Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Legs crossed at the ankles, hands clasped behind her back, Janet Robinson hovered above the arcology of Addis Ababa with intense concentration, making the flow of air steady enough to keep her aloft but not to do more than ruffle a few leaves. In this, her mentor Splash was nigh-on useless, for her windriding was much cruder in method than Balm's - so they had to improvise in her training. Yet they also had to take it slow, because Balm was already suffering from permanent quantum backlash, manifest in her changeable eyes... Already she was a little alien to others, and only her enhanced charisma made them easy with her.

It was lonely at the top, Balm reflected as she kept her face passive for a photographer on the top level of the arcology, taking pictures for the latest issue of Weatherman Today, a magazine for meteorologists. Being voted number seven in the list for the sexiest weather manipulator of the year meant inclusion in the magazine, which meant a picture and blurb and everything. Since Balm's only interest in meteorology was how her powers affected it, she was rapidly getting bored.

Obsidian had been sent to T2M-Eu to do some promotional work with Firefly for an upcoming fundraiser. Two egos the size of theirs promised to be a Titanic V Iceberg moment... Balm hoped whatever happened got caught on camera and she got to see it. Delaney was a bitch and a half, and a snotty one with it.

Now that she had joined T2M, she got to see the reality behind the so-careful public relations. It was disappointing to discover that Pax was something of a jerk, Firefly was the bitch from hell and one didn't just jump into saving the world. Still, it was better than the alternatives, she supposed. DeVries was out of the question with her inability to handle combat, and Amanda Wu was probably a bigger bitch than Firefly, so there went Novelty Consulting.

Happy thoughts, she told herself as the Utopian PR handler tsk'ed about her eyes changing colour. Tranquil blue, piercing blue... Happy blue. She had to look joyous at doing this crap.

Gabriel Law, Mister Wannabe-Rockstar, was something pleasant to think about. Even if he was an arrogant git who was trying to pick her up every time she went on the OpNet. Roses and gown, for Chrissakes!

Still, Caramel Bath seemed nice enough. Pity she was a porno star and all, because Balm could use a good dance. So she was being anal about who she was hanging with - she didn't want to ruin her chances with T2M, after all.

Bored to tears but trying to remain passive and happy, Balm hovered in the sky, humming Gabriel Law's version of Rebel Yell under her breath.

“Master Law, might I remind you that she seemed quite disinterested in you.” Ellsworth, Gabriel’s butler, said to him as he watched the young nova pack a thick leather duffle bag.

“Duly noted, and subsequently ignored, Ellsworth.” Gabe replied, his breathing increasing slightly as he hurried even faster.

The English butler sighed in defeat. Taking care of Gabriel was something he had been doing all his life, there was very little the man could say that would surprise him at this point. “Very good sir. Shall I pack anything you may actually need sir? A tooth brush, your wallet… a bib?”

“Very funny.” Gabe’s eyes rolled Ellsworth’s way. “Dude, she seems so… caged. Like she’s not having any fun what so ever in that place. Have you seen the news? The media catching photos of her… she’s bored outta her gourd.” His face twisted into a mischievous grin. “Something I’m gonna fix for her.”

“I shall warn the local mothers and daughters of your arrival sir.” His monotone dripped with sarcasm.

“Good man Ellsworth. Good man.” Gabe said with a smile plastered on his face as Ellsworth turned and left the room, rolling his eyes. Moments later, it caught him. Stopping his packing for a brief moment Gabriel stood with a handful of clothes. “Hey…! That’s wasn’t funny!”

9,000 miles later…

“STR8PMPN” said the vanity plate of the black Lamborghini Gallado as it sped through the streets of Addis Ababa. It’s engine purred almost like it ran in some futuristic stealth mode. I’m prolly speeding. Damn, note to self: Learn the metric system.

Tires chirped on the pavement directly in front of the Arcology. The door to his Gallado slid upwards and he stepped out to greet the people who didn’t understand a word he said. He took a moment adjust his sunglasses and straightening his jacket before picking up the bouquet of roses he brought just for Balm.

Confidently he strode into the Arcology, she was here, he knew that much. Sources told him she had a photo shoot going on on the roof, all he had to do was talk his way up there. No problem. Every head in the place turned to look at the young gorgeous nova has he strode through the entrance level to the elevators. Since his eruption no matter where he went, people stared, gawked, and sometimes down right drooled. Soemthing, the scientists said, had made him more, physically appealing to all sexes, but mostly the opposite. Something he really didn’t mind in the slightest.

The elevator slid to a halt on the top floor and Gabriel Law stepped out into the pleasant Addis Ababa air. So much about this place had changed since Project Utopia had come along it was hard to believe it was the same country.

The cameras and equipment were all still sitting around but the photographers and staff had all seemed to scatter for the moement. Apparently it was break time for the groups as people were checking equipment and going over possible new layouts and poses for Balm in the next shoot.

Then… there she was: Janet Robinson. Wow, she is a cutie. He thought to himself as he approached her slowly. She wasn’t really paying his approach much mind, taking a few personal moments to stretch and relax. I’m such a sucker for a chick in a wetsuit.

“Balm?” Gabe said, to get her attention. “Gabriel Law, pleased to meet you. So, it looks like I’m here. What were your other two wishes?” He flashed her a blazing white smile and an extended hand.

Balm stiffened in shock, her eyes flashing from cloudy-blue through piercing blue into a kind of palest ice-blue like a cold winter's morning. But the training T2M was putting her through carried over and she pasted a smile on her face, offering a tanned hand that was calloused, muscled and scarred as only a farmer's could be.

"Mr. Law! I must admit, I wasn't expecting you in town," she said, deliberately calling him 'Mister' when she knew he hated it. Just because he was totally hot and she liked his music didn't give him the right to waltz in here like she was dying to go out with him. Even if he made poor Juan look like ugly duckling.

Balm was... pretty. Not exactly fresh-faced and cute like the late Slider, but more with a sweetness to her tanned features, and a soothing quality to her presence. Her brown hair was straight and styled into a sleek wave that looked like combed wet hair, and her eyes were large and almost doe-like, changeable in colour from her quantum backlash. Her sleeveless neck-to-ankle body-stocking was black and sleek, moulding itself to a very athletic body; even before eruption, Balm had been in good condition, and her stamina was enhanced.

"As for my second and third wishes, how about world peace and the eradication of poverty?" she added, playing to the witnesses.

“Please, call me Gabe, or Gabriel,” he started. “No need for formalities.” He brushed his hand through his sandy blonde hair. At this height the wind was quite nice but still strong enough to continuously blowing his medium length hair into his field of vision. And with a nova as lovely as Balm standing in front of him, that was just not acceptable, he didn’t want to miss a moment. “Oh, these are for you.” He raised his arm and handed her a dozen roses, freshly imported from Peru just earlier that morning.

In the Addis Ababa sun Gabe seemed right at home, like a brilliant Adonis standing atop a pillar of heaven to look down at his world below. From his patent Italian leather shoes, to his gray blazer and white turtleneck shirt, he was nothing short of breath taking. Already a few of the people around them had started to take notice and clicking a few photos of the two standing together, him offering her the bouquet of roses. “World peace and the eradiation of poverty. Text book answers.” He smiled with a dazzling grin that could melt even the coldest of hearts.

She gazed at him, only slighty enamoured by his near divine handsomeness, and he could tell that she was not only a bit surprised, but irritated at his sudden appearance at her photo shoot. He knew she was on the verge of walking away from him and he knew he had to make his move and make it count. “Look, before you get to angry with me for just popping up here, please, just hear me out.” So far it was a good start it seemed. “I know I was giving you a hard time on the boards, and in the chat room, but seriously, that was all just me playing around. I know you’re not interested in going out with me, so, that’s not why I’m here.”

He reached over and grabbed some bottled water. With a crack, the seal broke and stood there holding the now open bottle, wanting to finish his pitch before he took a drink. “But, then I saw you on N! for the past few nights, and darlin’ you look bored as hell.” He leaned in a bit close so the others gathering around couldn’t hear. “So, I thought maybe you and I could hang out for awhile. I’ve never been to Ethiopia, and you’re looking bored as all get out. So, you see, it all works out.” He grinned once more and shot her a look of confidence. “And, before you say you can’t, I have another surprise besides the roses. I pulled a few strings during the flight over here, and got you some free time outside the T2M head quarters. With or with out me, the time is yours, however I do so hope you’ll bless me with both your time and beauty.”

Balm accepted the roses, knowing she was trapped by circumstance and publicity. No stranger to diplomacy, she suspected that those strings involved hints on how great it would look if the CEO of Law Enterprises spent time with a T2M'er... A young, attractive T2M'er. Juan was going to shit shards when he found out. But if she didn't, Pax was going to shit a brick at Mach 2.

"Well, since you've gone to so much effort to arrange this, I can't refuse now, can I?" she said with the poisonous sweetness only a woman could produce. She was going to make this a long, long day for him.

Just because she was a nice person didn't mean she couldn't be a bitch. There were many ways of slowly, absolutely driving a man crazy.

“Excellent.” He took a drink from his water. “Well, I’ll not interrupt you shoot any longer, it looks like the natives are restless. However, if you don’t mind I’d like to hang out. I know how boring these things can be.” He shot a thumb over his shoulder, pointing to a spot directly in front of her field of vision. “I’ll be right over there, makin silly faces at ya.”

He winked at her and walked off swigging his water as he did so. Yep. She hates me. he thought to himself. Looks great in a wetsuit though. His grin caused him to dribble a bit of water in himself, which he quickly, and less than gracefully tried to catch before it got on his shirt. Damn… she so saw that.

Balm handed the roses to the first person she saw and took off from the balcony, closing her eyes as she prepared to summon the next part of the shoot with something approaching glee. Poor, poor Gabriel.

The sky, blue as could be, slowly turned cloudy as she hovered there. First the clouds were soft and fluffy-white like cotton wool, then they slowly turned a silvery-grey and covered the sky from horizon to horizon in a sheet of seamless colour. Finally, the final touch to the scene, the sky began to drizzle gentle droplets of rain that sparkled on every curve of flesh or bone, every emerald leaf and glittering metal surface.

So Gabriel was hot. Good for him. Balm could manipulate the weather... She hoped he brought a raincoat or umbrella.

She’s doing this on purpose. Gabriel thought as he held out his water bottle raising up to ‘toast her’ as she summoned up the force of the Mother Nature herself to heed her whims. He looked around and saw that while He and Balm were having their little discussion every one around them had donned rain ponchos. Or maybe not. Note to self: dress for rain when hanging out with Balm.

Before the rain got to heavy Gabriel walked to one of the gentlemen working on the set of the shoot. “Please inform Ms. Robinson that’ll be waiting for her in the lobby three floors below enjoying dryness and a drink.”

The man shook his head; he could do nothing but listen and repeat the message back to himself so he didn’t forget. For some reason unknown to him, he could not seem to let himself forget.

With her eyes closed Balm never noticed him walk off the set.

Eventually the sky cleared again as Balm finished her shoot. Gratefully, she opened her eyes and descended to the ground, feeling somewhat disappointed that Gabriel had given up at a little rain. He mustn't have been that interested in her.

Then one of the photographers told her that he was waiting inside. With an inward sigh, she figured that she might as well get everything over and done with so that she could go soothe Juan's ruffled feathers.

After making her farewells and signing needed forms, Balm descended to the lobby's entrance, taking a deep breath and entering to confront Gabriel. Her hormones were prancing around like chihuahuas on red cordial, but she managed to keep herself calm as she walked up to Mr. Vanity himself.

"So, I assume you have an itinerary for my afternoon, sir?"

An itinerary for her afternoon? Oh, I get it.

He up stood at her approach, walking to her side of the table and pulling out a chair for her have a seat. "So, that's it." he started, grinning slightly. Once she had settled herself in he sat back down. "Ms. Robinson, I believe you may have me a bit turned around." Gabriel folded his hands together and rested them on the table. "Honestly, I came all this way for the sole purpose of asking you if you would like to spend an afternoon together with me. Considering how hard you have been working lately I thought it might be something you would enjoy. No strings attached."

She seems to hate my frickin guts already and we haven’t sat down for a drink. What did I do to her? The boards, the chat? I was only goofin’ around, jeez.

He motioned for a waitress to come over, and while she was finishing with her guests he took the time to finish speaking his piece. "Granted I had to tell few a white lies to get you an afternoon off, but I assure you, this is no PR gig or anything like that. I would really like to get to know you Ms Robinson." A grin passed his lips once more, and this time with out his sunglasses hiding his eyes it seemed all the more brilliant when accented by their sky blue sincerity. "How about lunch, and if you still can't stomach me after that, we call it a draw and go our separate ways. Hmm?"

"I'm caught between the devil and the deep blue sea," Balm replied bluntly, though quietly, her eyes a subdued blue-grey that was too even to be natural. Not that her eyes were natural by any means, but most times, they just looked like contact lenses. What it betokened... Gabriel didn't know.

"I'll do lunch with you, because you obviously have gone out of your way and to a lot of effort - for whatever reason - to secure time with me," she added. "I just hate to feel forced into anything."

"I understand." Gabriel spoke softly, apparently a bit glad that she didn't go off on him or anything. "Please, do not think I'm forcing you into anything. As I said, whether you want to hang out or not you still get the afternoon off." He took a drink of his glass of coke with a lemon slice before continuing. "I know it must look pretty bad, me just popping up like this. But that's the kind of guy I am, impulsive to a fault. You really seemed like a very cool nova to come meet, so here I am. Incidentally, you're the first one I've met."

The waitress finally approached. "Sorry abou..." Before she could finish her sentence her gaze was locked on Gabriel, instantly enamored by his quantum enhanced looks. Oddly, she just seemed to stand there, transfixed and completely enraptured by his presence.

"I hope you aren't expecting me to act like that," Balm observed quietly as Gabriel cleared his throat, capturing the waitress' attention. He probably got that a lot, and for some reason, it vaguely irritated her. Rapture induced some strange reactions in novas, priming their need for recognition and worship - or so one documentary on quantum-enhanced beautiful people said.

God knew that her enhanced charisma did odd things to people. She made friends as easily as breathing when she chose to - which was rare. Balm felt it was a misuse of her abilities. Maybe she was just the freak around here.

"So I'm your first nova. I think I'm flattered." This time, it sounded sincere.

Gabriel chuckled. "Well, I hope so. So far I'm striking out here." He winked politely at Balm. "The roses got me rained on."

"Are you two ready order?" the waitress asked, trying in a futile effort to not look at Gabriel.

"A Club Sandwich and a coke, please." Ordered Balm, and the waitress quickly jotted it down.

She, while not thinking, looked at Gabriel to get his order. "A roasted chicken salad, and a refill." Blankly the waitress just stared at him.

"You know, I get this every time I go out to eat lately." He said to Balm, taking a chance to make a joke at the waitresses’ expense. "Do I have something on my teeth?"

Realizing she was staring again, the embarrassed waitress walked off to place their order. Gabriel chuckled visibly to himself. "What's with people lately? If they aren’t ogling at me they're handing me phone numbers or asking me out. It's crazy."

Balm stared at him for a moment, her eyes flashing the pale blue of surprise and a hint of irritation. "You're literally one of the best-looking novas on this planet, and you're wondering why people are going ga-ga over you?" she said softly, shaking her head.

"I am?" he asked, slightly shocked. "Well, thanks. You know, flattery will get everywhere." He looked around, apparently slightly embarrassed. "I have to admit, you’re quite the beauty yourself."

His hand played with the little fern in the vase that made up the small centerpiece on the table. "You know, a few people have told me that, but honestly, I haven't noticed. I still look and feel like... well... me." He shrugged slightly as he said that. "However, I would have been ecstatic if I gained Weather Control powers, that's so cool. I'd screw with the Gardner all day." His grin got about as wide as it could get. "How- how do you do that, anyway?"

"Something to do with electromagnetic energy," Balm said with a shrug of her shoulders. "I can only alter the weather on a small scale compared to Splash, but I can travel along air currents and fly using air flows."

It took a few moments of silence before she addressed the first part of his statement. "That's kind of you, but I was telling the plain truth."

"As was I." He kept his perplexed expression from floating to the surface. "You are quite lovely, and I hope you would never allow any to tell you any different, your self included."

The waitress walked by the table and set their drinks down for them, taking Gabriel's empty glass as well. Within a moment, she was back on her way, in quite a rush this time the two novas noticed.

"The moment you doubt yourself is the very moment your world crumbles around you." He said very plainly. "My father told me that once. He always knew the right advice to give. So now, I give it to you." His attitude was pleasant to the point of nauseating. For a spoiled rich kid he sure wasn't acting like one.

"How wise of your father. Unfortunately, self-doubt isn't the only thing which can make your world crumble around you," Balm pointed out. "I'm pretty sure you know the background I come from, if you've been following my story. I'm still getting on my feet with how life has changed."

She sighed. "I'm sorry."

"No, please, go on." Gabriel said, leaning into the table with interest. "I admit, while I may have seen you on N! a few times, I know very little about you. My whole reason for coming her was to meet you, and get to know you." His eyes were almost hypnotic, like a living pool of blue, very similar to Balm's, just not quite as active. Gabe's eruption had made all of his physical features seem more 'live'.

"I'm an open book, if it would help you feel more comfortable by asking me a few things fisrt, by all means, I'll spill my all to you." His charming smile warned her that he was indeed telling the truth, and more than willing to help break the ice by sharing personal details about him first.

Balm sighed.

"Australia's been in a critical drought for about eight years now. I'm from the Western Downs in Queensland, from a little place called Roma. It's little more than a dust bowl, even if I filled the dams before I came over here. My father was dying from cancer and I had to leave my internship in the UN to work on the farm. My father's death was the first blow. Second was the depression. The last was the fire which destroyed the wheat crop in the silo. I erupted with the ability to solve all my problems in one shot."

She shook her head. "So. That's my story. They tend to play up both the farmgirl and the UN internship in the media. What's yours?"

With an unmasked interest Gabriel took in her every word, keeping his deep blue eyes locked on hers the entire time. His reverie was shattered when she returned his question back on him. "Mine? Oh, well... not much to it really." He waved his hands to the side, as if to shrug but with out the use of his shoulders. "By now, most people know me. I'm the spoiled little rich kid who inherited Law Enterprises."

His expression grew heavy with the memories attached to his next words. "My parents, Alex and Denise Law, they passed away last year, car accident. Leaving all they own to me, their sole heir." He shrugged, this time using his shoulders. "I don’t know, it all seems like an empty gain. All I want is my family back, ya know?" Gabriel met her gaze, keeping the same somber tone in his voice. "The media makes me out to be this great power player in the world of business, but really, I'm not. I don't even like working." He chuckled slightly.

His voice trailed off slightly, still speaking with Balm, but in a sort of way he was almost speaking over her shoulder. "What good is it to gain the world, yet lose your own soul in process..."

"Losing your family's a bitch," Balm agreed softly. "My mother couldn't handle life in Roma, so she took off with another bloke and sent divorce papers a year later."

Her lips twisted into a sardonic smile ill-suited to her sweet face. "Imagine my surprise to hear from her again now I was a nova. Have you had that problem?"

"Honestly, no. My parents were really the only family I had. I have a few cousins, and what not like everyone else, but so far none have called." His shrug told her that possibally one or to may have, but it was nothing he felt was worth a mention.

The young, and rather atractive, waitress returned tabelside with their lunch as the two novas continued their parley. "Club Sandwich." She stated as she set the meal in front of Balm. "And, roast chicken salad." Gabe sat back so she could set down the plate. "If you two need anything else, just gimme a wave, kay?" She said pleasently, staring dreamily at Gabe as she skipped off.

He picked up his fork, and stired his salad. He chuckled at the waitress’s behavior towards him. Glancing over Balm's expression towards the giddy young gal was, and he was noticing a distinct pattern, rather sardonic. "You don't smile alot, do you?" He asked. "Not even in your pictures, you grin, but it's not genuine. Why?"

"I'm still adjusting to life in the public eye," Balm answered smoothly, neither confirming nor denying that she liked it.

She turned to her sandwich, eating half of it in neat, precise bites, white teeth gleaming. Gabe sure asked a lot of questions, and some of them were none of his business, she decided. When this was over, she was going to have a few words to her superiors.

Smothering his salad in mroe dressing than was possibly healthy the Adonis of nova-kind speared it, taking in bite after bite. "So," he asked, finishing a mouthful. "After lunch, what would you like to do? I've never been here bofore but I have a full tank of petrol and I'm dying to see some sights."

Balm shrugged as she continued to eat, pausing between mouthfuls to say, "I was expecting to be in quantum physics, speech and history and geography classes today, so I don't know what to do."

Juan was going to be furious when he found out about the 'date', even if Gabe had gone around and arranged it through PR. Things were... tentative between them, and Obsidian had a possessive streak; he felt she 'belonged' to him because she had taken the name he'd given her. She wasn't even sure if it was sexual, or just a guy thing.

"Well, there is the Holy Trinity Cathedral." He dabbed his lips with a napkin before continueing. "I heard it's lovely. Might be fun."

Balm's expression wasn't much in the way of enthusiastic. For the life of him he couldn't figure out what he was doing wrong, why wouldn't she just lighten up and give him a chance? "Balm, could you please at least try to have some fun today? Lighten up a bit. I'm trying my hardest here and all it looks like is that I'm boring you to tears.

[Impulsively Gabriel has used 'Persuader'. Since he is not very familiar with his own abilities yet, he's not aware his words can/could/would have any affect on her]

Balm put down her sandwich, eyes transforming into a steel-grey like stormclouds. The air around her palpably eddied as her quantum unsettled the oxygen molecules, revealing her lack of control over her powers. For a woman with a sweet face, Janet Robinson was looking decidedly pissed as she exerted mental strength to resist the persuasiveness of his voice.

"I think it's you who doesn't understand, Mr. Law. I turn you down at least twice on the OpNet, then you come up here and arrange something through PR to take me away from studies I desperately need because you feel I need some time off. While the thought is gratifying and appreciated, has it ever occurred to you that there might be someone already in my life whom I'm beginning to care about, that I might not want the day off, and that not everyone who you meet might be panting to get into your bed?"

"My apologies." He folded his napkin and set it neatly down at the side of his large salad bowl. "It would appear my intentions were misread. I arrived here only to meet a kindred soul, a new nova like myself in hopes that perhaps it would be the first steps in learning more about what we are." He set his plate away from himself. "I have wasted your time, and intruded on your studies. This was a bad idea, and I pray you can forgive me. I assure you however, my bed was never even an option with this meeting and it's a rather sharp cut to know your opinion of me is that low."

Gabriel stood up from the table. "I hope all goes well for you, with your training, your studies, and your life. Good day." With a polite bow of his head Gabriel left Balm to finish her lunch in peace and quiet and began to walk to the elevators that would lead him out and to his car. Balm was quite lovely but so was The Holy Trinity Cathedral.

Balm watched Gabriel leave and sighed. Well, it seemed she needed more work on the public relations front, but she was not going to apologise. There were other novas he could have chosen to hung out with, who would have appreciated (and had the time for) the company and would have been happy to bend over backwards for him. She wasn't one of them, however.

She reached into the pocket of her outfit and got her mobile phone, calling up her handlers. "Cancel whatever free time I got off thanks to Gabriel Law. He just got me out because he figured I needed 'time off'. I have speech, quantum physics and cultural sensitivity lessons to do, not running around and showing some rich kid, however cute he is, the sights."

Not two minutes after she hung up, the phone rang. When she answered it, there was no surprise in discovering it was her PR officer. "Janet, what the hell were you thinking? He's a CEO - "

"He wasted his time and money coming to meet a nova who expressed no interest in meeting him in the first place," Balm interrupted as she lifted off, floating through the air on a current of wind. "Gabriel Law might be a good singer and cute guy, but he hasn't got a bloody clue when it comes to people. I know PR is part of this job, but he came around under false pretences in my eyes. He thought he was doing me a favour... But the thing is, I don't have time for favours, and even less time for someone who thinks he knows me."

"Pax won't be thrilled about this," the PR officer warned.

"No, but Juan will be," Janet answered softly, and hung up. She didn't need this crap, not before a lesson.

So a small part of herself was kicking itself at turning him down, for whatever reason he was here. So he was one of the cutest guys on the planet.

So the skies, still cloudy from her photoshoot, started to weep rain. It wouldn't change her course.