Activación de la coagulación y del endotelio

of migraines I’d had be- fore look like nothing. I took a few days off work, but things didn’t get any better. I didn’t have any- more time off, so I had to go back no matter how much it hurt. That lasted about two days before they sent me home.

I saw seven doctors in three days. Nothing. Seven doctors and nothing. The pain kept getting worse, to the point where one night my husband had to hold me while I thrashed around in the bathroom ei- ther screaming or barfing. Then the weird stuff started to happen. One day the headaches hit and I reached over for my pain- killers and they floated across the room into my hand. Floated, like they could fly on their own. And then that started to happen all the time. Any- thing I wanted to reach for would come floating to me. I had to start hiding it. I wasn’t a freak. I knew it would pass. It didn’t. The migraines started to get better, so I went back to work. And it got even worse. Now I started to hear what people were think- ing. Which really sucked, because not only did that mean I was a freak, you really don’t want to hear what most people are think- ing. I started to feel re- ally alone, even though I was in everybody’s head. Then it got really bad. One of the guys in accounts re- ceivable, a guy who’d always hated me, came up to pick yet another fight with me. About five minutes into it, he made me mad. Really mad. The kind of mad I’ve never been before. I mean, I wanted him dead. And that’s exactly what happened. I felt something snap and then his ribs did the same. The next wave of energy tore through me and his head hit the wall, leaving a huge red stain. I ran.

I ran all the way home, scared and alone. I tried to talk to my husband, but he wouldn’t listen to me. He looked at me like he was scared of me. He told me that we had to call the authorities. I didn’t want to end up as a rat in some experiment. That’s what they do to freaks like me. He picked up the phone and I broke his

wrist, without even touching him. I grabbed whatever I could as quick as I could and I left.

I crawled up on a nearby roof, just to see what was going to happen. He did call the authorities. Office of Internal Security. They arrived with the ambu- lance. They stayed there for hours, going through my computer and my stuff, asking my husband questions. I knew my life was over. The OIS knew about me and now they were going to hunt me.

I sat on that rooftop for hours after they left. I cried. I couldn’t stop crying. I sat on the edge of the roof wondering what to do. I couldn’t come up with anything. I stared down at the ground. If I just leaned forward, I would drop four stories headfirst into the pavement. It’d hurt for a second and then it’d all be over. No more pain. No more suffering. So I did.

And found myself floating to the ground. Whatever was inside me decided that I couldn’t die.

And now I’m here. Everyone with a badge has me on a list. I’m sure they’ve got instructions to shoot me on sight. A menace to society. I never asked for this. I never wanted this. It just happened to me. It just happened and it stole my life from me. And nobody cares.

These cops were just a couple of guys. Guys with families probably. And all they want to do is protect society. But they found me and I hurt everyone who wants to hurt me. Even if I don’t want to.

I guess they had a chance to say something to some- body, because I can hear the sirens. I don’t want anybody else to die today. I run. Alley after alley, through some dark yards, down some quiet streets. But the police and the OIS are pretty smart and they know I’m dangerous. I round the wrong corner and there they are, waiting for me. They don’t shoot right away, because we’ve had this stand-off before. And sure enough, Agen Shon is there, PA in hand. “Veronike. Let’s not do this again.”

“Leave me alone, Bon-hwa! I don’t want to hurt any- one.”

“You’ve already hurt people. You always hurt people. Come with us and let me help you stop.”

“It’s not my fault. I don’t want to be like this.” “I know.”

“But I know you won’t help me. I know you’ll just cut me open!”

My face turns red and Shon knows what is going to hap- pen. He ducks and a dozen assault rifles open fire, hoping they’ll hit me. But they never do.

Maybe this time it won’t work. Maybe this time the bullets will get through. Maybe this time I’ll get lucky. Just for once I’d like luck to be on my side. Just once.

Along with the acceptance of arcanotechnology and magic came para-psychic powers. Those gifted with para-psychic abilities are not as common as those who pursue magic, though they are a normal enough presence in society. However, while people know that sorcerers have to spend hours or even days involved in in- tense ritual to bring the powers of the universe to bear, they also know that para-psychics do it with just a thought. Many people do not trust or are outright fearful of those who intuitively mold supernatural power to their will.

This chapter will introduce you to the concept surrounding para- psychics, how para-psychic powers work within Framewerk, and a list of para-psychic powers for use in your game.