero..."

Taia said a few words you can't understand and suddenly she had an ornate spear in her hand.

"Ramses suggested I come here as it would help me acclimate to the modern world," Nitocris said. "The others from the team are here as well."

"Why?" Toxie asked.  "I mean, no offense to your reason, but you can't tell me the rest of them all need to acclimate.  Some of 'em are from here, I'm pretty sure."

"Very useful," said Kinexa.  "It's good to be able to keep a weapon handy."

It was a dangerous world, out there.

Taia began to chant something again (Seems to be a calling to a type of energy) and touched her spear, which began to glow and shimmer.

"I do not know," Nitocris said.

"Ah, impressive, again," said Kinexa.  "...some kind of enhancement to the spear?"

"It's an interesting mystery," said Hermione.  "As well as, 'Why doesn't my father want me to be a superhero?'  He can't stop me, in the long run."

"Yes, just a few tricks I've learned from my people," Taia said.

"Is he someone I would know?" Nitocris asked.

"Still useful," said Kinexa.  "My mother's people taught me many 'tricks,' as well."

"He went by the name 'Doctor Doll,'" said Hermione.  "He used robotic toys as minions."

"Ah, good. They can be very useful," Taia said.

"Interesting, seduced by a villain...," Nitocris said.

"What?" said Hermione.  "No.  Harmed by environmental safety failure."

"Very much," said Kinexa.  She raised a hand, and briefly, a shimmering shape like a sword was visible.

"Not as visually impressive, I fear, but not without use."

"That's very neat!" Terri said.

"It is," taia said.

"Is that not how your parents got together?" Nitocris asked.

"Not at all," said Hermione.  "My mother wasn't involved in the community at all, aside from marrying my father."

"It's not really a real sword, though," said Kinexa.  "I can't block with it, for example.  It's just a psionic projection."

"Sorry, I was confused there for a second," Nitocris said.

"It's still a neat trick," Taia said.

"That's all right," said Hermione.  "...I'm just as glad that dad didn't cross that particular line."

"Are you trying to start something?" Toxie asked, her tone dangerous.

"No, no," said Hermione.  "Don't misunderstand.  It's just that I have enough to deal with already.  My father's work already caused enough harm."

"Well, thank you," said Kinexa.  "I think the spear's more impressive, at least visually.  Most of what I can do isn't very flashy, even when it's effective."

"Sure, but flashiness is the least important part of a power," Taia said.

"On another topic, may I add you both to my 'phone'?" Nitocris asked.

"Usually," said Kinexa.  "But sometimes, it can de-escalate a situation."

They both assented.  It wasn't a big deal.

"Could you not just put the whammy on them?" Terri asked.

"Hmm. I suppose this is too ordinary to the both of you," Nitocris said.

"Mental assault is escalation, not de-escalation," said Kinexa.  "Influencing minds directly is unethical, and I won't do it."

"Well, sure," Toxie said.  "...Kind of new for you?"

"Ah. Sorry, I don't know the rules with mental powers," Terri said.

"I have only been in this time for two years now. They are quite amazing devices," Nitocris said.

"Well, that's fair," said Kinexa.  "I was trained by a culture of telepaths; they have need of rules like that."

"Well, they aren't bad," said Hermione.  She had not produced a phone, but somehow a text had appeared in Nitocris's phone.

"Ah. I understand," Terri said.

Nitocris went to check what it was.

This is a text from me so you can add me to your Contacts from Hermione, apparently.  Somehow.

"Are there rules that you need to follow in the place you're from?" Kinexa asked, curious.  New cultures were always interesting to learn about.

"Not a lot of them," Terri said. "Just to be careful and not flood the surface with magma."

Nitocris looked from her phone to Hermione, back to her phone and back at the girl.

"How did you do that?"

"My phone is built in," she said.  "I'm a cyborg.  Most of what you see when you look at me is artificial."

"That... would be a good rule, yes," said Kinexa.  "Can you call up magma?"

"Yes, I can! I can show you sometime!" Terri said.

"Oh, yes, you mentioned that before! That is amazing!" Nitocris said.

"I don't think of it as amazing," said Hermione.  "'Medically necessary,' perhaps."

"That sounds spectacular," said Kinexa.  "...as long as we're careful.  I don't want to get burned, or see something set on fire accidentally..."

"That might be difficult," Terri said. "I'll try finding a way."

"While that is true, the fact that technology can do it is amazing," Nitocris said.

"It's mostly a refinement to my father's work," Hermione explained.  "...Less toy-like, of course, so I can usually pass."

"We can always go somewhere isolated," said Kinexa.  "Safety first where magma is concerned, though."

"Is there anywhere around here like that?" Terri asked.

"He is clearly very impressive, if I had this technology back in my day..." Nitocris said, examining Hermione.

"It's a bit overdone, actually," said Hermione.  On closer inspection, she was a bit too flawless; there were details that human bodies had that she lacked.

"But I grant that it's potentially a huge medical advance, once we get past the testing phase."

"We'd have to travel a bit," said Kinexa, "I'm sure.  There's a major city with a major shipping port right over there, after all, and this region is a bit tectonically unstable."

"I'm sure we'll find somewhere you can do it," Taia said.

"I am not concerned," Terri said. "I am sure we will."

"What can they do?" Nitocris asked.

"The important part is that they move, pass well enough for normal for day-to-day life, and give me sensory feedback," said Hermione.  "That's the key parts for medical science.  The sensory suite, armor plating, enhanced strength, electrolaser weapon and flight jets are just bells and whistles."

"And I suppose we'll all get to find out more about human cities," said Kinexa.  "I've spent very little time on the surface of the planet, here, and I gather that's true for you two, as well?"

"I haven't been up here too long," Terri said.

"I've spent a decent chunk of time up here," Taia said.

"While it certainly is important, it clearly lets you work as one of the blessed," Nitocris said.

"'Blessed'?" Toxie asked, curious.  "...Do you mean 'superheroes'?"

"That's good," said Kinexa.  "I've picked up a lot, but is there anything in particular you'd recommend seeing around here?"

"There's a few things here and there," Taia said. "They're really proud of this one bridge."

"Yes, that is what the modern world calls them," Nitocris said.

"'Blessed,'" Toxie repeated.  "I kinda like that, but girl, you know that some of the people with powers don't live up to that name.  My momma, f'rex."

"I've picked up about that, yes," said Kinexa.  "It should be easy to check out... is there anything that either of you particularly wanted to do while you were here?  In America, on the surface, I mean."

"I have seen a lot of this specific part of America and bits of other countries," Taia said. "I wouldn't mind seeing more.

"People forget that not all of the gods are 'good'," Nitocris said.

Toxie blinked in genuine surprise.

"...Yeah, I didn't know that," she admitted.  "Good to know.  Makes sense, when you put it that way."

"What about you, Terra?" she asked their other roommate.

"Oh yes, I want to see as much of the surface as I can," Terri said

"I don't blame you, the gods are forgotten in this day and age," Nitocris said and sighed.

"We'll all have to explore, then," said Kinexa.  "Are we all unpacked?"

"Very much," said Hermione.  "Which, I suppose, is a loss... but we have science and technology, and I do favor those."

"Yep, I'm all set," Taia said.

"I don't have much!" Terri said.

"I find that a common attitude these days," Nitocris said.

"How many people can use magic?" Hermione asked.  "And how easy is it to make large amounts of magical tools?  That's the reason, I'm afraid.  I don't have anything against magic, but it's sadly rare."

"I don't have that much, either," said Kinexa.  "Why don't we explore the schoolgrounds?"

"That sounds fun!" Terri said.

"You are right, I'm afraid," Nitocris said. "So many things have changed in four millennia"

"Well, don't worry, girlfriend," said Toxie.  "We'll get you caught up!"

"I do know a few things. I can use the portable phone, for example," Nitocris said.

"That's a very important start," said Hermione.  "Even more when you learn how to Google for more information... assuming that you have a smart phone.  Do you?"

"I don't get why they're called that, but yes," Nitocris said.

"I can show you how to use one for research," said Hermione.  "It's not a perfect source, but you might be able to find out some useful or important things about the modern world that way."

"Ah, that sounds good. I have found somethings on here before. The games have been enjoyable," Nitocris said.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:59, Fri 18 Mar 2022.

"Games are good, as long as microtransactions don't bleed your bank account to death," said Hermione.  "But you can do a lot more with one.  Do you want me to show you?"

"If you would, please," Nitocris said, holding out her phone.

Hermione educated her on various Android functions; Toxie started shoulder-surfing after a few minutes.

"Thank you for your help," Nitocris said. "I will extract all of the secrets of this device."

"That was cool," said Toxie.  "I didn't know about some of that stuff..."

"Yes, there is much to it," Nitocris said.

"Just remember what I said about clicking links in texts and emails," said Hermione.  "You'll probably be a target of hacking attempts, sooner or later."

"I will remember," Nitocris said.

"Soooo, are we just gonna hang out here all day?" Toxie asked.  "Or what?"

"I suppose we could explore the grounds," Nitocris said.

"That's not a terrible idea," said Hermione.  "Is there anything in particular you'd like to see?"

"Where we will be eating," Nitocris said.

"Hey, that works for me," said Toxie.  "Let's go!"