Placeholder: Rain, Rain, run away...

[basic_powers]

April 14th
Excelsior Public School, Kansas
10:35 am

As soon as the rain had stopped it was time to hang the flag back up again, and repeat the entire process.

It wasn't much better the second time around, and Tyler wondered for a moment if he could do this on his own. Then he could get out of social studies without Zodon pestering him.

"Back up it goes. I hope it doesn't rain again."

Comments

[npc238.livejournal.com]

"I'm called Guardian Angel," she snapped, spreading her arms. The air around her began to shine like crystal. "You can't touch me, you can't hurt me, and the more you try the worse it's gonna be for you."

[npc238.livejournal.com]

The man looked at her levelly. Shifting the... metal thing into the crook of his elbow, he cupped his hand in her direction. There was a faint hum, and a burst of light... but also of darkness...

...and he moved the metal thing back to his hand, and nudged Guardian Angel gently aside as he passed.

"You'll be your old self in a little while. Goodbye."

[npc238.livejournal.com]

It wasn't a heavy blow, it wasn't a blow at all, just a slight motion of the man's leg against her, but it sent Ambriel reeling with shock. It was, after all, a completely new sensation.

[npc238.livejournal.com]

The last few kids looked apologetically at Ambriel as they passed. "Lyle says everything will be okay," Vern told her. "And... he's usually right."

[npc238.livejournal.com]

Zodon, observing all this, cleared his throat. "Excuse me, Mister Transient? Just a moment."

[npc238.livejournal.com]

The Rainmaker sighed. "Look, kid, if you're trying to hold me up—"

[npc238.livejournal.com]

"No, no. Am I to understand you just walked into PS238, somehow overcame the security system, kept the staff and students at bay, and convinced all of these kids to come with you as hostages?"

[npc238.livejournal.com]

The man looked nonplussed for the first time. "Uh, well..."

The device in his hand spoke up. Suddenly, it looked a lot more head-like. = Yes, we did. What of it, my dwarfish lad? =

[npc238.livejournal.com]

Zodon didn't give the least evidence of surprise.

"If you ever decide to join an outfit bent on ruling the world, or at least a large part of it, fill this out and mail it here in care of 'Zodon'." He handed the man a form. "I think you'd fit in very well with my organization."

[npc238.livejournal.com]

The Rainmaker, for his part, didn't seem as thrown by this as he ought to be. "I suppose I'd need a new suit for the interview?" he said dryly.

[npc238.livejournal.com]

"Presentation never hurts," Zodon agreed as he walked away.

[npc238.livejournal.com]

The Rainmaker shook his head as he headed over to a rather plain van. He placed the robotic head atop the vehicle, using it as a paperweight for Zodon's application form, opened the rear door, and moved the sleeping Lyle off his shoulder to carry him in both hands. "Come on, kids. Let's get you away from here!"

[npc238.livejournal.com]

The kids piled obediently into van; they appeared to be treating this as a very strange field trip.

"Can we stop someplace that has salads?" Dierdre asked.

"And I want fries!" Vern piped up. "And a shake!"

"Yeah," said Marvin. "If we're gonna be kidnapped, we should at least get lunch."

[npc238.livejournal.com]

= This could be more challenging than we thought, = said the head acidly. = A little cover for our getaway, Harold? =

"One all-day cloudburst comin' up."

As the van pulled out, it began to rain. Not a storm, no lightning, just good, solid, heavy rain.

[basic_powers]

The thing about cover like rain is that it can conceal other things too. Especially if those things were just within the vehicle's blindspot, and could slap on a tracer beacon to the van.

He'd have to remember to thank Mr. Revenant for giving him that clip-on utility pack, but as he watched the van pull away he turned to his classmates and started talking.

"We've gotta tell the teachers."

[npc238.livejournal.com]

"I figure they know what happened," Zodon pointed out as he headed for shelter. "And you can get the IRRIGATING flag down yourself this time. I've had it."

[npc238.livejournal.com]

Ambriel didn't say anything. She was still standing where the Rainmaker had pushed her to, staring at nothing.

[basic_powers]

He turned to talk to her, it figured Zodon would be about as helpful as a screendoor on a submarine.

"Ambriel, come on in, you're getting-"

[npc238.livejournal.com]

"Wet. I know. I've never felt rain before."

She turned her face to the sky and didn't say anything more.

[basic_powers]

He was starting to get worried.

This wasn't like her at all.

"Please come inside, you're getting soaked."

[npc238.livejournal.com]

"I should wait here," she said haltingly. "If I leave, my Guardian could get lost and not find me again. I'll stay here until it comes back... if it comes back..."

And that, again, appeared to be it.

[basic_powers]

He waited a few more seconds before turning and running towards the door.

"I'll send someone out to help you!"

This was bad. So very bad. Badder than the nightmare bad.

[npc238.livejournal.com]

She gave no indication of hearing him.

Perhaps she didn't.

As Tyler receded into the rain, Ambriel just stood, and stared... and sneezed.



"Please... come back..."