[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/7bkbXx5.png[/img][/center]

The technician -- Jefferson Boone, as he had introduced himself -- grimaced as he took a sip of his coffee. [color=FF4500]"That is [i]not[/i] warm,"[/color] he lamented, scrunching up his face. Seated across the booth from April, he slid the cup to the side and leaned forward on his elbows. [color=FF4500]"So, you were... floating?"[/color] He scratched his chin. [color=FF4500]"I suppose if you were somehow able to manipulate your personal electromagnetic field, that [i]would[/i] produce an effect not all that dissimilar from lift..."[/color]

They had gone to a diner down the street from the Chronicle to talk. When they walked in, April had every intention of playing it coy, but Jefferson already knew [i]something[/i], and besides: if she were being honest with herself, April was dying to talk to someone else about this. So far, the science of it all was a little over her head, but she had managed to follow the gist of Jefferson's babbling. Nodding, she asked, [color=ADFF2F]"Okay, well, what about the shower?"[/color]

[color=FF4500]"Oh, that's easy,"[/color] Jefferson replied, almost dismissively, [color=FF4500]"Radiation!"[/color] Just then, the waitress returned with their order -- or rather, [i]his[/i] order, as April had been somewhat less interested in eating right that second. Wasting no time, Jefferson speared some greasy eggs with a fork and shoveled them into his mouth, continuing, [color=FF4500]"See, when the reactor exploded, you took the brunt of the blast. And the way I figure it, your body soaked up so much of that radiation that you're slowly bleeding it off, y'know?"[/color]

April's eyes got big. "Bleeding off" radiation didn't sound like something to be taken so lightly. [color=ADFF2F]"So you're saying I can't control it?"[/color] she asked, worrying her bottom lip.

Jefferson thought a moment, then gestured his fork in her direction. [color=FF4500]"Not necessarily! After all, let's look at the evidence,"[/color] he suggested. Setting down the fork, he started counting off fingers. [color=FF4500]"When the roof started to cave in, you instinctively protected yourself; and that's when the radiation shield went up! And then this morning, you wanted hot water, and bam! There it was."[/color] He picked up the fork again and concluded, [color=FF4500]"I think you're [i]already[/i] controlling it, just... subconsciously."[/color]

April considered that. It made some amount of sense, she supposed. After all, she had somehow managed to avoid going Lite-Brite in public; if she could actively suppress it, who's to say that she couldn't also activate it? Reaching across the table, she wrapped a hand around Jefferson's disregarded coffee mug. Furrowing her brow, she concentrated all her energy into thinking about making the coffee hot. Sure enough, after a moment or two, her hand radiated bright green, and the liquid inside the cup began to bubble and boil over.

Jefferson took the mug from her as her hand powered down. Steam rose above the rim. Amused, Jefferson picked up the cup and said, [color=FF4500]"Thanks,"[/color] before taking a sip. For her part, April covered her hand and looked around to be sure that no one had seen the light show.

[color=ADFF2F]"Hang on,"[/color] April began, realizing something, [color=ADFF2F]"If I'm producing all this radiation, couldn't that be dangerous?"[/color] She thought back to Vance saying that the fusion reactor was no more dangerous than an x-ray, but they were [i]clearly[/i] past x-ray territory at this point.

Jefferson opened his mouth and let the coffee dribble back into the mug. Wiping his lips, he replied, [color=FF4500]"Good point. We should really run some tests as soon as possible, for the safety of yourself and others."[/color] As he said that, he gave a sideways glance to the cup of coffee and pushed it to the far end of the table. [color=FF4500]"I think I can get us some private laboratory time after hours. I'm assuming you [i]do[/i] want to keep this quiet?"[/color]

April nodded. The idea of keeping secrets brought another thought to mind. [color=ADFF2F]"Actually, while we're talking, there may be something you can do for me,"[/color] she explained. She turned to open her purse, fishing out the flash drive from the day before. Surreptitiously, she slid it across the booth. [color=ADFF2F]"While I was at Zenith, I was investigating another lead. The files are all encrypted, but do you think you could... ?"[/color]

Jefferson smiled. [color=FF4500]"Are you kidding? You're talking to Century City Prep's former programming club president and one-time anarchist hacker extraordinaire! The school administration never did figure out who rewrote Mr. Takimari's gradebook to give everyone in his class an A."[/color] April couldn't help but give an uncertain grin at his stunning display of geek bravado. He picked up the flash drive when a thought occurred. [color=FF4500]"Wait, what are the odds this gets me in trouble at work?"[/color]

[color=ADFF2F]"Mid to high, probably,"[/color] April admitted while digging through her purse. [color=ADFF2F]"Listen, I want to get to the bottom of this -- I [i]really[/i] do -- but I'm already on thin ice at work, so I need to get back before my boss notices I'm gone,"[/color] she explained. Finally finding what she was looking for, she produced a business card and handed it to Jefferson. [color=ADFF2F]"That has my contact information. As soon as you can get something set up with the lab, let me know, okay?"[/color] She gathered her things and shuffled out of the booth.

When the waitress came over to check on Jefferson, he offered her the coffee mug and asked, [color=FF4500]"Could I trouble you for a new cup? Thank you!"[/color]

[center]-----[/center]

Later, at McCaffrey's, April brought Daisy up to speed on the day's events... though she saw fit to leave out all the parts involving Jefferson and the strange happenings of that morning. It wasn't like her to keep something from her best friend, but April didn't want to cause a panic; besides, with any luck, Jefferson would devise a way to drain April of the leftover radiation, and that would be the end of it. No need to dwell on the problem any more than absolutely necessary.

[color=FFF000]"Well, at least you're not fired, right?"[/color] Daisy asked with uncertain optimism.

[color=ADFF2F]"No,"[/color] April sighed, [color=ADFF2F]"but I have been sentenced to copy editing duties for the foreseeable future."[/color] She grimaced at the thought of spending hours poring over other people's writing, trying to find typos and grammatical errors. Mickey had told her that if she was so gung-ho to become a writer, she had better familiarize herself with what good writing looked like. The implied jab at her own failed article hadn't gone unmissed. Sinking her head into her hands, April picked up a bar menu and perused it half-heartedly. [color=ADFF2F]"I just want to eat my feelings."[/color]

Daisy nodded. [color=FFF000]"Sounds like I need to order us some nachos?"[/color] she suggested, to which April offered a hopeful grin. Daisy smiled back, said, [color=FFF000]"Hang tight,"[/color] and shuffled out of the booth.

Once Daisy was gone, April could see into the next booth over, where Luke currently sat. With a ratty wash towel slung over one shoulder, he hunched over a notebook, making frantic scribbles with his pencil. April's curiosity got the better of her, and she found herself rising to go investigate. As she drew nearer, she saw that he was working on a drawing of sorts. He was so focused that April wasn't sure he had heard her approach, so she spoke softly when she asked, [color=ADFF2F]"What are you working on?"[/color]

Without looking up, Luke gently smiled. [color=4682B4]"Homework,"[/color] he laughed. He set down his pencil and picked up an eraser. As he rubbed away the offending mark, he explained, [color=4682B4]"I've been auditing design classes at UCC in my free time."[/color] Having erased the page to his satisfaction, Luke brushed away the shavings and spun the notebook so that April could see. [color=4682B4]"Have a look."[/color]

Adjusting her glasses, April leaned forward to examine the page. There, Luke had drawn a stunningly realistic mockup of an interior space. The most striking feature were the large, wooden beams which framed the ceiling. After a moment, April realized that she recognized the space. [color=ADFF2F]"Is this... McCaffrey's?"[/color] Sure enough, Luke had completely redesigned the bar's interior, giving it a stylish, rustic feel. Shaking her head in disbelief, April gasped, [color=ADFF2F]"This is incredible."[/color]

As she turned her head to look at Luke, April realized that this was the closest -- physically -- the two had ever been. Beginning to turn beet red, she quickly looked away and straightened to her full height. For his part, Luke seemed completely unfazed; he turned the notebook back around as he brushed the bangs from his face. Shrugging at his own work, he said, [color=4682B4]"It's just an exercise. How I would've done it if I built this place."[/color]

April smiled at his humility. Furrowing her brow briefly, she asked the next question on her mind. [color=ADFF2F]"So, wait, are you a student?"[/color] She was sure that Luke was at least a year or two older than she was.

[color=4682B4]"Not anymore,"[/color] he answered, leaning back in the booth. He twiddled the pencil between his forefingers as he explained, [color=4682B4]"I mean, I got an Associate degree a while back, but I had to drop out before finishing the Bachelor's. I always meant to go back and finish, but then..."[/color] As he trailed off, he offered a wistful smile. [color=4682B4]"Well, you know how life can be."[/color]

April nodded. Taking another glance at his drawing, she suggested, [color=ADFF2F]"I think maybe it's time you got around to it. You've clearly got talent!"[/color]

Luke looked less than confident. Tapping the end of his pencil against the paper, he worried his bottom lip. [color=4682B4]"I don't know,"[/color] he admitted, [color=4682B4]"Something tells me that 'college dropout bartender' wouldn't turn heads at the UCC admissions office."[/color]

Hearing him put himself down brought a frown to April's face. [color=ADFF2F]"Hey, you don't know until you try, right? After all, I shouldn't be the only one around here leaping before I look."[/color] He grinned at that, and April returned the gesture. Looking up, she saw Daisy returning to the booth with a veritable mountain of nachos. Daisy gave her a knowing look. [color=ADFF2F]"I've got to go help Daisy demolish that plate of nachos, but I want you to promise me that you'll think about it, okay?"[/color]

Luke looked her in the eye and thought a moment. [color=4682B4]"Alright, I'll think about it,"[/color] he conceded. That made April smile wide. As he turned his attention back to his drawing, she began to walk away. [color=4682B4]"And April?"[/color] His callout made her look back. [color=4682B4]"Thanks."[/color]

She offered a kind look. [color=ADFF2F]"Anytime."[/color]