Previous Post Adventures in Parodyverse: The Mysteries of Faite Part 1     Being a teenager wasn’t easy.     A loud bell rang, and the halls of St. Jude’s School flooded with a combination of private school students and live-on-campus students and orphans in familiar plaid skirts or black slacks and buttoned white shirts filled the halls.  The chattering sounds of footwear, conversation, and slamming of lockers echoed off the walls.     It was even more difficult being a teenager when you didn’t used to be one.  When you needed a cover to hide from the Carnifex.  And when you became used to it, and decided to live in this form for a while.  After all, high school wasn’t fun, but being a senior, it wasn’t far from being left behind.     Ã¢â‚¬Å“Late for class again, Destiny?”  one of St. Jude’s nun teachers caught her.     That was Faite’s little joke.  When the Hooded Hood asked her what she wanted her new family to call her, she chose that name.     Paradopolis was used to rather strange-looking teenagers and adults alike.  Nobody even seemed to notice that she had silver-white shimmering hair, and eyes an almost glowing blue, like the sea.  None of the adults, anyway.  Naturally, the other teenagers rejected her, so she spent the last few months of this prison called a school rebelling.     Faite always had the ability to change her surroundings in real time.  Sometimes she was an adult female, sometimes a spirit.  In this case, she became a teenager.  She was not a shape-changer, however - she could only change her own DNA, and the effects her power had over her appearance.  That meant she could only change age, and whether or not she affected the air around her, or whether or not her skin glowed and shined with spiritual power.     The parents, and going to school, was the Hooded Hood’s idea.  That way, no matter how similar she appeared to her old self, the Carnifex’ minions would never quite have put together the entire setting she was hiding within.     Faite smiled as a dark-haired Asian woman snuck up behind the nun and tapped her gently on the shoulder.  It was Chiaki Bushido, the Psychic Samurai.  As much as Faite meant to hide and keep her identity secret, Chiaki saw right through it.  But being so honorable, Chiaki kept that secret, too.     Ã¢â‚¬Å“Mind if I handle this?”  Chiaki asked the nun, who was in administration.  Chiaki was a teacher.     Ã¢â‚¬Å“Knock yourself out.”  the nun replied, rolling her eyes.  She was sick of dealing with the juvenile delinquent who constantly skipped classes and showed up late.     Ã¢â‚¬Å“Walk with me, please.”  Chiaki requested.     Faite nodded, and walked alongside the Samurai.     Ã¢â‚¬Å“Don’t you think it’s time you thought about resuming your previous life?”  Chiaki asked.  “You’re on the verge of not graduating.  Your...outside work...is interfering.”     Ã¢â‚¬Å“Maybe.”  Faite replied with a shrug.  She used to speak so properly, so last century.  Since she took up this identity, her vocabulary started to become more up to date.  “But I’m learning some things here.  About people.”     Chiaki led Faite into her classroom, which was empty, and she closed the door.  She didn’t have a class this period.  She walked over to her own desk and leaned against it, arms crossed.  Outside, a loud ring sounded, and the halls began to quiet down.     Ã¢â‚¬Å“I’m a little amused you’re still trying to balance the two lives.”  Chiaki said.     Ã¢â‚¬Å“What do you mean?”  Faite asked.  “I haven’t really done much.  Just a few maintenance things.”     Ã¢â‚¬Å“That’s not what I mean.”  Chiaki stared at the girl.  “I saw you checking on people.  People you should not be connected to right now.”     Ã¢â‚¬Å“The psychic thing again, eh?”  Faite asked.     Chiaki didn’t reply.  “I think it’s time you end the charade, Faite.  Re-establish yourself.  You have a couple months left of high school, that should be enough time.”     Ã¢â‚¬Å“I...I’ve kind of grown to like my new family.”  Faite admitted.     Ã¢â‚¬Å“I know.”  Chiaki replied.  “You don’t have to leave them.  Start leading a true dual life, it might be fun.  It’s what everyone else does here.”     Ã¢â‚¬Å“I get it.  Samurai and high school teacher.”  Faite noted.     Chiaki smiled.  “There you go.”  She turned around and wrote something quickly.  “Hall pass.  It’ll excuse you being late for your next class.”     Ã¢â‚¬Å“Thanks.”  Faite whispered.  She turned to leave.     Chiaki stopped her.  “One more thing.  I have to go away for a while.  The Lair Legion needs my help.”     Ã¢â‚¬Å“The Carnifex.”  Faite guessed.     The Samurai nodded once.  “So you must remain hidden.  But I won’t be here to guide you.  In fact, there’s a chance I won’t come back at all.”     Faite looked her in the eye, and promised, “You will.”     Chiaki smiled and accepted that as a promise from someone who could ‘see’ further than she could.  “Stay hidden until I return, then.”     Ã¢â‚¬Å“It’s funny that you’re protecting me.”  Faite said.  “If there’s anything I learned over the centuries, help can come from the most humble of places...and people.”     Ã¢â‚¬Å“That’s a little condescending, Faite.”  Chiaki scolded her.  “You’ve been watching us from the crow’s nest for far too long.  You’re among us now...behave like it.  Now go to class before I get in trouble, too.”     Ã¢â‚¬Å“I will.”  Faite replied.  She walked over to the door, and looked back at Chiaki, who was heading to her classroom office.  “You’re right...and I promise I will.” ---     That was several days ago.  Chiaki had been gone for quite some time, at first even the Lair Legion didn’t know where she was.  Faite knew, however, and though she could see just about every possible outcome, most of them were not good.  For the first time since she could remember, she felt worried.     And then, for the first time in centuries, she felt relieved.  All of those feelings felt new to her.  They were so dramatic.  They made her feel like she was starting to understand what it was like to be like everyone else.  She was no longer separated and distant, watching these people like they were some sort of lab experiment.  She felt for them, and along with them.     Faite felt genuinely happy when she realized that Chiaki was fine, albeit tired and hurt, and that she was home.     Surprisingly, taxicabs did go to St. Jude’s, and were willing to pick up students.  Faite wasn’t sure they would, since the grounds were secured, and it was a private school secluded on several acres, to provide distance from what was a dicey neighborhood surrounding the property.     Once she arrived outside, she was amused that it was a ghost taxi.  The driver was open-mouthed when she climbed into the back...at first.  But then the semi-transparent man was confused, like he wasn’t sure.     Ã¢â‚¬Å“I’m exactly who you think I am.”  Faite teased the driver.     Ã¢â‚¬Å“But...how?  I thought you were a myth.  And older.”     Ã¢â‚¬Å“I was older.  I’m not anymore,”  she explained.     Then the driver began shaking, and his eyes opened wide.  “I’m...not ready to go yet.”  he stammered.     Ã¢â‚¬Å“Go?”  the young Faite asked.     Ã¢â‚¬Å“I...I like it here.  That’s why I took a job with the Ghost Taxi Company.  I don’t want to go to the next life.  I...I have people to help.”     Faite leaned on the back of the seat, placing her crossed arms on top.  She reached out with one hand, and gently touched the man on the forehead with two fingers.  “Then you shall stay.”     There was a faint whispering in the car, like someone left a distant talk radio station playing, but then it faded into silence again.  All that remained was the sound of the engine running.     Ã¢â‚¬Å“That’s it?”  the driver asked.  “I...can stay?  Just like that?”     Ã¢â‚¬Å“As long as you wish.”  Faite looked out the window, and was amused again.  These ghost cabs would sometimes take dimensional shortcuts - it was already at the Lair Mansion.     Ã¢â‚¬Å“The ride’s on me.”  the driver said.  “For all your help and kindness.”     Ã¢â‚¬Å“Thank you.”  Faite responded.  She reached forward and shook the man’s hand before exiting the cab.  It felt good, to interact with regular people, and to care about them.     As she approached the Lair Mansion, the stunulators activated, but then fell silent immediately.  Then she was stopped by Sergeant McHarridon, the Detonator Hippo in charge of security.     Ã¢â‚¬Å“Aye, I kinna let a wee lass like ye wander into the mansion unescorted.”  he said.  “Where are yer kin?”     Ã¢â‚¬Å“My name’s Faite.”  the girl told him.  “I’m on the guest list.”     The large kilted hippo pulled a piece of paper out of his waistband and read through it quickly.  “Well whatta ye know, ye are on th’ list!  Right this wey, wee lassie!”     The hippo then escorted her through the front door of the mansion.     Flapjack, the mansion’s butler and caretaker, stood slack-jawed in the entry hall.  Having previous contact with beings such as Faite, he recognized her immediately, even as a young girl.     Ã¢â‚¬Å“Would you like to taste some licorice?”  Flapjack leered.  He dug into the tights he wore instead of pants.     Ã¢â‚¬Å“No, thank you.”  Faite replied calmly, undisturbed by his crude behavior.  “I’m here to see the Psychic Samurai.”     Ã¢â‚¬Å“Right this--”  Flapjack started to say.  But as he started talking, Chiaki had arrived in the entry hall.     Ã¢â‚¬Å“She’s right here.”  Chiaki announced, purposely leaving it ambiguous whether she knew Faite was there or was merely in that location by accident.     That’s when Faite did something she hadn’t done in centuries - she hugged Chiaki.  She hadn’t done that in so long because she hadn’t felt the things she felt the last few days in quite a while.  She didn’t feel close to...anyone.     Lara Night has just arrived behind Chiaki.  The two of them had just returned from a faraway place, and were both in the Lair Mansion to tell their stories.  “Faite?  Is that you?  What happened to you?”     Ã¢â‚¬Å“Happened...?”  Faite asked.  Then she realized Lara meant her age and appearance.  “Oh!  The Hooded Hood thought I’d be harder to find this way.”     Ã¢â‚¬Å“Apparently he was right.”  Lara laughed.  “The Carnifex could have tripped over you and not recognized you.”     Ã¢â‚¬Å“I could have simply vanished for a while instead.”  Faite noted.  “But this seemed like a better idea, I could keep an eye on things.”  She narrowed her eyes and moved closer to Lara.  “You’ve been close to the Wonderwall.”     Chiaki looked at Lara too, wanting an explanation.     Ã¢â‚¬Å“Yes.”  Lara confirmed.  “I wasn’t ready for it, though.”     Faite gently held out her hand.  All of her skin and hair had begun to glow ever so slightly.  “Can I show you something?”     With a slight nod, Lara took her hand gently.     There was a fierce swirling of winds in the entrance hall of the Lair Mansion.  When it died down, Faite and Lara were gone. TO BE CONTINUED -- Story written and copyrighted (C) 2010 by Jason Froikin, and may not be  --    reprinted without permission.   -- Yuki Shiro designed by Jason Froikin, based on designs by Masamune Shirow --  Liu Xi Xian and the Psychic Samurai are original design by Jason Froikin --  Lara Night is an original creation by Jason Froikin

Definitely an interesting new direction to take.  I enjoy these kinds of stories where cosmic powers experience life from a more humble perspective.  It'll be interesting to see how lasting the effects of the experience end up being.