I think it’s safe to assume that Jack can at least understand, if not be conversational in, all the major languages. Since he can memorize their dictionaries, it’s just an issue of whether he has gotten to listening to (super sped up) language lessons. He hasn’t really been dipping his toes into less popular languages, tho. It’s like he picked a list that lists most spoken languages by population to learn. Super-speed and memorization at play.

Jack walks along with Lydia, idly turning the things a bit so that they’re forward facing as he walks. Straightening out the shelves idly as he looks everything over and ends up picking up one of the colored skulls based on his mom’s favorite colors in combination: green and yellow.

When Lydia plucks at his sleeve, he smiles and looks down at her and then turns his head to look where she’s looking. Watching the man as he starts to take off.

He immediately checks the store to make sure that there are no surprises, looking for null spots.

“It could be someone I know, but I’d rather not leave you here,” he mentions to Lydia and gently puts his arm around her again as he leads her over to where the tacos are sold. He frequently glances in the direction that the man has gone. Keeping an eye on him through the intervening walls.

In reply to Jack Sharpe (msg # 923):

As you watch, the guy has moved back to talk to a young girl, apparently his daughter, who is asking if they can buy some gummi worms.

The guy also looks different now.  He's a little shorter.  His hair isn't as dark a brown.  His shoulders aren't as broad.

You are not sure why you thought he looked like your Dad.

Lydia is blinking rapidly.  "You okay?  What about the sugar skul?"

Jack doesn’t make visual mistakes, his brain isn’t wired that way. He’s more like a machine in many ways than that, he sees everything clearly and with such acuity that to fool him on a visual level would be nigh impossible. He replays the visual in his mind, comparing the height of the man in relation to the shelves near him to the ones he’d seen him standing near a moment earlier.

No, if something is wrong, it means that someone is playing games. Trying to play mind games.

He smiles down at her and doubles back to grab it, he’d thought he had it in hand, but his distraction as he did the math and abstracted his memory had put him off for a moment. Walking up to the counter, he pays for it with the ten dollar bill from the other day and then walks with Lydia toward the taco place.

“I’m fine, just a bit distracted,” he mentions with a smile. “So, did I tell you I asked around about the Ron thing?” he asks. “According to a highly reliable source, Ron’s actions, the ones that messed with your friend? Apparently he was being effected in some way? Or it wasn’t even him. A shapeshifter, or a mind controller, possibly? Something like that? The Guardians or Paladins would have looked into it, apparently,” he relays and gently reaches out to touch her hand. "But from what I'm told, it was basically difficult to explain to a civilian without making her paranoid."

Getting up to the counter, he orders a basket of tacos and some cheesy nachos, but with the cheese on the side since he hates soggy nachos. He also gets a Dr. Pepper.

In reply to Jack Sharpe (msg # 925):

Sorry.  Missed the part where you picked it up

You recheck your memory.  No mistake.  The man's height and hair color changed.

It's the Mexican kind of Dr. Pepper.  Thick and sweet.

The tacos are awesome.

Lydia finishes a de Lengua taco and wipes her mouth.  "That just...Sorry. But it almost sounds like the plot from a bad game or movie or comic book or something.  I mean I know things like that really happen. But it's weird when it happens in front of you. Ya know?"

She seems to think about that a moment and then shakes her head, reaching over to steal one of your chips.  "I almost forgot.  What about homecoming?  We're still on right?  Will you pick me up?  Or should I meet you there?  Either way's fine."

HT buzzes you back.  We're looking into it.  How'd you know?

Jack thinks about it, and seeing as the girl is clearly not some sort of plant and everyone has a functional circulatory system he concludes that there is someone in fact playing games with him. The only person who would play a game with that particular visual would be his father himself. Noted.

Eating tacos with Lydia, he only makes one dirty joke about it.

“I can’t tell you any more about him, but you know how that girl was getting picked on a while ago? Someone putting things up? That was done by a creep that can jump between people’s bodies,” he explains quietly and shrugs at her. “Our school is sort of a ground-zero for weird meta issues lately.”

“Of course we’re still on, no reason to think otherwise at the moment. I can pick you up, I think, I’ll have to borrow aunt Marlene’s car, but it should be doable!” he mentions. “Unless you want me to fly you.”

He texts back to HT: I have an unreliable power I’ve never mentioned before since it isn’t consistent that lets me smell on a uh.. different spectrum? Not really explicable. Sometimes I can smell things.

In reply to Jack Sharpe (msg # 927):

"Oh wow!  Really!  Oh wait.  That'd probably play hell with my hair..."

HT texts back.  SMELL IN DIFFERENT SPECTRUMS.  RIGHT.  FINE FOR NOW.  BUT AT SOME POINT WE WILL NEED TO TALK ABOUT YOUR SMELL

The two of you finish up

Anything else for Lydia?  If not we will move on to Kevin.  Thanks

---

Kevin gets there after you.  He has a bandage over one ear.

Setting down his tray with two chili burgers and a mound of tater tots he grumbles, "Don't ever underestimate snapping turtles.  How's things?"

“Yes, and you do have lovely hair. For travelling out of the country I’ve been thinking about checking out junkyards and looking for a small aircraft,” Jack admits as he shares his future plans, idly holding her hand and lifting it for a kiss in a careless gesture as he watches the area. “One that can seal atmosphere, you know? And then I’d make sure that part works, and then I’ll reinforce the inside with a roll-cage bunch of welding? Something like that? And then I could transport non-fliers, and sit next to you, and not worry about you getting hit by a bee at high speed or something,” he rambles a little, but talking quietly so people can’t overhear him talking about flying so casually.

He appreciates having people to talk about this sort of thing with. His mom’s insistence on total silence had been right for his early life, but as he grows into adulthood, he realizes he’ll need people he can talk with and share with.

All good.

---

“Will do. I uh, flew out to some asteroids, took out a base being operated by the N’kha, then found out they had a secondary failsafe plan on the moon, so I had to fly there in a few minutes and rip out this giant Marvin the Martian style magnet thing that would have moved the Earth into a different location and killed all life on earth..

.. and then I flew that thing down into the abyss, and found a billion year old space ship with a planet-killing fourteen foot tall behemoth with four different arms, that was also like a billion years old, and we had a knock down drag out fight. He used some sort of yellow flash to knock me stupid at the end, but I might have melted him like the Wicked Witch of the East. So I’d say it was a tie,” Jack says with a smile as he sips at his Dr. Pepper and eats his local fare.


Thinking about it for a second, he shrugs.

“I think I need to do some hand to hand training. Not that I think there are many like me and that guy in the Universe, at least I hope not, but if I ever run into him again, I need to be better at fighting. I also need to figure out how to resist the yellow flash? Maybe some sort of tinted goggles to block the yellow spectrum..”

In reply to Jack Sharpe (msg # 929):

Kevin picks up his banana malted and flips you a friendly bird when you mention it's a tie.

He dips a tot into some ketchup.  "Contact lenses.  You can get some made that will nullify certain light waves.  Or you could try good ol' sunglasses."

I can't recall if Kevin has ever seen your heat vision or not.  I am assuming not.   Let me know if so, and he'll give you a recommendation you could use

He starts in on the first chiliburger.

"So...I'll start with the stuff that'll piss you off.  That guy with the kids."

He takes a bite, mashes on it, and swallows.

"You had a run in with the Pale Image not too long ago, right?  You know much about him and his wife's background?  I'll assume not.  Sorry if you've heard this one before.

"So Paley has always been a bad guy.  But he is a devoted family man.  Loved his wife and kid.  But the kid disappeared.  A couple of cowls actually helped him look for the kid.  It was sort of a cause celebre when it happened.

"Their kid was found in a box which someone had filled up with sand. Sound familiar?"

Kevin takes another mouthful.  "Paley swore revenge.  Of course he did.  He's a hood.  Though this time...I get it.  I really do.

"But he takes out a couple of people he thinks are involved.  Turns out they aren't.  And even if they are...you can't do that.  He goes to jail a couple of times.

"Now.  What's interesting,"  Kevin crinkles up the wrapper the first burger was in and starts to unwrap the second.  "Is that he's been asking around about doctors that  were practicing in the area around the time his kid disappeared.  And...that house you had that trippy thing in?  I peeled back enough of the shell companies.  Pale's wife owns it.  They bought it five years ago."

He powers through the second burger.  "Looks like he's on the side of the angels on this one maybe."  Kevin reaches for the malt.  "Anyway.  I'm gonna try to contact him."

Honestly, I'm imagining Kevin is basically Batman with a tail. So as far as I'm concerned, unless I've never done something he can know it. In fact, he can know things that I don't know, if you want. Batman. Then again, if he isn't as much of a detective as the Bat, then I'm fine if he doesn't.

"I was thinking something similar, was thinking of asking the car guy," Jack mentions with a light shrug as he eats, listening to the tale about the sandman. "I should start practicing my sketches, I can come up with as much of the guy's image as I can," he mentions thoughtfully.

The mention of contact earns a slow nod.

"I'd also be curious to know why he has my DNA like you said," he adds. "But be careful, he's a dangerous bloke, and I'm not sure if Man-Eater showing up the other day wasn't to kill him."

In reply to Jack Sharpe (msg # 931):

I've been debating about how Batman-ish he is actually.  We will see

Kevin nods.  "I think it was.  Man-Eater only specializes in meta assassinations.  And he...it...wouldn't have know you and Hard Time would be there."

He finishes another tot and seems to ponder a moment.  "Actually...I wonder if..."

He shrugs.  "Anyway.  I've checked up on the BEs.  They seem to be your typical cult.  The weapons they got hid around are actually all registered and legal.  They seem to have a fairly legit gun business.  It's on my agenda to sneak into their offices and take a peek at their client list."

He's done with his tots.  Slupring at the still thawing malt he shrugs.  "Roger's gone dark.  I've checked into everything you've mentioned.  Roger..."  Kevin waves a hand. "He fixates.  And it's for sometimes really random things.  I don't know why he fixated on that girl Sarah.  And I'm not sure what he's up to now.  He's still hanging around your school.  I'm guessing he wants payback on the program.  But...Well.  Like I said.  Roger fixates.  And he does it for really odd reasons."

He looks back at you.  "Anything else going on I should know about?"

Thinking about the various issues they'd been dealing with, Jack doesn't think that there's anything else he should point the Monkey at. He hadn't noticed anything unusual that would be in his wheelhouse in the past several days. The dad thing is completely out of his skillset to handle and would possibly lead to him being on dad's watchlist.

The event with the N'kha and Axoxus are both similarly out of the Monkey's purview.

“I think you've got all the bases covered,” he answers.

In reply to Jack Sharpe (msg # 933):

I am going to skip us ahead then a little.  Let's get to your big date!

The next week is both busy and not so much.

The Program, especially Gut Shot, grills you about the mission and what happened in the Trench.  "I heard about your request for some specialized hand to hand.  I can teach you some.  But with your strength level, I'm proposing I and Hard Time show you the basics.  There's a teacher we can set you up with...but he's...well.  It will take a little bit of time.  Fair enough?"

Colby is out sick for part of the week.  But when he comes back, he's grinning.  He's taking Darja to Homecoming.

Marlene adjusts your tie for you and hands you the car keys.  "Home by midnight.  No exceptions.  And don't...well.  You're a big boy.  Don't make any mistakes."

I'll pause here in case there is anything you wanted us to cover before hand.  Thanks

During the past week, Jack had been his normal self. Working with the program, but also building his language skills and studying on the AER, trying to come up with his own solutions to some of his perceived weaknesses. Like the flash of yellow light. But as he suspected, he really isn't sure the “flash” has anything to do with how Axoxus stunned him. It's almost certainly psychic, not physical. Some sort of anti-psychic helmet to isolate the mind, perhaps.

He also takes a trip to see Ooter and mentions that he has access to a “mostly intact, except for the engine” Againor ship, and is willing to exchange taking the alien there for some tech support with some of his issues.

---

Jack of course is happy with any effective training they can provide. He never thought he'd need to learn to fight since he can just overpower everyone. But apparently, he's wrong.

As Marlene mentions his curfew, he simply smiles and agrees. “Thank you for letting me take the car,” he adds quickly, not wanting to push her good will on the issue.

In reply to Jack Sharpe (msg # 935):

Ooter laughs.  "Thanks.  But it's already been claimed by some archeologists.  The news is all over the Xtel Band."

He sighs.  "That woulda been a gold mine too.  If you come across any ET tech, give me a heads up ASAP.  I do trade.

"But yeah.  I can help you with whatever.  Like what for instance?"

We don't have to roleplay this out.  Just give me an idea what you're looking for and I'll see what Ooter can come up with.  Thanks

---

You drive over to Lydia's.

As you park the car, you can see her upstairs, getting ready.  Her mom is there.  They're talking like moms and daughters do in commercials.  Like

Oh honey!  You look so beautiful!  My little girl...

Oh Mom!  You'll make me start to cry too!

Neither of them mentions how fresh they're feeling though.

Downstairs, a man who has to be Lydia's Dad is watching TV.  He's a lot bigger than you would have thought.  Not big like HT or you.  But a decent size.

He's muttering something about punks.

He gets up as you ring the bell.  Opening the door, he studies you and then says "You must be Jack.  Come in.  Lydia is getting ready.  You wanna Fresca or somethin'?  Can't stand them myself.  More of a Dr. Pepper man myself.  Got some of those if you want."

He gets you a drink if you want one and then looks you over.  "I trust you'll be a gentleman towards my little girl tonight, right?"

“They get to claim something that I found, on my planet, after battling a world-killer for it? And I get no compensation?” Jack asks, not really a materialistic person, but it sounds like he was being cut out of the claim. A small recompense for them would help him get cool gadgets from Ooter.

As to the thing he's looking for, he goes on to explain how Axoxus stunned him, the yellow flash, and his personal interpretation after a week of research on the subject.  Looking for a way to avoid it in the future.

“I'd even be willing to come up with compensation for a device that can replicate the effect, maybe if I can practice against it, I can develop a resistance,” he adds, hopeful.

---

Jack comes in when invited and says, “Please, Dr. Pepper would be preferred,” not getting into his personal feelings about Fresca.

The request for gentlemanly conduct is met with a nod of the head.

“Like a princess, sir,” he says.

In reply to Jack Sharpe (msg # 937):

Ooter chuckles.  "Welcome to Interstellar politics."

He listens as you describe Axoxus' attack.  "That is probably a psychic attack.  Though it may be transmitted through the flash.  But that doesn't mean it's strictly a vision based attack.  The light waves touch your skin as well after all.  Were you always looking at him when the attack occured?"

To your recollection you were.

Ooter considers.  "I can come up with a stimulant.  Basically a pill that would temporarily block you from receiving mental waves.  It is not something you can take on a daily basis.  There are side effects.  And I don't know how it would effect someone with your genetic make up.  But we can experiment if you like."

---

Dad gives you the hairy eyeball and hands you your Dr. Pepper.

"So.  You thinkin' about college?  Got your sights set on any of 'em?  Guy your size must play something."

"And they just expect me or Earth to be okay with that? I need to have them add me to that IDBE, maybe they'd think to ask," Jack says, looking and acting more peeved than he is, just thinking about what he could have done with some proper compensation. Shaking his head a little, he rolls his shoulders and leans back against the counter where he's talking to Ooter.

Listening to the proposal, he nods slowly.

"I'd rather learn to resist it without stimulants, but yes, it'd be better than nothing," he confirms.

---

"MIT maybe, or Caltech if I follow my parents. Or maybe Oxford or Harvard if not, I'm a bit torn on where I want to go, if I want to go," he admits frankly to the older man. Looking down at himself when the man comments on his size, he shakes his head. "No, just like to stay healthy."

In reply to Jack Sharpe (msg # 939):

Lydia-Dad starts to say something but Lydia walks in at that moment.

She really is gorgeous.  Her hair's done up in a simple bun.  She fills out her dress nicely without looking like a porn star wannabe.  And she has a shy, cute smile on her face as her cheeks blush.

Lydia-Dad sighs.  "Be back before midnight..."

Lydia-Mom makes the two of you stand for pictures.

The whole scene is so family night TV it's kind of nuts.

Lydia mumbles as you walk her to the car, "Sorry about my Dad.  He's...ya know.  A dad."

You have trouble finding a parking spot.  It's a big crowd tonight.  More people showed up then you might have expected.

As you escort her into the cafeteria where the dance is being held, you can see Colby and Darja chatting over by the stage.  You can also see most of the usual suspects.  Sara's here.  Dan's here.  You can see Lydia's friends over to one side.

Lydia looks back at you.  "I need to go say hi and squeal about my friend's dresses.  You wanna come?  You don't have to if you want to go say hi to someone."

Jack smiles when he sees Lydia and walks over to take her hands and then turns to the side when they are asked for pictures and poses with her in a manner as best he can. His dark hair coifed to the side in a very classic way, his bright blue eyes alert as he shows teeth and poses. Embracing Lydia to his side, or holding her arm as is appropriate. Pulling out a corsage and putting it on her wrist. Because that's apparently a thing that boys are supposed to do, according to Marlene.

“Yes sir, my aunt has given me a similar curfew,” he confirms with Lydia-dad.

Walking with Lydia out to the car, he holds the door for her and then climbs in on the other side.

“Nothing wrong with it. He just wants to know that I'll be looking out for you,” he confirms. As they start to drive toward the school, he scans ahead when they come to a stop several blocks away. Looking for a parking spot so that they don't have to loop the parking lot to look for a place to park, he's also checking the place out for anything out of the ordinary.

Nothing expected, but it's something he constantly finds himself doing.

Walking with her from the spot they've found, he holds her hand and as they get into the cafeteria, he looks down at her and is about to respond when he remembers that Darja has much better hearing than he does, so he instead says, “Darja,” and looks her in the eyes and then leans his head to indicate that she should come join him so that he can stay with his date. “I'll follow you,” he says, looking down at Lydia again.

In reply to Jack Sharpe (msg # 941):

Lydia's friends are bunched at one door.  They squeal when the see Lydia and there's a lot of talk about how good each of them look.  Their dates are off to the side, talking about football.  Dan and Ari aren't around.  They're off on the dance floor even though no music has started playing yet.

Darja and Colby are working their way over.

You notice the refreshment table.  Besides the customary punch and snacks, there's a big box of glowsticks.  You recall Lydia saying something about this being a "glo-stick" dance or something.

Mrs. Hollister appears on the small stage at one side of the cafeteria.  She comes up to the mic on the stage and taps it.  After the feedback, she waves her hands.

"Alright everybody.  Welcome to Homecoming.  You guys want to dance?"

There's a lot of general chatter, but a few people shout "sure" or similar.

Mrs. Hollister shakes her head.  "Don't get too excited now.  Alright.  Here you go."

A spot light comes up on a DJ at one side of the cafe.   He waves at everyone and starts the music.

You hear Darja whisper back to you:  "Oh! We'll meet up in a bit.  I wanna dance!"

Lydia is batting her bambi eyes at you.

Looking around at all of Lydia's friends, the tall dark haired boy considers their complements and comes to the decisive conclusion that Lydia is the prettiest. He doesn't join the other boys, but instead idly stands there looking around at the many people in the cafeteria. Looking at outfits, making sure nobody is packing a piece, and maybe listening in on a few conversations.

When Mrs. Hollister comes up to start the proceedings, he smiles down at Lydia and then glances over at Darja, throwing her a small nod of the head.

Jack gently puts his hand on Lydia's waist and starts to steer her out toward the dance floor.

“You're definitely the hottest girl here,” he compliments his girlfriend, being honest as far as his personal taste goes. She's just the bee's knees.

Even as he mentions this, he puts his hands in a dance appropriate location and starts to dance. He's smooth enough, since he's limber and lean, but his moves could use some work.

In reply to Jack Sharpe (msg # 943):

Lydia makes a small "oh" as you place a hand on her waist.  She looks down at her feet and then at you, a healthy blush showing on her cheek.

"I can't believe I haven't stepped on your feet once.  You're good."

A lot of couples are moving to the dance floor.  You see Darja and Colby, Dan and Ari, and a few others you know.  It's a mid tempo number.  No one's going all out yet.  Obviously this one's a warm up.

The next song has more bass.  Quite a bit more.  It's that song that's going around.  Honestly, the one that sounds like all the others but even if it's not original, the groove is good.

Lydia laughs and then stops as a girl bumps into her from behind.  The girl mumbles an apology, but isn't really paying attention. Her date seems to be trying to show off.  He's dancing like this is some kind of audition for a Beyonce video.

You notice a few of the chaperones appear to be from the Program.  They have some kind of hardware.  Gun shaped, though not bang bang kind of guns.  They don't seem to be acting too weary though.  They're chatting with the teachers.  Gut Shot must have decided to put a little bit of security up here tonight.

Jack continues to dance with Lydia, replying casually to her compliment with a laugh and a prompt, “You can step on them all you need. Not going to hurt my toes.” And to make his point, his hands on her hips lift her up for a light spin and he puts her back down, continuing to dance at the beat set by the music.

Looking around occasionally he checks things over, but for the most part he's trusting that the Program is on top of things.

Between him and Darja, they should have it mostly on lock for anything unusual.

As they dance, he shimmies him and Lydia closer to Darja and Colby. “Hey guys,” he says.

In reply to Jack Sharpe (msg # 945):

Colby grins at you.  Darja waves.  She looks over at Lydia.  "Your dress is fantastic."

"Thanks.  Love yours.  And that bun is so cute..."

They're starting to enter the pre-squeal phase of women-speak.

Colby looks at you.  "Oh! My! Gosh!  That jacket is so scrummy Jack!  And your shoes are so cute!"

Darja gives him a playful shove on the shoulder.  "Watch it.  Girl talk is important in any social setting."

Colby rolls his eyes and then nods at Lydia.  "You look beautiful.  How ya been Lyds?"

Your dates chat a bit as the four of you grind slowly next to each other.

Darja sotte voce's to you...Nice to have a night off, huh?

Looking between the girls as they act extra girly, Jack then turns his head to look at Colby and replies, “I do look good, don't I?” and dusts off his lapels. Leaning into it in a different way than was perhaps intended.

He doesn't comment on the fact that they went together, and is just happy it happened.

At the comment from Darja, he smiles brightly. He enjoys both in their own ways, but having Lydia bumping into  him is hard to beat. There are definitely perks to taking time off.