Subject 13 #26 - Commentary

Back to Fieldson, with Nasty "investigating".  First up, trying to teach two girls how to fight.  Nasty learned by getting into fights, as seen back in Issue 1.  Christine has taken formal lessons, and has been taught about when to use her skills.  Nasty pushed the issue and got what she wanted.  The scene definitely underscores the difference in what Nasty thinks of her classmates and what they really are.  It's a lesson Nasty needs to learn and she's a slow learner.

From there, Nasty heads to her locker so she can go home and runs into Rusty.  I had been playing with the idea of Rusty being interested in the new girl, Jessica.  I just wasn't sure how far the interest went; Rusty was coy about telling me.  So, the question is wide open.  Is Rusty just a friend, or is she looking for more from Jessica?  Sure, she fixed the skirt and offered to pose, but all that doesn't mean she's throwing herself at the brooding loner who just transferred in.

As everything gets worse for her, Nasty falls back to her usual method of coping - swearing.  First, under her breath, but finally out loud.  Fieldson does have rules, as do the vast majority of schools, against the use of obscenities, with the added bonus of the language not being "lady-like".  I believe I may have been having a bad day at that moment.  However, Nasty does need to get a hold of her language to prevent outbursts like that.  At some point, she'll internalize the lesson.  Nasty did make the effort around Eric, going back to his first appearence.  Motivation is just lacking at Fieldson.

At the Eagle Foundation, Nasty finally admits to herself that she's out of her league.  Back in New York, she had her bedroom to retreat to, had no worries about fitting in*, had a close friend to talk to, and could hop on her motorcycle to get time away from people.  Anne steps up as a mentor here, guiding Nasty.  Young heroes need mentors, someone to point them in the right direction, someone to trust.  Typically, the mentor then gets killed, usually around the time that the next big step the hero needs to make is to work on his or her own.  In Star Wars, Luke had both Obi-Wan and Yoda.  The Harry Potter series gave the titular young wizard Dumbledore.  Here, though, Nasty already had training.  She just needs someone as a role model.  Does this mean Anne is fated to die?

Micki's digging is just her protecting her employer.  Nasty doesn't like her, but Nasty doesn't like many people.  Anne is more willing to trust Nasty, despite the report; she's been through the Peregrine recruitment process several times.  Micki is far younger.  Oddly, Micki gets a bigger role, both in the series here and in the novel-length story Crossover.

Tomorrow, juggling a secret ID and an assumed ID.
Saturday, over at MuseHack, Lost in Translation looks at the not-quite adaptation, Alien from LA.
Coming soon, more NaNo prep, more Traveller, and fewer vents.


* She had no worries becuase she had no intention on fitting in at Seward.