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It's been something Sylvia has been dealing with all day.  These intense moments when it's like someone is screeching in her mental ear.  They are short lived, but cause her to wince. 

In the news room she sees Bryce Atwood.  He gives her a nod, then collects his things and goes.  He's tried to not be around her too much ever since the whole evil computer game incident.  She could sense it was his shame mostly.

As she looks over the layout of the next issue the noise ramps up again.  As with the other times, it's short lived but intense.

Sylvia fights off the tic that's developing under her right eye and looks around the news room with the glare of a young woman who specializes in control.  Something is out of her control, and that troubles her.  The telepathic screeching means someone or something is transmitting mindless mental noise, and she has no idea what can do that.  If she even knew whom to ask, that'd be a great start, but as far as she knows, Sarah doesn't receive, only sends.

But wait, she thinks with a moment's relief.  Things have changed.

She fishes a business card out of her bag and punches Smith's number into her cell phone.

The phone rings a number of times before it's answered, "Hey.  Aren't you in class or something, or supposed to be anyway?"

"I'm working my extracurriculars," Sylvia says.  "And aren't you supposed to be practicing phone etiquette?"  She mimics him.  "'Hello?  Smith residence.  I'm sorry.  He can't come to the phone.  May I take a message?'"

"I forgot how soothing your abrasive wit can be.  Hello Sylvia.  Nice to hear from you.  How is your day going.  To what do I owe the pleasure of this phone call?"  His voice has taken on a sugary sweet tone, almost too peppy to be associated with the man himself, disturbing.

"Okay.  Stop.  That's just creepy."

She gathers her thoughts, flinching a little against the potential blast of noise.  "There's this thing here that's making this--how do I describe it?--if it were actual noise, it'd be like the really ugly sound that goes off before an Emergency Broadcast System signal.  You know--"  She abandons useless dignity.  "--'Waa!  Waa!'  Have you ever run into anything like that?"

  He laughs at her complaint, which doesn't help with the disturbing factor.  "Sometimes animals can make telepathic noise.  It's one of the tricks that can be used to cover a meeting.  Have it in the zoo, near the monkey enclosure.  Or dolphins.  Imagine it as being a radio station in another language that's not tuned in all the way."

"All animals?  Or does it have to be something kind of human-sized and intelligent?"

"Not all.  But it has to be relatively intelligent."  He pauses.  "You want me tom come by?"

Time was, Sylvia, a timid little girl, would have leaped at the chance to have Smith come in and take care of everything, but she's seen and done a lot since he left.  Teenage pride, perhaps foolish teenage pride, prompts her to take this opportunity to show off her skills.  This is her school, her world, and how is she ever going to face down Eagle Force threats if she can't run off a bunch of telepathic animals?  "Nah.  I got it.  If you don't see me at dinner, though, you'll know I've been kidnapped by elephants.  The trail should be easy to find.  Just look for the guy with the push broom."

"Got it.  Subtle way to invite yourself to dinner.  I approve.  See you at six."  then he clicks the line off.

[Sylvia would use this time to track down the source of the telepathic noise, but if it doesn't work out in conjunction with the Sour Smells thread, she can get Alicia's text message at this point.

If she can go to investigate the noise, she'll want to take the precaution of back-up.  That would probably be either Colin (who's got his own safeguards against telepathic manipulation) or Donnie (who's the spell-slinging boyfriend), but I don't know if Doc or Bill is paying attention today.  Sound off!]

OOC: The source of the noise is the table in the lunch room which has drawn Sammy and Alicia's interest.

I don't think I was invited in either thread. I was kind of wondering why nobody called the eidetic memory, aura checking guy.

Sammy told Alicia to call for help.  It's Alicia's fault!