Message-ID: <17279eli$9811170437@qz.little-neck.ny.us>
X-Archived-At: <URL:http://www.qz.to/erotica/assm/Year98/17279.txt>
From: J R D <jrdss@micronet.net>
Subject: Change of Power (lots of fiction, romance) [6/14]
Newsgroups: alt.sex.stories.moderated,alt.sex.stories
Followup-To: alt.sex.stories.d
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Path: qz!not-for-mail
Organization: The Committee To Thwart Spam
Approved: <usenet-approval@qz.little-neck.ny.us>
X-Moderator-Contact: Eli the Bearded <story-admin@qz.little-neck.ny.us>
X-Story-Submission: <story-submit@qz.little-neck.ny.us>
X-Original-Message-Id: <v04003a06b276b6455af4@[206.96.52.91]>

Change of Power pt 6

Now, onto the boring stuff

-------------------------

DISCLAIMERS

-------------------------

This story contains scenes of an erotic and/or controversial nature, and is
not intended for the perusal of minors.  Further if perusal of such
material is considered illegal in your area or immoral by your religion or
personal beliefs, you should likewise bypass this story.

This story remains the property of the author.  Permission is granted to
download, photocopy, copy and repost so long as any such action contains
these disclaimers, and no attempt is made to profit from this story.

All characters in this story are the creation of the author, and any
resemblance to real persons, alive or dead, are purely coincidental.

This story may contain aspects of fantastic science or magic.  The
parameters of what this science/magic can accomplish are completely at the
discretion of me, the author, and, as such, I make no apologies for any
rules of "real" physics, chemistry, biology, or magic that may be broken
within the story.

-------------------------

Now onto the fun stuff

-------------------------

CHANGE OF POWER pt 6

That Saturday, Nita walked into the campus center.  She had her Sociology
books as well as some computer books.  Jack was taking the same computer
class, but at a different time (as she had planned, too many classes
together would've been way too suspicious).  She looked around and saw Jack
waiting at a table.  She walked up to him, and said, "Hi, sorry I'm late."

"Only a few minutes, no big deal."

"Yeah, but with all this running around with new classes, I seem to be late
for everything."

"Just relax.  Take it one day at a time.  But it does bring up an
interesting question."

"What's that?"

"Why not just wait till next semester?  I mean I know you've only lost a
couple weeks, but it's not like high school, where you HAVE to attend."

"Well, I'm not really a patient woman.  I'd rather try to catch up a couple
weeks then wait 4 months for next semester."

"Me, I'd wait, but to each his, or her, own."

They then got down to work, Jack helping Nita with the lessons she missed.
And Nita had to admit he was a good instructor.  She probably had learned
more from him than from the classes' regular teachers.

Once they finished, Jack offered to escort her home.  She tried to beg off,
but he insisted.  They walked back to her place, with him holding her arm
in his like a true gentleman.  She was going to say good-bye at the door,
but as soon as she opened the door, Nita heard Lani crying and her mother's
instincts took over.  She rushed inside to Lani's room.  Lisa, one of the
Sisters who Bronwyn had confided in before starting as Nita, was attempting
to rock the baby to sleep, but the baby seemed to want none of it.

Nita took the baby, but Lani was just as resistant to being soothed by her
as by Lisa.  Nita was about to try to use her magic, at least to attempt to
find out what was wrong if not solve it, when she heard Jack ask, "May I
try?"

Nita was a little shocked, but she finally said, "Okay," and handed the
baby to him.  He took Lani and held her close, gently humming and massaging
her back.  After only a few seconds, Lani settled down and started cooing
happily.  After a few minutes, Lani settled down and fell asleep in his
arms.

Jack gently placed the baby in her crib.  "She's got a touch of colic, but
she should be okay."

Nita asked, "How did you get her to settle down?"

"A massage technique I learned from an acupressure specialist.  It'll let
her sleep comfortably for the next three or four hours.  By the way, I
don't think we've been introduced," he said, extending his hand to Lisa.

"Oh, sorry," Lisa said, "Jack, this is my... mom, Lisa.  Mom, this is my
tutor, Jack."

Picking up on her role, Lisa said, "Tutor, huh?  He seems too cute to be
just a tutor."

Jack grinned as Nita said, half growling, half imploring, "Mother."

Jack said, "Believe it or not, we're just friends.  See you in class on
Monday, Nita."

"See ya then."  After Jack left, Nita slugged Lisa in the arm.  "You're a
stinker."

Lisa grinned widely.  "Sorry, couldn't resist.  So that's the guy who took
Jacqui's place?  Seems nice enough."

"I know, but we can't be sure that it's because he's really that nice or
because he's being Jack."

"Well, anybody that good with a baby can't be all bad.  And he is a cutie."

"Correction.  Jack is a cutie.  We have no idea what this guy really looks
like.  But the weirdest thing is I still can't get over the feeling that I
know this guy."

"Lingering effect from his resemblance to Jack?"

"No, that's not it."

The phone rang and Nita picked it up.  After a quick discussion with the
person on the other end, she set the receiver down, visibly shaken.  Lisa
asked, "What's wrong?"

"One of the Sisters was attacked in New York.  At first she thought it was
just a mugging, but just to be sure, she scanned the mind of the man after
she stunned him.  It seems he was a mercenary hired to attack her.  He
didn't know about her status as a Sister, but I don't like this."

"Another faction of the Brotherhood?"

"I hope not.  If they're up to another direct confrontation so soon after
our last confrontation, it means they're a lot stronger than we expected."

************

Excerpt from the journal of Miss Jacqui Donovan, Vol. II

Day 24

Oh, Bronwyn, mom, how could you?  I finally got Marcus alone, and asked him
why he was avoiding me.  He said he wasn't sure he loved me any more.  He
said he wasn't sure he ever loved me.  I nearly broke down in tears, but
managed to ask why.  He said, oh, goddess I can't even write it.

Bronwyn, mom, how could you?

************

Bronwyn, in her regular form, and Laurie were discussing the recent attacks
on the Sisterhood.  In the last two weeks, seven Sisters had been attacked
by mercenary soldiers.  But Laurie was distracted and irritable, and
finally Bronwyn commented on it.  "What's wrong, hun?  You've been snapping
at me all evening."

"I don't know.  I've been on edge for the last few weeks, but today it's
been like a toothache pain, and I don't know why."

"Is it," Bronwyn nodded towards the inside of the house, implying it was Jack.

"No, it's not him.  At least I don't think it is."

"Then what?"

Laurie, frustrated, said, "I don't know!"

Jack entered the room.  He grabbed some apples out of the bowl of fruit on
the table and started juggling them.  "Good evening, ladies."

Bronwyn, in a cold tone that she took when in her regular form, said, "Good
evening, Jack," but Laurie just grumbled a bit.

Without even slowing the fruit in mid-air, Jack looked at Laurie for a
while.  Finally, he said, "Your link is stronger than I thought."

Laurie demanded, "What does that mean?"

"Your link with your daughter.  She's been having some pretty bad problems
recently, and that apparently has been leaking through.  That's why you've
been so irritable recently."

"Problems?!  What kind of problems?!"

"Problems with Marcus."

Bronwyn asked, "Her dead boyfriend?"

"Not quite so dead anymore."

"You brought him back to life?!"

"Not exactly.  He brought himself back.  Not everybody who enters our ranks
used magic before their Awakening.  In fact, most didn't.  For a few, the
experience that gives them their power is a death experience."

Laurie said, "Marcus... is alive?"  Jack nodded.  "But why the problem?
Jacqui should be happy that Marcus is alive."

"She was.  It's Marcus who wasn't happy after he came back.  He pushed
Jacqui away, and that hurt her."

"But why?  I thought Marcus loved Jacqui."

"He did.  Probably still does."

"Then why the problem?"

Jack considered it, deciding whether or not to explain.  Finally, he said,
"The problem is what you two did to him."

Angry, Bronwyn said, "What's that supposed to mean?"

Jack sighed.  "Look, don't get me wrong.  I understand why you did what you
did.  I don't agree with it, but I do understand it."

"What did we do?!"

"You manipulated him.  Mentally and physically.  And when he died, those
spells ended and started falling apart.  When he returned from beyond the
veil, all he knew was that he had been manipulated, not why."

Laurie said, "But we only did it to protect Jacqui!"

Jack sighed again.  "Look, I said I understood.  But let's face facts,
manipulation to a woman is like fighting to a man.  It comes far too easily
and, with most, is used far too often.  Like fighting, if it's used to keep
others from forcing their viewpoints on others, or to defend a viewpoint,
then it's justified.  But if it's used to enforce a viewpoint, it'd be like
me popping someone in the nose for not agreeing with me."

"But we were only trying to protect Jacqui."

"Uh, not wanting to harp too much on this, but you were also trying to
manipulate Jacqui into accepting her femininity.  That's why you gave
Marcus a sexual skill far beyond his normal abilities for her de-flowering."

Laurie and Bronwyn got guilty looks on their faces.  Then Bronwyn asked,
"Wait a minute.  How did you know what we did?"

"The spell was reconstructed to see what it was."

"Why didn't you tell Marcus?"

"Because right now Marcus is doubting Jacqui with both his heart and his
head.  Telling him about the spell will only fix the problem in his head,
not his heart, and that is where the important fixes have to be made.
Marcus has to know, in his heart, that he loves Jacqui despite what you did
to him, or it'll always come between them."  Jack tossed an apple, which he
had kept in motion throughout the conversation, to each of the ladies.
"Something to think about," he said as he took a bite of the remaining
apple in his hand.

As he walked from the room, he told Laurie, "If you're feeling this bad,
Jacqui must be in pretty bad shape.  I'd suggest you take some time to
meditate and send her some good feelings.  High emotional stress can't be
good for the baby," and left.

Laurie got up.  "Uhm, excuse me, I've got to... uh..."

Bronwyn said, "You've got to go take his suggestion.  Go ahead, your
daughter needs you."

Laurie ran upstairs, and Bronwyn looked at her watch.  She had to get home
anyways.  She had a big project due in her computer programming class, and
she and Jack were getting together tomorrow to work on it.

************

Excerpt from the journal of Miss Jacqui Donovan, Vol. II

Day 25

I don't know what it is, but this morning I woke up a lot calmer than last
night.  I had the feeling of mom being there with me.  I miss her.  I was
still kind of depressed since Marcus told me he wasn't sure he ever loved
me (it still chokes me up to remember it), but at least I felt up to facing
the world.

You know, it really just sunk in.  Even if I finish training in record
time, mom isn't going to be here to help me with the birth of my child.

The good news is, I met a friend.  She's not mom, but she is someone to
talk to.  I was in the garden after a morning lecture.  Actually, calling
it a garden is a bit of an understatement.  It's more like a park.

Anyways, I was walking through the park, looking for a place where I could
crawl up and hide from the world.  A place where I could cry my eyes out
and no one would notice.  I thought I found it when I found this almost
overgrown path.  It led to a secluded little grove.  I thought I was all
alone, when I heard this light whistling.  I looked around and saw this
innocuous looking old woman sitting on a log.  She had her hand in front of
her face, and perched on it was a small bird.  The lady and the bird seemed
to be whistling to each other, and I got the impression they were talking.

But when I got too close, the birdie got startled and flew away.  The woman
turned and saw me.  She said, "Oh, hello.  Don't get many visitors to this
part of my garden.  Come sit with me," and patted the log beside her.

I walked up to her.  Before I sat down, I asked, "Your garden?"

She smiled a sweet, innocent smile.  "Well, I know that I don't really own
the garden, but so few people get out this deep I just started thinking of
it as my garden.  An old woman's harmless folly."

She seemed so nice and kind that I just couldn't help but smile.  I sat
down beside her.  She asked, "So what problems bring you to dear old
granny?"

"Problems?  What makes you think I have problems?"

"Dearie, I may not be one of the magi here, but what kind of grandmother
would I be if I didn't see the creases on your brow, and the sadness in
your eyes?  Besides, the only people that seem to find dear ol' granny are
those that need help."

"That must get annoying."

"You're dodging the issue, dearie.  Come on.  What's the problem?"

I don't know what it was, but I found myself pouring my heart out to
granny.  I started with mom's transformation of me into Jacqui and told her
everything up to Marcus's confessions of the day before.

Finally granny said, "It saddens me to see that the Sisterhood is still
manipulating their children that way.  But I suppose they have set it up so
they don't have any choice."

"Still?  What do you mean?"

"Haven't you checked the base archives on information about the Sisterhood?
Most of the archive is off limits to you as an apprentice, but what you
need to know isn't.  But that's not the real problem here, is it?"

"No.  What am I going to do about Marcus?"

"Nothing."

"But-"

"No, dearie, no buts.  Marcus's problem is that he has been manipulated by
your mother and her friend.  Let him know how you feel.  Let him know that
you're sorry for what was done to him.  Anything more and he may interpret
it as an attempt to manipulate him."

"Great.  All the power mom says I had before, all the power I've got now,
and my best course of action is to do nothing."

"Dearie, here's the thing about power.  The greatest responsibility in
having power is in knowing when not to use it.  Learn that lesson, and
you'll be heads and tails above the rest of the Sisterhood."

I then thanked granny, and got up to leave.  Before I left, she said,
"Dearie, if you ever need someone to talk to, you come looking and granny
will be here."

Somehow it feels good to know that granny is out there for me.

************

Laurie sat at the table, reviewing the records she had of the Sisters who
had decided to return to being men.  Her records were by no means complete
(Bronwyn was the only one who had access to all the records, and Laurie
felt there was no way she was going to help with this), but there was
enough to get an idea of what Jack had meant with his clue.  It was subtle
and Laurie was lucky that Jacqui's despair had subsided a week ago, or she
would've missed it entirely.

Jack came in from one of his study dates with that girl.  "Good evening,
mother-darling."

"Evening.  Jack?"

"Yes?"

"Can we talk about your clue?"

"Sure, just let me get a soda.  Want anything?"

"No thanks."

Jack got a soda out of the fridge and sat down beside Laurie.  "Okay, shoot."

"I think I've got it figured out."

"Tell me what you've got and I'll tell you if you're right."

"Well, each Sister who returned to being a man had a power significantly
higher than their mother.  Most were considered serious losses to the
Sisterhood."

"That's it.  You got it."

"But what does it mean?"

"That, mother-dear, is for you to discover."

"If only I knew why Jacqui reacted as badly as she did."

"Wrong question."

"Huh?"

"Your next clue.  You're asking the wrong question."

"Care to be a little more vague?"

Jack smiled.  "When Jack originally became Jacqui, you tricked and
manipulated him.  You purposefully withheld vital information in order to
get the result you wanted.  He was hurt and betrayed.  Seems to me that his
reaction was perfectly normal."

"But... my mom tricked me, I didn't react like that.  A lot of Sisters,
most Sisters, were tricked and they didn't react like that."

"And that is the crux of your second clue."

"I still don't get it."

"When you do get it, then you will have solved a major step towards the
solution of your problem."  Laurie thought about it.  "Are we finished
yet?" he asked.

"Actually, I've got one other question."

"What's that?"

"When do I meet this girlfriend of yours?"

Jack laughed.  "She's not a girlfriend.  She's just a friend and study
partner."

"Yeah, right.  You think I don't notice the extra spring in your step when
you come home after seeing her?"

Jack laughed again.  "You're determined to play the role of mother here,
aren't you?"

"Can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen."

"Alright, already.  I'll talk to her and see what I can arrange."

"Thanks."

Jack went upstairs, and Laurie smiled after him.  He may not have been the
real thing, but it was nice to know that, after all she had done, she could
get along with someone who so closely resembled the real thing.

************

Nita sat in the library with Jack on their usual Saturday study session.
Although this man was easily her superior as far as the programming class
went, her own knowledge of human nature made her, once she had caught up,
his superior in their sociology class.  It was a small thing, but knowing
he wasn't perfect pleased her.

They finished up their study session, and Jack leaned back in his chair.
"Thanks.  I finally think I'm going to be ready for the test on Monday."

"Just returning the favor for your help in computer class.  Want to go to
the cafeteria for some snacks?"  It was almost ritual, as well as
unnecessary, the asking.  Ever since they had first started studying
together they usually went to the cafeteria afterwards.  Nita had started
it, figuring if they were relaxing over a cup of coffee, he might let
something slip.  It hadn't worked, but it had started a regular habit of
going to the cafeteria after they were finished.

Surprisingly, this time he said, "Naw, I'm not in the mood for candy bars
and chips.  Look, I know this little coffee shop near my house.  They've
got fresh muffins and great coffee.  Want to go?  My treat."

Nita stared at him.  Was he asking her for a date?  As always, she couldn't
read his face, but so what if he was?  Wasn't that what she was trying to
accomplish?  Trying to get her interested in him?  No, that wasn't right.
She was trying to get him interested in her.

Finally, she said, "Alright."

"Great."  He took her arm and escorted her to his car.  They drove for a
while until they stopped in front of his house.

"What are we doing here?" she asked.

"I've got to pick up some cash.  Besides, mom has been pushing me to meet
you for a little while.  You don't mind, do you?"

Actually, she did.  She had been avoiding just such a meeting because if
she and Laurie spent any time together in the same room, then Laurie would
be sure to see right through her disguise.  But there was no way she could
tell him that.  She said, "I guess I'm a little leery about meeting
parents."

"Don't worry about it.  I'm sure you two will get along great."

"I don't know."

"Look, if you're really that uncomfortable you can wait out here."

Nita briefly thought about it then decided against it.  If she stayed out
here that'd only make Laurie all the more suspicious and probably result in
her being actively probed by her friend.  "No, I guess I'd better bite the
bullet."

"Relax.  It's not like we're boyfriend and girlfriend."

"Right.  We're just friends.  Study buddies."

"Right."  Jack got out, went around, and opened the door for Nita.  They
both went inside.  Laurie was sitting at the table looking over something.
She quickly covered it up, but Nita recognized it as being some of the
records that Laurie had of other members of the Sisterhood.  "Mom, I'd like
you to meet Nita.  I'll leave you two to chat while I go upstairs for a
sec."

As Jack ran upstairs to his room, Laurie said, "Good afternoon."

"Afternoon, Miss Donovan."

Then Nita saw it.  The look on Laurie's face that said that she was
beginning to see through her illusion.  "Excuse me, have we met before?"

"I don't think so.  But we might have."

Then Nita felt a light probing of her mind.  Only a reading of her public
mind, but it was more than she wanted to reveal.  She instinctively threw
up her shields, realizing seconds after she had done it that that was
exactly the wrong thing to do.  She and Laurie had spent far too much time
in each other's minds not to know the feel of the other's magic on touch.
Laurie's eyes went buggy with rage, as Laurie mentally yelled, "Bronwyn!
Don't you dare shut me out!"

Whispering, Nita said, "Sorry."

Still projecting mentally, Laurie said, "How dare you!  I told you I didn't
want you interfering!"

Nita said, "No mindspeaking.  If he senses it, it'll blow my cover!"

Whispering, Laurie said, "I should blow your cover, anyways.  I am not
going to risk my daughter over you!"

"You can't do that.  We have no idea how this guy would react to the news.
He may take off anyways."

"All the more reason to confess now."

They heard Jack coming back down, and Nita said, "Just don't blow my cover.
Let me play this out.  Please, love, trust me."

"Alright, not this time.  But you WILL be here tomorrow, in your regular
form, so we can discuss this in detail."

Jack came into the room.  "Hello, ladies, have a nice discussion?"

Laurie put on her best smile and said, "Certainly, dear.  Your friend is a
lovely girl."

Jack took her arm and said, "I know."  They then left, leaving Laurie to
wonder how she was going to handle this.


----------

All comments, suggestions, etc. may be sent to me at jrdss@micronet.net



-- 
+----------------' Story submission `-+-' Moderator contact `--------------+
| <story-submit@qz.little-neck.ny.us> | <story-admin@qz.little-neck.ny.us> |
| Archive site +----------------------+--------------------+ Newsgroup FAQ |
<http://www.qz.to/erotica/assm/>----<http://www.qz.to/erotica/assm/faq.html>