In late March, 1999, Air Force One was on a flight from Washington DC to Iraq. Two hours into the flight, multiple calls were made over both public and private ATC networks from the pilots.

Two members of President Bill Clinton’s secret service (Gregory Conaughey and Archer Russo) exited the cabin for separate reasons and reentered with assault rifles and opened fire on the passengers, then proceeded to systematically check for survivors in the cabin and in other compartments, whom they would then kill.

Afterwards, Conaughey and Russo broke their way into the cabin, where the pilots had drawn pistols and shot Conaughey before Russo returned fire; examination of the plane’s wreckage reveals additional bullet holes in the plane’s console.

Casualties include President Bill Clinton, nineteen members of the secret service (including Conaughey and Russo), four members of CNN’s international news crew, seven senior staff members of the Clinton Administration, the two pilots, and eleven flight attendants and crew.

First Lady Hillary Clinton, in the bathroom at the time of the attack, moved from hiding space to hiding space to avoid detection until the plane’s crash in the Atlantic and her eventual recovery by Spain’s Civil Guard. She, along with recordings taken from the plane’s black box, reveal that Conaughey and Russo both screamed to be stopped, announcing their locations to survivors, and begged for forgiveness, saying that they could not control their bodies.

This is the first recorded case in history of the psionic power of domination, the forcing of one’s will on an unwilling mind, as well as the first of many terrorist attacks committed by the discipline’s founder: the Brain Scythe.

“—like, they definitely have style, but it gives me real strong boy band vibes back from the 90’s, y’know?”

“No no, I totally get that, I remember those songs you showed me.” Taz said into her phone as she stuffed her fish-like backpack with her folder-filled binders. She walked over to her desk, unplugged her laptop from the wall from the little white desk Madeline helped her build over the week. “You listened to Butter and Dynamite?”

“Yeah, instant flashbacks to walking past my sister’s room while she was in her Backstreet Boys phase.”

“BACKSTREET’S BACK, ALRIGHT!” A chorus of voices howled from Robbie’s end of the phone, followed by Robbie cursing at his bandmates.

Taz gave a poorly suppressed guffaw as Big Monsta Mamas launched into a badly tuned, poorly-harmonized rendition of Everybody; Siren, power vocalist that he was, giving it the same gusto he did on their own songs.

“Sorry monsta, these assholes are bein’ assholes.”

“It’s okay Robbie, I still love them. Anywho, I thought those two were super cheesy, but I actually kinda like some of their other Korean songs!”

“I can definitely feel the American R&B influence in some of those, yeah. You think you like ‘em?”

“I think I will give ‘em a few more listens before I decide that.” Taz smiled, unhooking her laptop and sliding it into her bag. “Okaaaay, I think I’m all set up for the day…”

“Hey hey, my baby girl’s starting her first day at PA!” Robbie said away from the phone, and there was a cheer from the rest of Robbie’s band.

“You’re gonna go far, kid!” Siren sang.

“Come teach me a thing or two when we visit, Taz!” Grendel, the drum player shouted.

“That’s in May, by the way! We’ll be in PJ in May!” Medusa said.

“Okay Dusa!”

“Be a good girl!” Dragon ordered.

“I will!”

“Alright alright alright, we’ll let you get going, baby.” Robbie laughed a little bit; Taz could just imagine the other four gathered around him, clamoring to talk into the phone.

“Thanks Robbie, I’ll make you proud.”

“You don’t gotta try, baby girl. I’ll call you sometime after class, probably after evening practice.”

“Yessir!” Taz pulled her backpack onto her back, nearly stumbling back a step from the change in weight. “I’ll text you before curfew if you don’t!”

“That’s my girl. Talk soon!”

“Bye Taz baby!” Siren managed to belt out before the call ended, and Taz smiled to herself.

With a deep sigh, Taz glanced around her room. Madeline had done as she’d promised, helping Taz set her room up in a nice way. Band posters were posted above Taz’s bed, with Taz’s favorite, Lady Gaga’s promotional picture for The Edge of Glory, taking up the most space.

A small collection of ocean-related toys and plushes sat on top of her dresser, with a big stuffed whale strewn over the back behind a rigid statue depicting a blessing of narwhals poking out of the ocean amidst chunks of ice, and a big, stuffed octopus with long, skinny tentacles that was meant to sit on stuff like a hat. Fish scales, clam shells, and fake bits of coral set the front of the scene, and a framed picture of the beach hung behind all of it.

Her desk was white faux-wood, with a tier at the top for other knick-knacks, like Taz’s Little Mermaid clock, some stuffed owls, and her makeup box and jewelry box. A small jar of pencils and pens sat behind a blank journal Taz had kept next to her laptop, and on the other side was where she charged her tablet, which she left behind for the moment. Her minifridge was right next to her desk, opposite of the door, and it was already full of cans of Lacroix and cold brew coffee.

The bathroom had all her toiletries in it already. With Madeline’s help, they stuck a little plastic basket on the wall with Taz’s laminated name on it, filled with her soap, shampoo, conditioner, and loofa hanging off of it, while the medicine cabinet had her prefered medicines and deodorants, as well as some of her cheaper makeup when she just wanted to throw something on and go.

And, sitting on the other side of the bedroom was an empty, untouched bed, wardrobe, and nightstand.

“You remember when mom didn’t know what to do with the den?” Melodica said, leaning over the back of the desk’s chair, a cute white wooden thing with a blue cushion on it.

“Yeah.” Taz answered, staring at the untouched, made bed. “We thought it was haunted.” Though, older Taz was reminded more of an empty hospital bed after one-too-many medical dramas.

“Just so… quiet, and nobody ever went in there.” Melodica sighed.

“Man, we almost cried trying to get a… what was it, just a ball that had rolled in there?”

“It was a ball of socks you wrapped up and were kicking around.”

“Really? I was a dumb kid…”

“Now you’re a dumb teen!” Melodica said, all smiles at Taz’s pointed look. “What? You are.”

“Yeah, well you came out of my dumb head, so you’re not much better!”

“No, but I do get front-row seats for it!” Melodica grinned with all her teeth, and Taz stuck her tongue out at the tulpa.

{Taz!}

Taz and Melodica both flinched at the telepathic call of her name, though quickly recognized it at Madeline.

{Taz, Noelle and I are in the lobby with breakfast when you’re ready.}

{Okay, we’ll be down in a moment!} Taz thought back.

{Hurry, ma choupette~!}

She made sure the window was locked, the blinds were down, and her room door didn’t open as she made her way out, all but skipping, feeling free as a bird.

The past week had been eye-opening. Madeline had made sure Taz was nice and familiar with the campus and its facilities, better than Professor Burke had done. She knew Madeline’s hangout spots now, and got to meet a few of the girls Madeline knew.

Sleeping had been weird. Being away from her room back home was… hard. Madeline spent the second night with Taz, making sure she felt okay in her own room. The third night Taz spent alone, and she spent quite a bit of time on the phone with her mother, trying to abate the heartache from being separated. She went to bed watching videos on her tablet, trying to not let the panic set in.

A few more nights calmed her, though she was starting to get anxiety with the approaching school year. Noelle chalked it up to restlessness; when she had daily assignments and classes, she would be both mentally and physically occupied. Other than some restaurants, not a lot of places in PJ were open, either, so Taz still had plenty to explore in town once it was alive again, which Madeline reassured her would more than sate her need for entertainment.

Now? It was the first day of school, and the campus was bustling. Lots of older students moved back in yesterday or the day before, so Taz was a little intimidated, but ultimately enthused to see girls in the halls, talking in little groups, ready and made up, or heading towards the exits, or racing back to their rooms.

She was shorter than most of them, which was… dismaying, but she got quite a few looks as she headed for the elevator. Well, more like Melodica got quite a few looks.

“Oooh…” One girl cooed as Melodica swam by, keeping up with Taz’s side, and another reached out to run her fingers through the mermaid’s hair. Of course her fingers passed straight through Melodica, but Mel took the casual admiration in stride.

One elevator ride down, and Taz stepped out onto the first floor. The Puellama’s lobby was a cozy little place; it wasn’t as big as the recreation’s building resting place, but it had a handful of circular tables and chairs, rows of seats along the wall, and vending machines for snacks.

“The perfect place to get away from ces garçons pleurnichards!” Noelle had told her.

Speaking of, Taz saw her waving from one of the smaller square tables placed around the lobby’s columns, Madeline sitting across from her, elbows on the table, chin in her hands.

“Bonjour, Taz!” Noelle called in that by now familiar, bordering-on flirty little tone that still made Taz shiver when she heard it. “You slept well?”

“I did!” Taz lied.

“She didn’t.” Melodica corrected.

“I didn’t…” Taz sighed, and Melodica chortled.

“It was nearly one in the morning when she stopped fussing with school stuff and actually got under the covers! Out like a light once she did that.”

“Ugh!” Taz flapped her arms by her sides and pouted. “I’m so nervous!”

“Our stomach hurts and we haven’t even had breakfast!” Melodica pouted, making Taz hop from one foot to the other.

“I’m hungry but my tummy hurts and-and-and I don’t wanna mess this up!”

Noelle hid a smile behind her hand, and after clearing her throat, gave an overly dramatic sigh before sliding something across the table: a muffin. Chocolate chip, judging by the look of it, and looking at it, Taz’s stomach growled.

“If it will soothe the rumble in your tummy, chouchou, I suppose I can part with this.” Noelle grinned slyly, tapping the pastry with her finger almost tauntingly.

“B-but, it’s yours, isn’t it?” Taz asked in a lamed tone, eyeing the muffin more closely than Noelle.

“What if it is? I’m offering it to you as a trade.”

Taz and Melodica glanced at one another, then back at Noelle.

“It is our favorite…” Melodica mumbled.

“What do you want for it?” Taz asked, slipping her hand into her purse to fetch her wallet.

“Ah-ah!” Noelle wagged her finger, making Taz stop. “I do not want your money, chouchou; I’m not some money-thirsting prêteuse.” Noelle’s hand flicked up with two fingers extended, which then coyly prodded her cheek. “Wish me luck.”

Taz eyed the smirking girl’s cheek, looking confused. “Good… good luck today?” She offered, and Noelle ‘tsk’d.

“Don’t say it, show it.” She ordered.

Taz didn’t look any more sure, just sort of quiet and lost at the implication, until Melodica’s eyebrows raised, and she leaned onto Taz and whispered in her ear. In an instant, Taz’s eyes widened, and a redness filled her face, her posture shifting to an adorable little squirm, and she shuffled forward.

Noelle leaned her cheek towards Taz, and Taz leaned down, slowly, shakily, her eyes closed tightly, and then she felt something press against her upper back, pushing her forward, and her puckered lips smacked against Noelle’s cheek.

Taz straightened right up, hands over her mouth as her knees knocked together, and the lovely fille gave a most delighted little giggle as she tenderly rubbed the spot. “Oh my, you certainly know how to make a show of treating a lady!”

With a look of excitement on her face, Melodica turned to Taz with her hand up for a high-five, only to be greeted with the empty stare of a girl who had forgotten her own name.

“... Taz, bruh, seriously, I’m hungry.” Melodica poked her human’s face, and Noelle threw her head back to cackle.

“Oh my, I did not think such a thing would break her!” Noelle sat confidently, her eyes fluttered as a little heat filled her cheeks. “Ahem, we should probably rouse her before Madeline wakes up and asks questions.”

Melodica twisted in place when reminded Madeline was there, only to find the bigger girl still blankly staring into space, head in her hands.

“Is she in the thought bubble?” Melodica swirled around her older sister, prodding her cheek.

“Oui, learning the mood of the campus and any prevalent news on peoples’ minds.”

“Anything interesting?” Melodica asked.

“She has not come back yet, otherwise she would have had choice words for what I did to her sister.” Noelle gave another sneaky grin. “In the meantime, I have been enjoying the view!”

“View?” Melodica swam over to Noelle and followed her eyes towards Madeline, who sat still and quiet, breathing slightly, wearing a nice, v-cut blouse that exposed quite a bit of her cleavage. Melodica blinked twice, grabbed Noelle’s unkissed cheek, and twisted, drawing a yowl of pain from the fille.

“Ah! I’m being attacked!” Noelle wailed, unable to escape Melodica’s grip.

“Maddy is for cuddles and smack-talk! Perv on your own tits!” Melodica growled in a mousey voice.

At that point, Madeline stirred awake, having to catch herself as her arms threatened to give out from her consciousness reacquainting with her body, and blinked as she stared at her roommate swatting ineffectually at her currently brain-dead little sister’s tulpa.

She let out a labored sigh.

“Gunna be warming up the back of my hand bright and early, I see…”

Taz licked her fingers clean as she, Madeline, and Noelle walked across campus ground towards the general sciences building, cutting across the Zhou Ping Memorial Park in the process. That chocolate muffin had hit the spot; the fact that it was lactose-free didn’t hurt at all, though Taz suspected she’d start to miss real milk chocolate.

The week of settling into PA let Taz see the campus a bit more active than when her aunt had brought her. The students loved lounging in the park, especially on the windy days. She and Madeline spent almost three hours underneath a tree, talking about what they’d do in PJ, Taz growing more and more restless as the time came for classes to start and people to arrive and PJ to come alive again…

And here it was.

Teenagers of all heights were on campus now. Many were on their way to their classes in clusters, some hustling alone, all carrying class materials and filling the campus with a thought bubble so tangible and eclectic that Taz felt like she was swimming right alongside Melodica.

“—third-stairs bathroom is closed down thanks to some kid somehow breaking open a can of pepper spray in there.” Madeline was relating the information she’d gathered out of the bubble for the day.

Noelle scoffed. “Magnifique.”

“Did you hear me, Taz?”

“Yeah, avoid the third floor bathrooms in general sciences.” Taz answered.

“There’s my girl.”

The mood was, of course, warm, bright, optimistic, and overflowing with excitement. Taz couldn’t help but contribute to it; she was going to school without a privacy band on! She skipped on light toes across the flagstone walkways, Melodica spinning alongside her with a matching smile.

“You probably won’t be learning much divination stuff until the second half of the year, but once you do, I can show you how I do what I do.” Madeline offered with a smile.

“That would be cool! It seems like you get the news better than TV.”

“And unfiltered, too!” Noelle added.

“It’s definitely helpful, which is why I wanna make sure you learn how to do it right. Remember what happens when you get lost in the thought bubble?”

“I get really tired and you get mad at me.”

A heavy hand landed on her shoulder, making her squeak, their walk slowing so Madeline could give her little sister a pointed look.

“Amongst other very dangerous things.” Madeline flicked her nose, and gave a little laugh at Taz’s grumpy pout. “Seriously, I wanna teach you divination. It is so cool, and so useful, and if anything will convince your mom that psionics will get you a job, it’s gunna be div.”

“It does sound really cool, I just don’t know where I want to even start focusing on stuff!” Taz chuckled, but instead of sounding dismayed, or confused, she was brimming with excitement, bouncing on her toes as Madeline’s smile sweetened. “Well, maybe dividualism?” She pondered, drawing curious looks from both of the older girls.

“Dividualism, eh?” Madeline parroted.

“It’s still way too early to tell if we wanna do dividualism.” Melodica said, drawing an agreeing shrug from Taz.

“She’s not wrong, but Dr. Dewitt and Mr. Burke seem really keen on studying what I can do with it.”

“Dividualism is a very difficult discipline, and quite dangerous at that.” Noelle said in a tone of minor warning, giving Taz a small, curious smile. “I am no good with it, never took it after my second year, so I cannot speak for your potential…”

“I can.” Madeline grunted at her roommate, and gave Taz a fond smile. “You’ll give ‘em plenty of reasons to keep getting excited, Taz. I’m only okay at dividualism, so you’re eventually going to have to teach me stuff, alright?”

Taz found herself caught by the sheer honesty in Madeline’s big brown eyes, and with a loud gulp, gave a nod, and a small smile. “I-I’ll do my best.”

Melodica remained silent behind her, and Madeline straightened, giving the two girls a grin.

“Now c’mon, we got twenty minutes and it looks good to show up early instead of late.” She ordered, drawing a trio of quick nods as she led the way to general sciences. “So you already know Mr. Burke; that’s good, he knows just about everything about the psiences, moreso than most people with psychic powers do. Stay on his good side, he doesn’t mind pulling strings to get you in programs early or set you up with some of the bigger names in psionics for mentorship.”

“He was mon amour’s ticket to meeting Mrs. Tarniceriu!”

“Exactly.”

“Okay!” Taz smiled at the thought. “What about Dr. Dewitt?”

“You probably won’t have a class with him until at least late next year. Dr. Dewitt teaches more advanced right-brain classes, but by the sounds of it, you have an in with him.”

“Which is good; le docteur mentors rarely, and it is un privilège based on his students’ reviews.” Noelle added.

“Okay!” Taz paused a few steps, thinking to herself. “So, psionics history, basic telekinesis, basic biokinesis, and French language today—” Taz rambled on through Noelle’s delight coo, “applied psiences, basic telepathy, basic mimicry, music class, and tulpamancy tomorrow. That’s a lot fewer classes than school back home…”

“Well you’re also a first year student. Me and Noelle have four classes and two electives per day, each.” Madeline explained, exiting the park and emerging in the east quadrant, the more plain, soundly structured buildings containing the labs and science buildings. “First years they don’t wanna overtax; they’re gunna teach you all about keeping a healthy, but active mind throughout the day so you don’t burn out.”

“And in addition, you need to keep up with your physical education datasheet as well, chouchou.” Noelle smirked as Taz made a face. “It is all self-motivated, but it is still a grade, mignonne!”

“Just join Noelle in the gym when she’s out of class and be sure to dress appropriately for it. Just an hour a day on the treadmill, lifting weights, doing basic exercise, whatever.”

“Fiiiiiine…”

“And sex is not exercise.”

Taz spun in place to stare at her older sister, but Madeline was glaring at the grinning fille.

“Your unjustified assumptions wound me~.” Noelle tittered, doing little to dissuade Madeline’s annoyance.

“Could I go exercise with you, Maddy?” Taz asked, drawing a betrayed gasp from Noelle, and Madeline’s surprised, though uncertain eyes. “I mean, you have to too, right? Why can’t I exercise with you?”

“Oh, well…” Madeline rubbed the back of her head. “I actually have a deal set up in PJ, I guess I can see if you can come join me.”

“What are you doing?” Melodica swam in front of her, looking suspicious.

“I’m, err, attending some self-defense courses in jiu jitsu at a martial arts gym on Golden Lane Road.” She explained, drawing mystified stares from both of her little sisters. “I figured, you know, I’m young, I’m drop-dead gorgeous, I should know how to defend myself.”

“Well, yeah, but you never seemed to care for martial arts before. Just seems kinda sudden.” Taz shrugged.

Madeline hid a grimace behind a smile. The longer she thought about those boys, though – the same boys she didn’t mention to Taz out of concern she’d learn something uncomfortable about her mother – the more the idea sounded good.

“It was sort of a sudden development, I’ll admit. But, you should definitely come join me. It’s at 4:00 pm every weekday, with weekends off, alright? I’ll message you when I get out of class so you can come meet me by the gate.”

“Okay.” Taz said with a pleased shrug, and Madeline didn’t let a thankful sigh escape her.

“There’s my girl. Now c’mon, your first class awaits!”