Principia Discordia

Principia Discordia => Two vast and trunkless legs of stone => Topic started by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 04:58:14 PM

Title: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 04:58:14 PM
The following is a transcript of a recording made by Ron Young, a Paynite Templar, on June 16th, 2013.  Ron was reported as missing in action on June 19th, and has not been seen since.

These damn "Nessie" outbreaks have gotten worse since early spring.  There's no telling where in the sewers they'll pop up, and then the Met has a hell of a time hushing things up when some poor geezer gets hauled down a storm drain.

There's really no easy way to deal with them, especially since the secular establishment denies that they exist...The people in the street know, of course, they always know, because at their level, you deal with reality as it is, or you die.  Anyway, there's noting to be done for it but to suit up and crawl down after them.

You can't use a gun, of course, because of the methane and like that, so you have to use axes and spears, like the old days.  Of course, them knights and such didn't have sealed power armor...For all the good it does.

Anyway, we all meet in the basement of the monastery, and spend 3 hours hooking ourselves up to our suits.  Then Payne comes down and feeds us all something that acts like PCP, and tells us that this is Holy Work, and how this is "what Curly would have wanted".  Yeah, I can see that.  Curly was all about keeping the little people safe.

Within 35 minutes, we're all as mad as barking Welshmen, and they open the seals on the basement entrance to the sewers.  Because of the blessed combat drug, it's hard to say what happens after that, except that it's disgusting, and there's squealing and blood and sometimes you have to step over the neon-orange of what's left of your mate's combat suit, and he's just bobbing in the filth, while his suit fills up with sewage through the horrible rents in his armor that the Nessies inflicted while they was killing him.

Anyway, there's talk of a big nest, maybe the original nest, halfway to London.  We're heading out in 12 hours, four of us, just for scouting, like.  If it's the real thing, we'll go in mob-handed and maybe knock them back down to a minor menace.

Payne says we have to do this, which means Pixie knows we have to do this.  Pixie says it, Payne yes-dears it, and that settles it.  See you in a day and a half or so.  You can stand me a pint, and I'll tell you how it went.  Cheers.

Transcript ends.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Jasper on March 29, 2011, 05:04:02 PM
Damn...  I can't think of appropriate words, but damn.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: LMNO on March 29, 2011, 05:09:43 PM
Hot damn. I guess it took a month to get over February.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 05:11:17 PM
Quote from: LMNO, PhD on March 29, 2011, 05:09:43 PM
Hot damn. I guess it took a month to get over February.

Elevated stress = extra pills = more mad dog's shit oozing out of my brain.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Mesozoic Mister Nigel on March 29, 2011, 05:14:58 PM
I like this.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Dysfunctional Cunt on March 29, 2011, 05:22:00 PM
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

I LOVE THIS!!!!

:mittens: :mittens: :mittens: :mittens: :mittens: :mittens:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: LMNO on March 29, 2011, 05:22:54 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 05:11:17 PM
Quote from: LMNO, PhD on March 29, 2011, 05:09:43 PM
Hot damn. I guess it took a month to get over February.

Elevated stress = extra pills = more mad dog's shit oozing out of my brain.

Well, then what's Richter's, et al excuse?  ::points to pogs thread::
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on March 29, 2011, 05:23:54 PM
This is good stuff, run with it, Rog.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Jenne on March 29, 2011, 05:24:29 PM
Definitely more fun than can be handled.  "Combat drugs"--nice touch. 

And PAYNE!  *shakes fist*
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 05:27:48 PM
Quote from: Jenne on March 29, 2011, 05:24:29 PM
Definitely more fun than can be handled.  "Combat drugs"--nice touch. 

Don't look at me...I didn't invent "go pills".
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Jenne on March 29, 2011, 05:34:09 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 05:27:48 PM
Quote from: Jenne on March 29, 2011, 05:24:29 PM
Definitely more fun than can be handled.  "Combat drugs"--nice touch. 

Don't look at me...I didn't invent "go pills".

:x  No.  Just...no.  :x
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Richter on March 29, 2011, 05:36:24 PM
I still remember my first time putting the hat on.  It's not a hat though really.  A hat doesn't have a full lexan face shield with integrated infra red, re breather, neck gaskets, trauma pads or radio pickups. 

I'd been in training for a month, just on the suits, and it was all second nature.  Before we go under, we all recite together.  It's a function check, as we mount on, or in to, each piece of the armor, done in unison as a call and answer. 

"May this maille, blessed by Payne, guard thy skin."

"MAY IT GUARD OUR SKIN, AS HONOR GUARDS OUR SOULS."

"May the servos of thy arms and legs carry thee into peril and back again."

"MAY THEY AID US THERE IF OUR TASK NOT BE DONE, OR LEAVE US IF OUR TIME BE UP."

"May the helms protect thy neck, be thy eyes, and guard thy consciousness."

"MAY OUR PRINCIPLES AND FAITH GUARD US WHERE WE SHALL WALK."

"May thy weapons be sharp, and thy skill unerring."

"MAY WE BE THE ARMORED FIST OF PAYNE, TO CARRY OUT HIS SENTENCE UPON THE VILE."

It's rousing, no matter how many times I do it.  That and the drugs really get your game face on.  It also conveniently doesn't mention things like the urethra plugs, or rubber baffles sewn into the ass of the suits.  Details, unsightly, but necessary.

Some people hate the feeling of being surrounded by armor, some find the stuff too heavy (take the time and tune your servos asshole), and some freak out inside the hat.  Claustrophobic.  It's not something anyone can do, and if you can't then congratulations, you're SANE.

I love it though.  I feel fucking ten feet tall and five feet wise when I'm armored up.  (Even though it only boost my height about 12 inches, all told.)  I used to love the medieval sports groups, armoring up in a mix of homemade armor and hockey gear to swing sticks, so maybe I'm predisposed.  It gets scary the first time you loose power and fall into a sewage main.  Hell, who WOULDN'T that scare.  You learn to keep your cool, though, assess things.  With your emergency floats, punch out explosives, and the auxiliary knives tied around, you get out when the getting is good. 

Got my suit screwed bad once.  The 3rd one I lost, and I was PISSED.  Chaplain said I'd have to prep lasagna for the team and do all the cleanup solo if I lost another.  Wouldn't you know?  That DAY a damn Nessie cuts my main power trunks and dumps me in the drink, a water main too deep to recover the suit from.  Man, I came out roaring foaming mad, knife in hand from cutting my straps, ready to gut the thing by hand.  Took Williams and Tycho, still armored mind, to hold me back. 

Chaplain just laughed when we got back to rally point, and told me I had a spirit no trial could quench... and to get my ass into the fucking kitchen.

Longest walk back to the base EVER.

This seemed like a logical way to make love of fighting a career.  Well, maybe it's more a lifestyle.  I'm some kind of warrior monk now, technically, but best gig I can think of for someone who likes dishing out hand – to – hand pain, and we're getting some legit dangerous monsters.  Public service, and it's always good to do what you love.  Fuck, it was either this or joust and Ren Faires. 
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 05:39:07 PM
Quote from: Jenne on March 29, 2011, 05:34:09 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 05:27:48 PM
Quote from: Jenne on March 29, 2011, 05:24:29 PM
Definitely more fun than can be handled.  "Combat drugs"--nice touch. 

Don't look at me...I didn't invent "go pills".

:x  No.  Just...no.  :x

Our "drug free" military at work.  We gobbled those things like Pez back in 1990/91, and it makes you a pair of eyeballs and ears, not to mention a complete moral vacuum with an itchy trigger finger and a "I DON'T GIVE A FUCK! attitude.  Bikers do less crank than we did.  And then a few years back, we accidentally a bunch of Canadian troops.

Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 05:41:49 PM
Quote from: Richter on March 29, 2011, 05:36:24 PM
I still remember my first time putting the hat on.  It's not a hat though really.  A hat doesn't have a full lexan face shield with integrated infra red, re breather, neck gaskets, trauma pads or radio pickups. 

I'd been in training for a month, just on the suits, and it was all second nature.  Before we go under, we all recite together.  It's a function check, as we mount on, or in to, each piece of the armor, done in unison as a call and answer. 

"May this maille, blessed by Payne, guard thy skin."

"MAY IT GUARD OUR SKIN, AS HONOR GUARDS OUR SOULS."

"May the servos of thy arms and legs carry thee into peril and back again."

"MAY THEY AID US THERE IF OUR TASK NOT BE DONE, OR LEAVE US IF OUR TIME BE UP."

"May the helms protect thy neck, be thy eyes, and guard thy consciousness."

"MAY OUR PRINCIPLES AND FAITH GUARD US WHERE WE SHALL WALK."

"May thy weapons be sharp, and thy skill unerring."

"MAY WE BE THE ARMORED FIST OF PAYNE, TO CARRY OUT HIS SENTENCE UPON THE VILE."

It's rousing, no matter how many times I do it.  That and the drugs really get your game face on.  It also conveniently doesn't mention things like the urethra plugs, or rubber baffles sewn into the ass of the suits.  Details, unsightly, but necessary.

Some people hate the feeling of being surrounded by armor, some find the stuff too heavy (take the time and tune your servos asshole), and some freak out inside the hat.  Claustrophobic.  It's not something anyone can do, and if you can't then congratulations, you're SANE.

I love it though.  I feel fucking ten feet tall and five feet wise when I'm armored up.  (Even though it only boost my height about 12 inches, all told.)  I used to love the medieval sports groups, armoring up in a mix of homemade armor and hockey gear to swing sticks, so maybe I'm predisposed.  It gets scary the first time you loose power and fall into a sewage main.  Hell, who WOULDN'T that scare.  You learn to keep your cool, though, assess things.  With your emergency floats, punch out explosives, and the auxiliary knives tied around, you get out when the getting is good. 

Got my suit screwed bad once.  The 3rd one I lost, and I was PISSED.  Chaplain said I'd have to prep lasagna for the team and do all the cleanup solo if I lost another.  Wouldn't you know?  That DAY a damn Nessie cuts my main power trunks and dumps me in the drink, a water main too deep to recover the suit from.  Man, I came out roaring foaming mad, knife in hand from cutting my straps, ready to gut the thing by hand.  Took Williams and Tycho, still armored mind, to hold me back. 

Chaplain just laughed when we got back to rally point, and told me I had a spirit no trial could quench... and to get my ass into the fucking kitchen.

Longest walk back to the base EVER.

This seemed like a logical way to make love of fighting a career.  Well, maybe it's more a lifestyle.  I'm some kind of warrior monk now, technically, but best gig I can think of for someone who likes dishing out hand – to – hand pain, and we're getting some legit dangerous monsters.  Public service, and it's always good to do what you love.  Fuck, it was either this or joust and Ren Faires. 


11/10.

There is nothing - NOTHING - I love more than getting stuffed in my own thread.   :lulz:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on March 29, 2011, 05:42:48 PM
Richter is on a fucking roll today.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: LMNO on March 29, 2011, 05:46:03 PM
Fucking hell.

Richter, if you ever want a guest spot writing up the days' Spider Game events, you're welcome to it.

Come to think of it, that goes for anyone else not playing the game.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Requia ☣ on March 29, 2011, 05:46:50 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 05:39:07 PM
Quote from: Jenne on March 29, 2011, 05:34:09 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 05:27:48 PM
Quote from: Jenne on March 29, 2011, 05:24:29 PM
Definitely more fun than can be handled.  "Combat drugs"--nice touch. 

Don't look at me...I didn't invent "go pills".

:x  No.  Just...no.  :x

Our "drug free" military at work.  We gobbled those things like Pez back in 1990/91, and it makes you a pair of eyeballs and ears, not to mention a complete moral vacuum with an itchy trigger finger and a "I DON'T GIVE A FUCK! attitude.  Bikers do less crank than we did.  And then a few years back, we accidentally a bunch of Canadian troops.



So they *do* use them that way?

They try to make out like they only use it when pilots need to fly halfway around the world without crashing from fatigue.

Lying fuckers.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 05:49:59 PM
Quote from: Requia ☣ on March 29, 2011, 05:46:50 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 05:39:07 PM
Quote from: Jenne on March 29, 2011, 05:34:09 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 05:27:48 PM
Quote from: Jenne on March 29, 2011, 05:24:29 PM
Definitely more fun than can be handled.  "Combat drugs"--nice touch. 

Don't look at me...I didn't invent "go pills".

:x  No.  Just...no.  :x

Our "drug free" military at work.  We gobbled those things like Pez back in 1990/91, and it makes you a pair of eyeballs and ears, not to mention a complete moral vacuum with an itchy trigger finger and a "I DON'T GIVE A FUCK! attitude.  Bikers do less crank than we did.  And then a few years back, we accidentally a bunch of Canadian troops.



So they *do* use them that way?

They try to make out like they only use it when pilots need to fly halfway around the world without crashing from fatigue.

Lying fuckers.

Wait, the government lied to you?   :lulz:

They use them for exactly the symptoms I described. 

Also, Richter's response to this is the reason I write this shit.  I don't get many return shots, but when I do, it's GOLD.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Jenne on March 29, 2011, 05:51:53 PM
Quote from: Luna on March 29, 2011, 05:42:48 PM
Richter is on a fucking roll today.

This--Rog, you definitely have your "wing man" on this...great stuff, Guys!

I AM getting horrified over the "go drugs"...gah.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Richter on March 29, 2011, 05:52:24 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 05:41:49 PM

11/10.

There is nothing - NOTHING - I love more than getting stuffed in my own thread.   :lulz:

Wasn't trying to stuff.  You painted one hell of a setting, I was just having some fun with it.  

If you have the power armor rules for pathfinder, this would make a HELL of a "Space Marines by any other name" module.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 05:53:08 PM
Quote from: Jenne on March 29, 2011, 05:51:53 PM
Quote from: Luna on March 29, 2011, 05:42:48 PM
Richter is on a fucking roll today.

This--Rog, you definitely have your "wing man" on this...great stuff, Guys!

I AM getting horrified over the "go drugs"...gah.

It's cheap, and it gives you all the benefits of using children as soldiers, without the bad press that comes with it.

How's that for "Not The Future You Were Promised"?
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Jenne on March 29, 2011, 05:54:29 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 05:53:08 PM
Quote from: Jenne on March 29, 2011, 05:51:53 PM
Quote from: Luna on March 29, 2011, 05:42:48 PM
Richter is on a fucking roll today.

This--Rog, you definitely have your "wing man" on this...great stuff, Guys!

I AM getting horrified over the "go drugs"...gah.

It's cheap, and it gives you all the benefits of using children as soldiers, without the bad press that comes with it.

How's that for "Not The Future You Were Promised"?

Remind me when I need a good "purge" to re-read what you just wrote there.

Nevermind, I don't think I can ever forget.  Damn, dude.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 05:54:58 PM
Quote from: Richter on March 29, 2011, 05:52:24 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 05:41:49 PM

11/10.

There is nothing - NOTHING - I love more than getting stuffed in my own thread.   :lulz:

Wasn't trying to stuff.  You painted one hell of a setting, I was just having some fun with it.  

If you have the power armor rules for pathfinder, this would make a HELL of a "Space Marines by any other name" module.

Stuffing in this case is a GOOD thing.

And those rules are in fact on the way...After I finish LMNO's stuff.  But this series might go to graphic novel, and your part is DEFINITELY in.  Hell, if you're on board, my part stays text and yours goes to panels.

:lulz:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Requia ☣ on March 29, 2011, 06:00:54 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 05:53:08 PM
Quote from: Jenne on March 29, 2011, 05:51:53 PM
Quote from: Luna on March 29, 2011, 05:42:48 PM
Richter is on a fucking roll today.

This--Rog, you definitely have your "wing man" on this...great stuff, Guys!

I AM getting horrified over the "go drugs"...gah.

It's cheap, and it gives you all the benefits of using children as soldiers, without the bad press that comes with it.

How's that for "Not The Future You Were Promised"?

I'm pretty sure it was exactly the future I was promised.  But then, the few things I grew up with where everything turned out ok, it go much worse before it got better.

The bit we weren't promised was just how good they would get at hiding this shit.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 06:06:13 PM
Quote from: Requia ☣ on March 29, 2011, 06:00:54 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 05:53:08 PM
Quote from: Jenne on March 29, 2011, 05:51:53 PM
Quote from: Luna on March 29, 2011, 05:42:48 PM
Richter is on a fucking roll today.

This--Rog, you definitely have your "wing man" on this...great stuff, Guys!

I AM getting horrified over the "go drugs"...gah.

It's cheap, and it gives you all the benefits of using children as soldiers, without the bad press that comes with it.

How's that for "Not The Future You Were Promised"?

I'm pretty sure it was exactly the future I was promised.  But then, the few things I grew up with where everything turned out ok, it go much worse before it got better.

The bit we weren't promised was just how good they would get at hiding this shit.

They don't hide it.  It's just that nobody cares.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Requia ☣ on March 29, 2011, 06:47:28 PM
I don't have it in me to look the men in the eye anymore.  They all know why I'm not down there with them, and I'm not one of the honorable ones that just isn't any good at fighting.  No its the fear, and not even something sane like dying.  My one time down in the tunnels they had to drag me back out.  I'd gotten five feet before I froze up, convinced I couldn't move because the walls were so damn close and the cieling.. no, ask somebody else what claustrophobia is like, thinking about just gives me panic attacks.

I was pissed when they took me off combat duty, but I knew damned well they didn't have any choice.  They need men down there more than anything, and if you can't go down then there's other things that need to be done.  Me I got stuck on armor maintenance.  After I lost track of how much time I'd spent washing blood and... other things (which mercifully don't look human once the nessies are done) out of pieces of armor I started seeing getting cut as more of a blessing.  And then of course... well, once I'm done cleaning I go through bit by bit and look for bits that are still working.  A lot of the parts are amazingly durable, you can get nearly half a suit out of a wreck, as long as you replace the plates and the seals.

That's the real reason I can't look them in the eye.  Every last one of us in maintenance has gone to the boss and told him that we can't be sure if a part will hold up in combat or not, and we've all been told the same thing: We don't have the money for new parts, and the failure rate for a rebuilt suit is only one in fifteen.  After we replace the plating and the seals though, it looks brand new, and God help us, not one of us has the courage to tell the men otherwise.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 06:51:40 PM
:mittens:

Fuck
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Jenne on March 29, 2011, 06:53:26 PM
Wow, Go Requia!
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on March 29, 2011, 06:53:57 PM
Damn, that's awesome.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: LMNO on March 29, 2011, 06:54:45 PM
Shit just got real.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 06:56:45 PM
Hmmm...

I have an idea.  More later.  You spags keep on going, of course.

Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cainad (dec.) on March 29, 2011, 07:17:41 PM
Recovered portion of a mental health professional's personal log, name undisclosed.

"Counseling And Wellness Authority," how about that, eh? That's how things work here: we don't nurture you back to well-being, we just have the Authority to make you feel better.

At first it was a godsend to have jobs opening up by the fistload for anyone with experience in Psychology... shit, I think they even hired on a few former stage magicians. Those guys are all in management now, though.

Then I got assigned my first Class D case. Class Ds are the ones that have survived too many trips down the pits and proven too good at their jobs to be medically discharged, even though it takes a questionably legal amount of sedatives to keep them from eating the janitorial staff in their sleep.

This guy's alias (can't use real names at the Authority, some legal shit) was Tom. Just Tom, no tough-guy addons or nicknames to dress it up. Tom had changed squads fourteen times in twelve weeks before becoming the leader of the first experimental All Class D Squad. Word was he didn't play well with others, but he was always polite to me. At least, I'm pretty sure he was.

See, it's awful hard to talk about conversations one has with Class Ds, because there's some deep-rooted instinct in the well-adjusted mind that glazes over the things they say. What I do remember though, quite well, was getting the impression that I wasn't counseling Tom to help him cope with the shit he dealt with down there, no. My job was to help him deal with the surface world again.

Tom was more at home down there than he was up here. I think, deep down, he liked the Nessies more than he liked us.

Bless his fucked-up little soul, I ended up recommending Haldol to his supervisor when it finally became clear that he couldn't tell friend from foe anymore.

The next morning, his power armor was missing, and so was Tom. No one ever wants to talk to me about him.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 07:25:02 PM
Message found in a cannister, somewhere under Southampton.  Most secret.  Eyes only.

Hey.  It's me.  I'm not ever coming back.  I thought about this a bunch, figured out there's no reason to come back.  All I need is down here...And what I need is nessies.  I kill them, but I love them.  They know what's real, they know that it's really all about claws and spears and knowing who's best, because who's best is the one still breathing.

So let me tell you about the future...The future is anything I have decided not to kill.  Leave me alone, and maybe you get to be part of that future, right?  Just let me do my job, let me dance with the nessies until I finally find one better than me.  Leave power packs at supply point 4, and maybe some bangers & mash in a can.  Other than that, fuck off.

- Tom

End of message.

(Coordinator's note:  That's the 3rd one this quarter.  Maybe we should lower the doses?)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cainad (dec.) on March 29, 2011, 07:27:28 PM
Oh HELL yes. :mittens:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on March 29, 2011, 07:28:04 PM
You can hear them through the pipes, you know, if you know what you're listening for.

Not the clash of swords and spears on the pipes, though you hear that too, along with the echoes of screams, the kind that make you clutch your ears and keen to yourself to keep yourself from hearing as they go on and on.  It's after...

After the screams stop, it's the worst.  After the silence falls...

You can hear the nessies.  They sing, you know.  They sing... after it's over, when they're...  Well, when it's over.

If you listen, hard, you can hear it.

I'm not supposed to know about them, of course.  Nobody is, if they're not working to stop them, but he told me.  He told me, when he started going down there.  You know, when the dreams would wake him up in the middle of the night.  He'd tell me about them, when he could, in between the sobs.

Then, one day, he went down to them, and he didn't come home.  

I can hear his voice, sometimes, when they're singing.  He's still down there, with them...

And, some day...  Some day, I'll go find him.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on March 29, 2011, 07:34:12 PM
Office of Management

Eyes only - CC Medical Team


To: Office of Coordinators,

This is the second time a suggestion has been received by us to lower doses  to the Tunnel Teams. This will not be allowed for the most secret and obvious of reasons. We have plenty of recruits in training for replacements. The Wilders who choose to stay in the tunnels are providing a great service to us.

Please re-assign coordinators #11 and #13 to Tunnel duty right away, no training will be required. A mission is scheduled for 1135 hours. Make sure they are assigned point.

(destroy after reading)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: LMNO on March 29, 2011, 07:40:54 PM
"Hello caller.  You're on the Stream!"

"Yeah, what's your take on all this ballyhoo down in the East side?  We all know those degenerates love their stories, but wasn't there a vidcap being passed around?"

"That's what they've been saying.  And hey, the fewer the better, I say!  Let those beasties work their way through the proles, and we'll all be better off.  You know what I think?  I think--" (muffled sound of a hand covering the microphone, and some incoherent shouting.) "I... think... that these scurrilous rumors have got to be stopped.  Ministry reports have indicated youth gangs have been responsible for hundreds of murders in the last two years, driven to madness by the Direct Inject TV marketed as 'DirInTiV'.  These sickening reprobates hide among normal, everyday people like you and me.  So stay alert, and as always, report any suspicious looking citizen to the nearest Judgment Office."

"But my uncle Micky saw something the other night--."

"Next caller!"
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 07:49:51 PM
Transcript of one Milton Jones, at a pub favoured by BNP stalwarts.  Mr Jones disappeared 3 days later while walking home from the same pub.

Those damn Paynites are a fucking pox, I tell you.  Always running around looking all serious, like they're all high and fucking mighty.  They're just another sect of loons, and we'd be better off without them.  Word is, this Payne git isn't even from around here...Some kind of Northern pouf or maybe even a Canadian.

Yeah, you hear rumors, silly shite like there's things in the sewers and they go kill them.  What I think, I think they're taking kids down those manky old pits and putting it to them.  Someone ought to run those bastards out of town, send 'em back up North where they come from.  Monsters in the sewers...Bollocks.

End transcript
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Jenne on March 29, 2011, 08:00:24 PM
I got the call about 3 am.  The soft warmth sleeping next to me had left her reading glasses right beside the phone, and I had to root around for the receiver.

"Mmm...uh, mhello?"

"It's me.  It's on."

"Shit."

"Yeah, Fucker.  Game's afoot.  Get your ass in gear, Old Man."

I sat up in bed, rubbing my eyes.  Dammit.  Goddammit.  I thought I had at least 36 hours.  Last night I figured, Have a great dinner, knock a few back, get laid and bang out a few more for good measure, and get a good night's sleep.  Shaking the cobwebs out of my head I slammed the already-gone-dead phone down and picked up my drawers from where I'd dropped them not two hours ago.

Dammit.

The tousled head in the bed didn't make a sound.  I crept out of bed, shrugging into my black t-shirt and felt around the side of the bed for my socks and shoes.  Dressed, I went to the bathroom down the hall so's not to wake "my company" and splashed cold water on my face.  Taking a quick glance at the bloodshot eyes and scrubby past-5 o'clock shadow, I realized I was looking old.  

"Old man, indeed.  Asshole."  That last was for the caller.  My little brother.  The shit had been on Special Ops and had roped me in last week.  I was supposed to be on medical leave.  The higher ups had been trying to keep me from assignments like this for a couple of months, but I couldn't stay away.  Shit's been going down that just shouldn't be going down for a long time.  

I grabbed my keys and helmet after shrugging into my jacket.  I hopped on my bike and roared down the highway, barely turning onto the ramp in time.  I had to get it together.  A lot of shit was at stake.

The compound where I made contact with Crazy Eddie (his name ever since he and I went through boot camp together and played like we were GI Joe, though we were just kids, back then, straight from the 'hood) had a gate around it with barbed wire.  It was set next to a cow pasture and folks in the neighborhood thought it was an alumimnum factory.  Guess they figured that stench in the air was from smelting or somethin'.

"Got the specs, Eddie?  We gotta go in quick.  Junior called me about a half-hour ago, said shit's already going down--what the fuck?"

"Goddammit.  I knew this was going to go bad.  I knew it!  Look, man, you gotta fix this.  They put the GAS in the WRONG SUITS.  THE WRONG SUITS, MAN!"

"Eddie!  EDDIE!"  I grabbed his face between my hands and looked into his eyes.  "Ed, you know why we're on this mission.  We gotta fix this shit quick.  Those kids out there...they're depending on us."

I got the specs and rolled them up, tucking them inside my back compartment on my bike.  I roared off to the city limits, turning when I got to an old farm, where in back near the barn was a semitruck full of ammunition, supplies and more firepower than I'd seen in the last 10 years.

"What the fuck, man?  Where the hell have you been?"  My brother grabbed me and hugged me hard, once.  "Stan's still working on it.  You got the stuff?  Eddie cough it up?"

"Yeah, the paranoid shit had to be shook into submission, but yeah, I got it.  Here."  I handed Junior the plans and he took them inside the barn.  I followed him, knowing my fate rested with his in those hands of his, those hands that'd been murdering their way across the eastern seaboard.  Our operatives were spread far and wide, and Junior was the secret government backtracker, locking down those who were defying the government, shoring them up, and then making sure their enemies were taken care of.

The feds had left us no choice in '12.  When that shit in Congress went down, the whole country just went to Hell in a handbasket, and we in military intelligence were left to our own devices.  My old CO had been tapped, and now there were 7 platoons stranded throughout the continent, fighting for what was ours not 2 years ago.

I didn't have much faith in our efforts--London was succumbing to the "THINGS" in their sewer, the whole of Madrid had contracted some sort of contagion that was ripping through their water system, France was, well, France, and the Russians had shipped the current menace over to us to experiment with, in order to help them survive it.  And it had grown and run amok ever since it escaped our military labs out in Utah.

"Motherfucker!" I said in a quiet oath under my breath.  "It's grown."  The computer display I was looking at showed this thing had taken over lower Manhattan, most of Los Angeles, all of San Franciso, and pockets of the states along the Mississippi, Missouri and Colorado Rivers.  

"It's rumored to be harbored in the Great Lakes, too.  We're readying the camelbacks for the mission.  You up for a good time?" Junior looked at me and raised his brow.

I winked at him and said, "You get this gas shit ready to kick this thing's ass, and I'm up for any program."

"Well, come on, Rog, what are you waiting for then?"  And together we locked in our passwords and put a map in place for our next targets.  With the shit we had on board that night, we were gonna take back the world.  Our world.  For us.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 08:02:23 PM
Extract from a police report dealing with the public intoxication of one Reginald Cooper, a homeless man from Southampton's East side.

Why don't you believe me?  It were just like I said!  This big beastie comes ripping up out of the storm drain, an bleedin' all over the place, and then these two guys wearing Orange space suits like on the telly come up, too, and they grab the beastie and shove spears in it and like that.  And then they haul the thing back down the hole, and one of them, he looks at me for a minute, like maybe I seen too much to be walking around, only it's hard to tell cause he's got a helmet covering his face and his elbows and knees are making this whirring noise when he moves.  Then he makes this weird bobbin' movement, like he's laughing, then he jumps down the hole after 'is mate.

What?  No, I were only a little off on the wine.  Paint huffing is for wasters.  Me, I'm a gentleman.

End of extract
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 08:04:53 PM
:mittens:  to Jenne.   :lulz:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Jenne on March 29, 2011, 08:07:26 PM
:D  I'm proud that I managed to get you drunk, laid and make you hero of a lost, going to shit world, all in the same extract.  Though it's not as imaginative as the other stuff, it was fun.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 08:08:38 PM
Quote from: Jenne on March 29, 2011, 08:07:26 PM
:D  I'm proud that I managed to get you drunk, laid and make you hero of a lost, going to shit world, all in the same extract.  Though it's not as imaginative as the other stuff, it was fun.

Oh, no, it was awesome.

My brother, incidentally, is always mixed up in weird things with the feds (no James Bond shit, mostly engineering shit), but he's older than me.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Jenne on March 29, 2011, 08:10:09 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 08:08:38 PM
Quote from: Jenne on March 29, 2011, 08:07:26 PM
:D  I'm proud that I managed to get you drunk, laid and make you hero of a lost, going to shit world, all in the same extract.  Though it's not as imaginative as the other stuff, it was fun.

Oh, no, it was awesome.

My brother, incidentally, is always mixed up in weird things with the feds (no James Bond shit, mostly engineering shit), but he's older than me.

...I totally forgot you even HAD a brother!  :D  Can't see you as a middle child, though, strangely...you like detail way too much.

Anyway, thank you.  It was fun, and exhausting.  Damn.  I'd never make it as a writer.  Well, not while doing something else altogether, that is. 
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 08:12:42 PM
Quote from: Jenne on March 29, 2011, 08:10:09 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 08:08:38 PM
Quote from: Jenne on March 29, 2011, 08:07:26 PM
:D  I'm proud that I managed to get you drunk, laid and make you hero of a lost, going to shit world, all in the same extract.  Though it's not as imaginative as the other stuff, it was fun.

Oh, no, it was awesome.

My brother, incidentally, is always mixed up in weird things with the feds (no James Bond shit, mostly engineering shit), but he's older than me.

...I totally forgot you even HAD a brother!  :D  Can't see you as a middle child, though, strangely...you like detail way too much.

Anyway, thank you.  It was fun, and exhausting.  Damn.  I'd never make it as a writer.  Well, not while doing something else altogether, that is. 

It was fucking awesome, and it gets easier the more you do it.

Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Richter on March 29, 2011, 08:17:00 PM
Met Payne when I got recruited.  He came around, like any good boss should, to see the newbies.  Run down the mission statement, get them all shined up and enthusiastic before they get to the training, and the shit work.  Maybe impress us with how much of a badass he was.  No warrior himself, he made clear, just a guy with some ideas, willing to hear out other's ideas, and try to get a few things happening. 

"Jes call meh Payne." was what he said when we tried to ape the Chaplains or Reverends and call him "Your Holiness".  He was down to earth.  Chaplain Thomas explained later that only those who have taken the oaths as warrior – priests are required to address him that way.  He puts up with it, barely, and explicitly, (with vulgarity when needed) tells noviates, monastics, administrators, and techs to leave off the honorifics. 

Payne Told us about Curly too.

Hell, I'm still not certain if he was mad, making Curly up or not, but it's an idea he's got passion about.  The passion to drive this whole operation, so that's something.

Then there's Pixie.  Short, stacked, and FIERCE.  Payne's her man, but no one EVER makes the mistake of calling her "his woman".  Now she'll just as soon kick your ass as look at you. 

I remember a wounded Nessie trailed us back to the entry hall once.  She was down there smoking a joint and reading Tennyson.  The thing jumped us and nearly bit the Captain in half.  It got hosed back in a hail of sound and fury before we knew it was there.  We all turn and she's standing there with one of the point defense minguns, spliff lodged in her grim set mouth. 

"I don't care if it followed ye home.  Ye can't keep it." she said, and walked off.  Never even let us thank her.  We make certain to sanitize our 6 now, and I think that was her point. 

Some weird sort of set up we're involved with.  A Mother / Father pair of holy terrors at the helm, and prehistoric diaspora we're supposed to be protecting the public from. 
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: LMNO on March 29, 2011, 08:17:58 PM
FOUND ON WWW.URBANDICTIONARY.COM

Nessie, n: Urban Legend from the UK, circa 2013.  Usually refers to "things" in the sewers that prey on the underclass.  Commonly thought to be either (a) the product of dumping raw sewage in the Thames for centuries, (b) improperly disposed medical experiments, or (c) a Government hoax used to justify the unusually high homicide rate in London.
Cf: Candyman, Bloody Mary, "Paynenite Conspiracy", TimeSlip.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on March 29, 2011, 08:19:09 PM
"Cyrus, this Is Jennie. I was.."

"Hey kiddo, how's that story about the missing homeless in LODO coming along?"

"That's what I was calling about, we were shooting film and ....squeal..Hello? Hello, Cyrus?"

Suddenly Jennie see a roadblock ahead and armed men. She rolls to a stop and is drug out of the news van with the cameraman.

"What is this all about? I have to.."

"Shaddup lady and get in the personnel carrier."

"Captain, we've got them and the film."

"Good work, destroy the van and everything in it and take them to Compound 51. Make sure they aren't seen by anyone else. Confidence is high with Zero Tolerance. Understood?"

"Yes sir, ETA of one hour."

Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 08:28:01 PM
Extract from the minutes of the July 2nd meeting of the Senior Paynite Brothers Council.  Most Secret.  Eyes only, make no copies.

Dr Peel:  "Okay, I'm thinking that if you wanted to invade a planet, you wouldn't go to all the cost of transporting an army that couldn't breathe or eat in the local environment.  You'd go to the planet, you'd engineer a fast-breeding life form that preys on the local population, and you'd hide it where nobody would look.  Maybe give it agoraphobia or maybe sensitivity to sunlight that would vanish when population pressure got heavy enough.  Then you'd wait for the local infrastructure to break down, then release more.  When the civilization caves in, you move in and take the resources."

Dr Hammerschmidt:  "Interesting, but unproven.  The DNA from the recovered specimens resembles modern birds, so I am thinking what we have here is some sort of Icthysauroid survivor species, somehow running loose."

Senior Coordinator Smith:  "Both theories are equally useful...Which is to say, not at all.  What I need from you boffins is a poison that will work on these bastards.  Dr Hammerschmidt, would cyanide work on a dinosaur?"

Dr Hammerschmidt:  "Of course."

SC Smith:  "Then they aren't bloody dinos.  Keep at it.  Next item, please."

Propaganda Coordinator Black:  "We've got to either get the Met on board, or find a way to otherwise deal with them.  They've tried 4 bloody times to get into the monastery, soon they'll come armed with a warrant, then it's Katie bar the fucking door."

SC Smith:  "Let's refer that to Payne himself.  He has a knack for having things all his own way."

End extract
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 08:31:14 PM
Quote from: LMNO, PhD on March 29, 2011, 08:17:58 PM
FOUND ON WWW.URBANDICTIONARY.COM

Nessie, n: Urban Legend from the UK, circa 2013.  Usually refers to "things" in the sewers that prey on the underclass.  Commonly thought to be either (a) the product of dumping raw sewage in the Thames for centuries, (b) improperly disposed medical experiments, or (c) a Government hoax used to justify the unusually high homicide rate in London.
Cf: Candyman, Bloody Mary, "Paynenite Conspiracy", TimeSlip.


:lulz::mittens::lulz:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: LMNO on March 29, 2011, 08:33:16 PM
"Dammit, you're a fucking evolutionary biologist, you cunt!  How the hell did they get in there?"

"Admiral, you have to understand.  This behavior you say they're displaying... They may be sentient."

+++++

Bravo Five to base, we have movement in the Western quadrant.  Perimeter has been breached.

+++++

"Hello, Mayfield residence."

"Virginia?"

"Yes, dear?"

"After all the horrible things I've had to do in the name of this country, it was your love that pulled me out of the darkness.  You know that, right?"

"Harry... What's going on?  I can hardly hear you.  You're being drowned out by some... noise.  Where are you?"

"Tell Sheila that Daddy's sorry, but he had to--"

+++++
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Richter on March 29, 2011, 08:38:36 PM
FUCK.  :mittens:

to LMNO, and all previous too.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on March 29, 2011, 08:39:16 PM
(This is a thing of beauty to watch, all.)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 08:42:53 PM
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY OBJECTION TO THIS GOING TO PRINT?

I'm going to try to get Pent involved in some illustrations for this stuff, and throw it together on Nook or Kindle.

Any and all profits will go to board upkeep, should they exist, and all authors will be credited on the contents page.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on March 29, 2011, 08:43:19 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 08:42:53 PM
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY OBJECTION TO THIS GOING TO PRINT?

I'm going to try to get Pent involved in some illustrations for this stuff, and throw it together on Nook or Kindle.

Any and all profits will go to board upkeep, should they exist, and all authors will be credited on the contents page.

No.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: LMNO on March 29, 2011, 08:43:39 PM
kopyleft with atribution.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on March 29, 2011, 08:45:05 PM
If my dribble is good enough to make the cut, I'd be proud. 
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 08:45:41 PM
Quote from: LMNO, PhD on March 29, 2011, 08:43:39 PM
kopyleft with atribution.

Attribution is going to be universal, I just need to know what names to use.

BRB.  Operations is complaining about some weird noise in the plant/sewer discharge.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: LMNO on March 29, 2011, 08:46:25 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 08:45:41 PM
BRB.  Operations is complaining about some weird noise in the plant/sewer discharge.

:omg:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on March 29, 2011, 08:46:55 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 08:45:41 PM
Quote from: LMNO, PhD on March 29, 2011, 08:43:39 PM
kopyleft with atribution.

Attribution is going to be universal, I just need to know what names to use.

BRB.  Operations is complaining about some weird noise in the plant/sewer discharge.

:spittake:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Richter on March 29, 2011, 08:47:44 PM
No problems with anythign beign printed.  YES YES YES.

TGRR:  Don't forget to take the hammer.  May need it.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 08:48:10 PM
Don't let that question end the thread, incidentally.  I'd like more material, if anyone has any decent nightmares between now and, say, Friday.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 08:48:37 PM
Quote from: Richter on March 29, 2011, 08:47:44 PM
TGRR:  Don't forget to take the hammer.  May need it.

Oh, I've always got the hammer.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on March 29, 2011, 08:54:12 PM
Please, keep it coming, I'm enjoying the hell out of this.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Requia ☣ on March 29, 2011, 08:59:04 PM
I would be very very happy with mine going to print, with the qualification that I feel it needs an editing, and to give me a deadline at somepoint so that I can see to it that its done.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 09:00:04 PM
Quote from: Requia ☣ on March 29, 2011, 08:59:04 PM
I would be very very happy with mine going to print, with the qualification that I feel it needs an editing, and to give me a deadline at somepoint so that I can see to it that its done.

It shouldn't be polished, actually...But if you must, I'd like to start organizing this on Friday.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on March 29, 2011, 09:02:02 PM
This thing sure took on a life all its own!
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 09:05:26 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on March 29, 2011, 09:02:02 PM
This thing sure took on a life all its own!

I have a couple more ideas, will write between now & bedtime, once they've soaked a bit.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on March 29, 2011, 09:07:23 PM
Fuck's sake where have I been all day to have missed this?  I need to chew a while, I'll be back.

Until then, take these motherfuckers:

:mittens:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on March 29, 2011, 09:16:20 PM
This is your nightly news.

The provisional Military Government today has declared Martial Law for Southampton. They have imposed a curfew between the hours of sunset and sunrise. Any person outside during this time will be rounded up and taken to the Royal Victoria Country Park.

General Grind explained that this is in response to the rising number of disappearing homeless people in the city. He has explained that by placing these people in one location it will be much easier to protect them and to determine the reason behind the disappearances.  

All employers have been instructed to adjust operating hours to insure there is no reason for anyone to be out during these hours.

Remember to keep at least two days of provisions in your home as no stores will be allowed to remain open after dark.

In other news....



"General, everything is in place now. We have 8 teams standing by to be activated under the Park."

"Excellent. Have them ready to attack an hour after those things start feeding. We want as many beasts in one place as possible.

Let's pass out extra munitions to the surface fire teams. Cover the entire perimeter with remote activated mines for extra containment. I want as many mini guns as possible on the river banks to prevent any escape route.

Inform the surface fire teams that civilian casualties are acceptable. All fire teams are to be issued automatic weapons."

"All set, Sir."
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on March 29, 2011, 09:17:52 PM
Fuck, Charley...
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: LMNO on March 29, 2011, 09:21:56 PM
- Base, this is Edwards, B Squad. Sector Five clear. No movement. 

BASE TO EDWARDS - COPY THAT ALL CLEAR

- Wait. Strike the last. There's something in the Northwest tunnel. I'm gonna check it out. 

BELAY THAT - FALL BACK AND WAIT FOR SIGMA BATTALION

- Copy that. Falling back to safe... Base, confirm Sector Four clear. 

CONFIRMED

- Base, confirm with sonar. I'm getting a reading from quadrant twelve. 

NEGATIVE - RUN DIAGNOSTICS CHECK UPON RETURN

- Base this is Edwards! We got Nessies in Four! Repeat, Four is not clear. Falling back to... Oh, fuck me. 

EDWARDS REPORT

EDWARDS REPORT

EDWARDS REPORT




ALERT TO TEAM LEADERS - TARGETS KNOW AS NESSIE DISPLAYING RUDIMENTARY STRATEGIC MANEUVERS - PROCEED WITH CLEANUP AND RECOVERY
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on March 29, 2011, 09:22:32 PM
Quote from: Luna on March 29, 2011, 09:17:52 PM
Fuck, Charley...

Hunting 101, every trap has to have bait.  :evil:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Jenne on March 29, 2011, 09:23:12 PM
All my shit's KL!! ...if you want it, you can have it!

Also, writing new one in my head, hope it stays put til I get to my puter. Am typing on phone atm.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on March 29, 2011, 09:23:41 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on March 29, 2011, 09:22:32 PM
Quote from: Luna on March 29, 2011, 09:17:52 PM
Fuck, Charley...

Hunting 101, every trap has to have bait.  :evil:

You sent chills down my spine.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Requia ☣ on March 29, 2011, 09:25:56 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 09:00:04 PM
Quote from: Requia ☣ on March 29, 2011, 08:59:04 PM
I would be very very happy with mine going to print, with the qualification that I feel it needs an editing, and to give me a deadline at somepoint so that I can see to it that its done.

It shouldn't be polished, actually...But if you must, I'd like to start organizing this on Friday.

I'll reconsider in that case.  If you don't get something from me by then use what I have regardless.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 09:37:34 PM
Hmmm...I think the spread to New York will be the closing act.

What I need now is more "man in the street" stuff from Southampton or London.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 09:42:24 PM
Charley, can you take Flatbush and plunk it in England?  Google Earth or even just a map of the Southampton area would be all you need.

Also, there's no reason not to use guns outside of the sewer.

Or maybe command-detonated mines, if a honey trap is what you're after.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: BabylonHoruv on March 29, 2011, 09:44:06 PM
No seriously I think these Paynites are doing a good thing.  of course they have to say it's subterranean monsters, they can't go around admitting they're taking junkies and wasters down in the sewers and killing them, but honestly, if you could do it and get away with it, wouldn't you?  I'm glad the government's not stopping them, I'm even glad they've got people looking like screwballs and coming out saying they saw Nessies.  It makes good television, and you need something watch when the football's not no don't you?

I haven't had a beggar come up to me asking for change in a week and I say we need to just let them do their job.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on March 29, 2011, 09:44:35 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 09:42:24 PM
Charley, can you take Flatbush and plunk it in England?  Google Earth or even just a map of the Southampton area would be all you need.

Also, there's no reason not to use guns outside of the sewer.

Or maybe command-detonated mines, if a honey trap is what you're after.

Sure, no problem. Give me a few to rework this in my head. Anyone else playing, ideas are welcome.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 09:44:47 PM
Quote from: BabylonHoruv on March 29, 2011, 09:44:06 PM
No seriously I think these Paynites are doing a good thing.  of course they have to say it's subterranean monsters, they can't go around admitting they're taking junkies and wasters down in the sewers and killing them, but honestly, if you could do it and get away with it, wouldn't you?  I'm glad the government's not stopping them, I'm even glad they've got people looking like screwballs and coming out saying they saw Nessies.  It makes good television, and you need something watch when the football's not no don't you?

I haven't had a beggar come up to me asking for change in a week and I say we need to just let them do their job.

:mittens:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 09:46:46 PM
Where I'm going with this is, at least at first, it should be something that's not even on the government's radar, at least officially (where's Payne getting all that gear, right?).

Small town horror, so to speak.  An anomaly. 

That's why I haven't described the Nessies.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on March 29, 2011, 09:49:25 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 09:46:46 PM
That's why I haven't described the Nessies.

For something that's not been described, I'm seeing them pretty bloody vividly.

Tonight's insomnia, brought to you by TGRR and his band of bloody pirates.   :wink:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on March 29, 2011, 09:55:53 PM
Okay Roger, see what you think.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on March 29, 2011, 09:59:27 PM
**Recording.  Tunnel 9 Operations Center.  6/13/11 0317**

"Should have seen the guy.  He was elated.  Didn't have the heart to tell him the rumors."

"He wouldn't have believed them anyway.  You know those goddamn servoheads are too jacked up on adrenaline and Paynejuice to think anymore."

"Payne juice?  That drug's a wonder and applicable to way more than just the Paynites.  None of those poor fools would last a mission if it wasn't for it."

"And another thing, off that Paynite shit, all credit goes to the servoheads.  Yeah, they have a tough job.  No, I do not envy them, but at least they're on the juice.  We're in this hive straight.  They get, what, two encounters a mission?  A half dozen?  We're running dozens a day.  No replacement for the real thing or anything, but those vids are a little too vivid, and some joker rigged up Operations to have stadium sound so we can hear every little scream and, well, whatever the fuck you call that gurggling shrieking shit the Nessies make."

"What have you got against Paynites?  Maybe if you took some of the 'juice' off duty you wouldn't come in with your nerves all shot!  Look at you!  You can't hold a coffee cup without spilling it, I'm going to have to start plastic wrapping the instruments!"

"I let my tension out by jerking off onto your chair when you take bathroom breaks."

"That's disgusting."

"Anyway, do you think it's true?  About the retirements?"

"Absolutely not."

"Yeah, you're probably right.  After all, considering the keep us locked underground during off hours and the non disclosure agreements and all.  You're probably right.  They just let servoheads that have fought fucking monsters just walk out the front door, go tell Auntie Erin."

"And the alternative is what?"

"We're all in this for life.  Us.  Servoheads.  Command, probably."

"You think the whole thing will last that long?"

"Nope." ... "You know, you look like you could use an extra cuppa Payne juice tonight.  Tell you what, suck it down and then try to picture what our own retirement's going to look like."

**End Recording**
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: LMNO on March 29, 2011, 10:01:39 PM
Nessies?  Sure mate, pull the other one.  I'm amazed at how normally intelligent people fall for this kind of stuff.  I ask you: What's more believable, some sort of wee beastie caperin' through the Tubes, or an ineffectual government who are letting their own citizens die in the street?  'Austerity Measures', my arse.  If you ask me, people are just falling for a safer answer.  They'd rather some inhuman thing feeding off the underbelly of London than face up to the truth-- that the thing that's killing them without a second thought is all too human.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 10:10:29 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on March 29, 2011, 09:55:53 PM
Okay Roger, see what you think.

"State" to "City"

Archer teams should go.

Capitalize "Royal".

Other than that, it's gold.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 10:11:02 PM
"Payne Juice"... :lulz:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on March 29, 2011, 10:15:59 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 10:10:29 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on March 29, 2011, 09:55:53 PM
Okay Roger, see what you think.

"State" to "City"

Archer teams should go.

Capitalize "Royal".

Other than that, it's gold.

Done.

It was hard to hold back and not add logistics like tanks and things, and of course in the event of failure The Final Solution.  :D
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 10:19:44 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on March 29, 2011, 10:15:59 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 10:10:29 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on March 29, 2011, 09:55:53 PM
Okay Roger, see what you think.

"State" to "City"

Archer teams should go.

Capitalize "Royal".

Other than that, it's gold.

Done.

It was hard to hold back and not add logistics like tanks and things, and of course in the event of failure The Final Solution.  :D

Remember, at this point, it's a monastic order saving the world, not the British government.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on March 29, 2011, 10:20:38 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 10:19:44 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on March 29, 2011, 10:15:59 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 10:10:29 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on March 29, 2011, 09:55:53 PM
Okay Roger, see what you think.

"State" to "City"

Archer teams should go.

Capitalize "Royal".

Other than that, it's gold.

Done.

It was hard to hold back and not add logistics like tanks and things, and of course in the event of failure The Final Solution.  :D

Remember, at this point, it's a monastic order saving the world, not the British government.

You're right, I forgot that part.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on March 29, 2011, 10:32:03 PM
You guys aren't done are you?

:mittens: to everybody.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 10:32:37 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on March 29, 2011, 10:32:03 PM
You guys aren't done are you?

:mittens: to everybody.

Nope.  I have two more in me, minimum.  They just have to slosh around in my head a bit.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Richter on March 29, 2011, 10:38:41 PM
The "Nessies"?  Urban legend fuel, all of it.

It's a sick kind of wishful thinking, you know?  Like that zombie craze a few years back.  We don't want to face the dark side of human anture, so we give it a cannibalistic montrous face.  Something plausible, unrelenting, and unquestionably in need of extermination.  Hell, if there WAS a threat like that we'd hear more about it!  Everyone would be in on getting rid of it, instant recruits for any branch of the military you can point at it!

The Paynenites, don't know how they figure in.  Must be a metaphor of theirs, like the symbols the Masons use.  Only makes sense once you're in and told what it's about.  Must be an old Scottish myth.  

The truth?  It's ugly, and human.  Gang violence, or the homeless eating each other.  Simple.  So simple, so basic, and so common it must be right.  Hell, it's always been happening and we're probably just noticing now.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on March 29, 2011, 10:46:29 PM
I was part of a small group of seven people were gathered around a storm drain. The sounds coming from it were the grunts, curses and screams of men...and another scream, or maybe it was a roar that couldn't be identified.

Slowly the noises were reduced in volume, only to come back louder. We  looked at one another with looks of confusion and fear on our faces. Now the sounds were louder than ever, like whatever it was, was getting closer.

I decided to leave at this point.

The group was noticeably more nervous now and were starting to back away from the storm drain. Suddenly there was a long quiet, followed by a victorious bellow from some inhuman source.

As the group was starting to leave two vans squealed to a stop and the seven people were dragged into the vans by masked men and then they sped off.

I was roughly two blocks away when this happened, and of course I hurried to get out of sight. No one believed me though. Maybe I did imagine it all. The medication is helping me sleep at night, and the memory now seems like I read it in a story somewhere. My doctor tells me I am progressing very well.

Begin recording


TEAM ECHO REPORT.

TEAM ECHO REPORT.

"How many men Corporal?"

"Twenty, Sir.  Sir, do you think any made it out?"

"No, I don't. There were too many of them for twenty men, how are the damn things figuring out where we are down there?"

"Sir?"

"Nothing Corporal, just thinking out loud. Let me know if there is any contact from them."

End recording.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on March 29, 2011, 10:59:09 PM
**Recording.  Tunnel 9 Operations.  6/14/13  0058**

"Been thinking about what you said."

"Don't worry, I don't actually jerk off onto your chair."

"That's not what I mean."

"I know, and I don't actually mean that."

"So if you're so vocal about 'those Paynites' how are you here?  This is a strictly faith undertaking."

"Good choice of words, undertaking.  Like the old bastards disappearing into sewers.  Like that we dug our own graves joining up.
Paynites are small.  They're more intent on their beliefs than those Nessies are about gobblin' your grandmum, but they're small.  Rich as hell, somehow, and don't ask me how.  So here I am, independent contractor so to speak.  Let me tell you, this hellish little nub we live in sounded like paradise on paper."

"Look, I've met Payne.  I've even met Pixie.  Those two are not about to deceive anybody.  They aren't about to retire any of us like you're thinking, they're good people."

"Nobody fights like a believer."

"Have you even ever heard about Curly?"

"The short ones that get all sticky when I'm done with your mum?"

"Fuck it, fine, you've made yourself perfectly clear."

"Oh come off it, tell me something.  Where do you think the Nessies came from?"

"They started off as the ones who didn't believe, kept themselves in the dark on purpose, hid from the Truth."

"And then poof! after inhaling in some Southampton wanker's stench they turn into shrieking demon monsters?"

"It happened over time, see, and with, uh..."

"When did you first hear about them?"

"Services, like anybody else."

"Not me."

"Well then when did you first hear about them?"

"Worldly man such as myself, on more than one occassion I've found a late night stroll to be precisely the right thing to keep my wits about.  You ought to try it, and given the circumstance of our location, I do suggest Tunnel 13 for you.  Thing is, everyone knows about it topside.  Anyone with eyes.  So I keep well away from grates and such and I walk, late at night.
Took a few months of this to catch one.  Don't look at me like that, I don't mean catch it, catch it.  See it.  Well, smell it first more like, and hear it even though they're deadly quiet when they aren't attacking.  Smart fuckers, see, not the dumb beasts like the servoheads we're sending after them.  They go after the slow and weak because they know, they fucking know I'm telling you, that if they're found out for real it's a tougher fight ahead.  So I hid.
Got a few less than friendly inquiries from the local constable catching me in the wee hours hiding in a bush, but a known community presence such as myself gets certain allowances.  One night this drunk went shambling and I knew he was going to get it."

"Wait, you knew?"

"Yeah.  Can't explain it.  Couldn't hear the thing, couldn't even smell it yet.  Felt it, though, like a presence, like a knowledge I didn't have before."

"You're telling me you can read their thoughts?"

"Don't be ridiculous.  It was more like, well, like fear was a part of it that came before itself, before sound or scent.  Hard to explain."

"So what happened to the drunk?"

"You've seen the vids same as me, what happens to the servoheads when they get attacked?  Yeah, like that, but without the metal underpants.  No trace of the poor sod when it was over.  Stopped going for walks after that.  Signed my contract here the next morning, actually."

"I don't believe you."

"Fuck's sake I think your last dose is wearing off.  It almost sounds like you have a few brain cells to rub together."

**End Recording**
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 11:04:38 PM
This is amazing.

EoC is on the fucking ball.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on March 29, 2011, 11:06:08 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 11:04:38 PM
This is amazing.

EoC is on the fucking ball.

Jesus, you can see the sparks flying...  This is fucking awesome.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on March 29, 2011, 11:06:43 PM
Yes he is, the back story is gelling very nicely.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Payne on March 29, 2011, 11:24:17 PM
Fucking hell!

:lulz:

Awesome, I need to get in on this for sure.

I'll shit something out quick now, and if it's below standard, it'll give me cause to come back and do something good.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 11:36:36 PM
Quote from: Payne on March 29, 2011, 11:24:17 PM
Fucking hell!

:lulz:

Awesome, I need to get in on this for sure.

I'll shit something out quick now, and if it's below standard, it'll give me cause to come back and do something good.

You weren't looking so I accidentally science fictioned on you.   :)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cainad (dec.) on March 29, 2011, 11:41:31 PM
Also: no objections to my bit being published.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on March 29, 2011, 11:53:22 PM
Underneath No. 8 Southampton is a vault from the 1400's. The unassuming red brick building above it is excellent cover for the Inner Sanctum of the Paynenites. This is the control center where Payne and Pixie reside.

Of course the exterior walls have been reinforced to prevent any sort of underground infiltration by the nessies.

All data from the field are sent to huge computer screens instantly and analyzed. Here is the brain of the resistance.

All of the recordings and video are heard and seen here, even the most horrid ones.

Payne and Pixie have taken to wearing black constantly now, from sorrow at the loss of life. They rarely smile nowadays except to bolster the people around them.

Here too, is where the infamous Payne-Juice is made. Payne and Pixie, however, never partake of it as they require clear heads in order to make decisions on who lives and dies each day. The Scotch is another matter though. They need something come evening to help what little sleep they can get.

When people speak it is in hushed voices that never rise above the soft hum of the equipment. The screams of dying men and women are a different story altogether though. When those come across the speakers they are loud and clear.

This was once a happy place where children played and laughed. Never again.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Payne on March 29, 2011, 11:59:29 PM
Patient Name: John Doe
Date of Admitance: 29/03/2012
Admitting Psychiatrist: Dr. Patience L. Dunmore
Attending Psychiatrist: Dr. Rufus Fears
Symptoms on Admitance: Delusion, Psychosis, Violence (unmeditated, unprovoked - narcotics?)
Reason for Admitance: Sectioned on request of HM Constabulary
Contraband and Personal Effects retained: Large Hammer, Binoculars (one pair), Cigarettes (4 1/2) and Lighter, Military Style Boots, Military Style Clothing, Helmet, Book of Prayer (unknown origin, hand written), Empty Glass Vials of Unknown Use (three).

Preliminary notes:

Mr. Doe was found walking repetitively back and forth over Itchen Bridge. According to Police report, he had used the Samaritans phones installed there repeatedly - telling the operators to "watch out for The Nessie" (?) and laughing 'oddly'. As per procedure, the Police attended the scene as soon as the call was placed but did not immediately locate the caller until Mr. Doe again attempted to use the Samaritan phone, whereupon he was accosted with great difficulty. Injurues to Mr. Doe are minor, despite the Police stating they had to use 'overwhelming force'. Three officers and a civilian are receiving treatment at Southampton General.

Mr. Doe repeatedly shouted at the officers that 'The Nessie' would be 'visited upon them for their sin of ignorance'. Before he was finally apprehended he attempted to throw the above mentioned Book of Prayer (?) to a nearby civilian witness which was retrieved by officers on the scene

Police held Mr. Doe in cell for processing, and on hearing first low mumbling (described by officer on scene as "Some kind of Mohammadist bullshit") and then screams of others in cell, found Mr. Doe strangling two cell mates simultaneously as he chanted unknown prayer or mantra.

Immediately referred to Secure Psychiatric Ward for diagnosis treatment.

Psychiatrist Notes, Diagnosis, Recomendations:

I believe Mr. Doe is suffering from some form of narcotics withdrawl, although I cannot rule out him not taking a course of anti-psychosis drugs or other stabilising prescriptive measures. Mr. Doe appears to be full conscious of his surroundings and his interactions with people, yet appears to have a somewhat slanted, jaded and condescending view of them.

Mr. Doe attempted to engage me in Alpha Male type behaviours, and insisted on attempting to strip naked - until he was restrained.

Not much stock can be put into the various phrases he repeated, though they were interesting from a purely clinical point of view. The unusual circumstances of his admittance suggest a fully developed psychosis from which he does not wish to escape to reality from.

I cannot fully diagnose at this time, but have prescribed a course of anti-psychotics.

I recomend that Mr. Doe be restrained from indulging in his "Religious Duties" and separated from all other patients.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: East Coast Hustle on March 29, 2011, 11:59:53 PM
This whole fucking thread is amazing. I'm'a try to contribute.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Pope Pixie Pickle on March 30, 2011, 12:00:03 AM
Quote from: Charley Brown on March 29, 2011, 09:16:20 PM
This is your nightly news.

The provisional Military Government today has declared Martial Law for Southampton. They have imposed a curfew between the hours of sunset and sunrise. Any person outside during this time will be rounded up and taken to the Royal Victoria Country Park.

General Grind explained that this is in response to the rising number of disappearing homeless people in the city. He has explained that by placing these people in one location it will be much easier to protect them and to determine the reason behind the disappearances.  

All employers have been instructed to adjust operating hours to insure there is no reason for anyone to be out during these hours.

Remember to keep at least two days of provisions in your home as no stores will be allowed to remain open after dark.

In other news....



"General, everything is in place now. We have 8 teams standing by to be activated under the Park."

"Excellent. Have them ready to attack an hour after those things start feeding. We want as many beasts in one place as possible.

Let's pass out extra munitions to the surface fire teams. Cover the entire perimeter with remote activated mines for extra containment. I want as many mini guns as possible on the river banks to prevent any escape route.

Inform the surface fire teams that civilian casualties are acceptable. All fire teams are to be issued automatic weapons."

"All set, Sir."

your google fu is strong! the country park is a spooky place with scary cemetery from WW1 & WW2 graves!

:mittens:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on March 30, 2011, 12:21:33 AM
Quote from: Pixie on March 30, 2011, 12:00:03 AM
Quote from: Charley Brown on March 29, 2011, 09:16:20 PM
This is your nightly news.

The provisional Military Government today has declared Martial Law for Southampton. They have imposed a curfew between the hours of sunset and sunrise. Any person outside during this time will be rounded up and taken to the Royal Victoria Country Park.

General Grind explained that this is in response to the rising number of disappearing homeless people in the city. He has explained that by placing these people in one location it will be much easier to protect them and to determine the reason behind the disappearances.  

All employers have been instructed to adjust operating hours to insure there is no reason for anyone to be out during these hours.

Remember to keep at least two days of provisions in your home as no stores will be allowed to remain open after dark.

In other news....



"General, everything is in place now. We have 8 teams standing by to be activated under the Park."

"Excellent. Have them ready to attack an hour after those things start feeding. We want as many beasts in one place as possible.

Let's pass out extra munitions to the surface fire teams. Cover the entire perimeter with remote activated mines for extra containment. I want as many mini guns as possible on the river banks to prevent any escape route.

Inform the surface fire teams that civilian casualties are acceptable. All fire teams are to be issued automatic weapons."

"All set, Sir."

your google fu is strong! the country park is a spooky place with scary cemetery from WW1 & WW2 graves!

:mittens:


Why thank you Ma'am! The location made it for me.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Pope Pixie Pickle on March 30, 2011, 12:29:43 AM
Pixie's journal, extract.

Ive been trying my hardest to keep morale up. The Paynites are showing the strain, and i fear for all our sanity. Payne and I have a hard task ahead of us. The hardcore Paynite fighters are thinning out in our war with the Nessies, and recruiting more followers is getting harder amongst the homeless and downtrodden.

In the last run the team came back with only half its original numbers, all good men and women. So, I light a joint in their honour, its the only thing I can do not to cry, and always go around seriously strapped with weapons. They rely on us for their spirit, their fight.  Its a dirty job, but someone has to do it.

Until yesterday I havent slept in 3 days, and the combination of the scotch, spliff and sleep deprivation was making me jumpy.  The Diazepam was the only thing that helped, once but i seem to have to take more and more to get anywhere near the correct dose to get me off to sleep.

I drew up tomorrows list, like i do every night, but the attacks grow more frequent and the options for troops get slimmer and slimmer.

Extract end
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on March 30, 2011, 12:32:10 AM
Once in a while on this board something magical just happens. This is one of those times.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Requia ☣ on March 30, 2011, 12:33:10 AM
Transcript of audio/video fragment Southampton 146.  Video of this portion was unrecoverable.

Male voice 1: -hundred stories tall, and they breath fire.

Female voice 1: Thankyou.  And what about you sir, have you actually seen the nessies?

Male voice 2: Woman just how stupid are you?

Female voice 1: Excuse me?

Male voice 2: I'll tell you this about the nessies, they like their privacy.  You and that man with you keep waving that camera around and you'll see them come nightfall.

Male 3: Let's get out of here Susan, these guys are just a bunch of

Fragment ends.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 30, 2011, 12:33:21 AM
(http://i476.photobucket.com/albums/rr126/TGRR/paynitetemplar1.jpg)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Pope Pixie Pickle on March 30, 2011, 12:36:02 AM
Quote from: Charley Brown on March 30, 2011, 12:32:10 AM
Once in a while on this board something magical just happens. This is one of those times.
yea i dont often post writings, its a rare occurrence for me and i fear i am outgunned most of the time.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 30, 2011, 12:51:06 AM
(http://i476.photobucket.com/albums/rr126/TGRR/monasteryseal.jpg)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Payne on March 30, 2011, 12:55:21 AM
I read this thread.

Now I am struck with the first case of proper full on insomnia I've had in years.

I've spent a good chunk of the last hour trying to sleep but being unable to.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cainad (dec.) on March 30, 2011, 12:57:25 AM
Another recovered excerpt from the unnamed mental health professional's personal log.


Had a Class C patient nearly rip my head off the other day. Apparently the detox procedure didn't take, and he had a chemical flashback in the middle of his session. Ian, the guy in the office next door, tells me that's what I get for authorizing the removal of the pacification electrodes and only using the basic restraints. Fucker. So sue me if I've still got enough soul left to hope that I can actually help one of these poor bastards.

Anyway, we had a colloquium meeting for all the "Support Personnel" of the Paynite Order today. Of course, it was the usual opening prayer by the Head Chaplain followed by 2 hours of reports, research, and advertisements for new and improved drugs and delivery methods. I think there was maybe one guy who talked about the success of group therapy techniques for rehabilitation, but I know for a fact that guy never works with anyone worse than Class A patients. If he does his job right, those Class A's never make it to my office.

Still, I gotta say, there's some fascinating shit they can do with a combination of religious fervor and the right Payne Juice-based drug cocktail. Word is that the most recent rookie squad is being sent in with some some timed-release crap that actually causes them to forget any shit they see that's more distressing than a stubbed toe. They go in, do the dirty work, and the next day all they can remember is the thrill of adrenaline and fulfilling their Holy Duty. It's like a god damn rollercoaster to them, apparently.

At least, that's true for the ones who don't die screaming in their sleep, when the nightmares happen. The process still needs perfecting, they say.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Pope Pixie Pickle on March 30, 2011, 12:59:12 AM
Quote from: Payne on March 30, 2011, 12:55:21 AM
I read this thread.

Now I am struck with the first case of proper full on insomnia I've had in years.

I've spent a good chunk of the last hour trying to sleep but being unable to.

:sad:

try to sleep, hon.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 30, 2011, 01:10:45 AM
(http://i476.photobucket.com/albums/rr126/TGRR/battlesuit.jpg)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 30, 2011, 01:11:12 AM
Quote from: Payne on March 30, 2011, 12:55:21 AM
I read this thread.

Now I am struck with the first case of proper full on insomnia I've had in years.

I've spent a good chunk of the last hour trying to sleep but being unable to.

Huh?  Sorry.   :sad:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on March 30, 2011, 01:42:15 AM
**Recording.  Tunnel 9 Operations.  6/14/13  0538**

"It's been weighing on me you saying these things are smart."

"Not as much as it's weighing on the dead servoheads."

"How do you know?"

"They're dead."

"No, how do you know they're smart?"

"How they move, like we've been seeing.  How they attack.  They don't attack superior numbers, and if they do it's when they have a better position.  Just like when they steal people away above.  They do it when it's dark and they're alone.  And they're learning, looks like, and scary fast.  There's something they know about the vets, how they walk or something, maybe how they smell, but when there's a group of veterans together the Nessies come in bigger numbers.  Maybe this is just my imagination, too, but do the ones after the vets look bigger in vids?  They might be sending the stronger ones out."

"Are they smarter than us?"

"Maybe some of us.  Oh don't look so hurt.  It was a joke.  I don't know if they're smarter than us, or more organized.  There's a lot we don't know, and that's the scariest thing in a world that, apparently, now contains actual living nightmares.
Look, there are quite a few kinds of intelligent.  You're a hell of an engineer, and that takes smarts, but you think like a medieval serf.  Maybe these things operate like bugs in some kind of hive.  We don't know.  Maybe they hunt like wolf packs.  We don't know.  Is there an Alpha, is there a mother?  I mean, what the blazes are they even doing?"

"They're taking people from above."

"And?"

"Eating them."

"We know they're eating them?"

"What else would they be doing?"

"Anything, that's the point.  They could be studying us.  They could be assimilating us, turning into more of them.  They could be eating us, yes, or maybe enslaving us.  Balls, the fact that this never occurred to you is infuriating me.  Don't you have some prayer ritual to attend to, worshiping Payne's cock or something?"

"You can be a right prick at times."

"I'll take being right about something, at least.  With these Paynites and the Nessies the only thing you can do is be wrong.  We just don't know."

"Why's it keep coming back to Paynites?"

"Why their keen interest in our screeching murderous friends down here?"

"You keep saying their as if I'm not a part of it.  I follow Payne.  Very much so, actually."

"You're no Paynite any more than I'm a Royal.  Paynites are in the know, they have to be.  You, and the rest of the techies up here and all the servoheads in the sewers, you're the believers in the whipped up frenzy."

"What says that I'm not in the know?"

"You take the Payne juice when you're off duty.  That swill is impressive, it really is miraculous, but I don't think you'll be finding any of the real players in the faith sitting down for a cuppa."

"You seem awfully against them."

"You're using the word them, by the way, not us.  I like that."

"Oh don't start.  If you're so against the Paynites, why are you here?"

"Well I told you before, we all know about the Nessies up there.  Yeah some folks will talk about it being hoodlums or standard crime, but there's something going on, that much can be agreed on.  By the locals anyway.  I felt the Nessies, I saw their work on my own.  Whatever they are, they are not here to bring about some peaceful resolution to this, to this, whatever this is."

"And at least Payne and Pixie are doing something!"

"You've got that at least.  Don't know their angle, don't know if they're some fucking doomsday cult.  But they're doing something."

**End Record**
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 30, 2011, 02:18:10 AM
Transcript of an interview with an anonymous Senior Squad Leader.

I hear what the new fish call me...Or even the guys who've been around a while.  They call me "The Old Man", on account of I've been running the pipes for two years solid.  The new guys think I'm going to keep them alive.  The more experienced guys know better, and try not to get assigned to my squad.

Why?  Simple.  When I go in the tunnels, Nessies die.  That's what I'm there for.  Unfortunately, that usually means that my mates die a bunch, too.  I kill Nessies like you swat mosquitos.  I have a gift for it.  A talent.  Doesn't mean you won't get killed when I do it...Things get hairy down there, and I'm a little too busy to help you.

And I don't use the juice.  The juice holds reality away, and down there, baby...I AM reality.

I'd been around the block before Payne found me, and you know I gotta say...This is just another job.  Like Iraq and Afghanistan.  Like Beirut and Grenada.  Like Saigon and Seoul, like Anzio and Normandy, like Ypres and the Crimea.  Like a dozen, a hundred, a thousand other places.  I do what I do, and what the hell do you know, I'm back to spears and swords...Though I'm gonna tell ya, I liked 'em better when they were bronze.

What the hell are you staring at?

I gotta go suit up.  Later.

Transcript ends.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Requia ☣ on March 30, 2011, 02:35:27 AM
I can't decide if The Old Man is crazy or not.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cainad (dec.) on March 30, 2011, 02:44:55 AM
Damage Report from an area in the Southampton West Tunnels, specific whereabouts unknown.


Some suicidal nut came down here with a bloody damned bomb, looks like. Explosives, like firearms, are considered a Category 1 Heresy by the Paynite Order for a REASON, people. Hard to tell, what from the charred sewage and scattered rubble, but it looks like a homemade pipe bomb that some chucklefuck thought would be an effective way to take out one of the Western nests while gaining martyrdom for himself in the process.

Tech Recovery is declaring a 95% loss on all suit equipment, and that's saying something given how wrecked something has to be before they call it a "loss." I don't think we'll have to worry about the Nessies making their way through this section any time soon, but keeping the people on the surface from flipping their shit is gonna be hell. If we keep giving them the "maintenance-related structural failure" explanation for the sinkholes, they're gonna come after us with pitchforks and lawyers.

My partner, <name redacted>, reported something particularly strange, though. He said he thought he heard the whirring of power armor servos in one of the uncollapsed tunnels, although no one responded to his radio calls and the sound quickly faded away. No squads were scheduled to be anywhere near this area for a while yet. Also, several of the shattered remains of the suits had their emergency power cells stripped away, and there's no way a simple methane explosion could have destroyed those things. They look like they were taken after the fact.

An entire section of the report, consisting mostly of unfounded and worthless speculation, has been removed from the record here.

Whatever, probably just a side effect of paranoia and lack of sleep. There's nothing more to be learned here.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Wizard on March 30, 2011, 02:45:21 AM
Holy shit. This thread is amazing!

Anyone mind if I try one?
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on March 30, 2011, 02:45:59 AM
**Recording.  Tunnel 9 Operations Lower Office.  6/14/13  2300**

"You wanted to see me?"

"Operator Hayes, yes, have a seat."

"So to what do I owe the change of scenery on this fine shift night?"

"Mr. Hayes, you are not a stupid man."

"Why thank you, sir."

"Yes.  You must have known we were monitoring your workspace."

"I assumed so, yes.  Who drew the short straw having to watch my ugly mug each evening?"

"What is it you do during your down time, when you aren't monitoring any crews out in the sewers?"

"I watch the vids.  Over and over again, I watch the vids."

"Ah, yes, we'll have to come back to that.  Do you know what your partner does?"

"Watches the vids?"

"Yes.  He watches the vids.  The vids of other shifts.  Just like the others watch yours, the ones with a bit more loyal tendencies."

"That's good.  Got us spying on each other.  Ever take a good look at the locker rooms?  Because I'd like you to be able to picture my fat arse when I suggest that you pucker up to it."

"Fair.  And probably deserved.  It's an ugly business, but I think you misunderstand why we're doing it."

"You're in the faith.  You build unwavering trust in your followers so you can abuse it without anyone ever questioning it.  Wouldn't want anyone spreading bad ideas around, which is why I imagine I'm here."

"Haynes, if we were the malevolent organization you thought we were, why wouldn't we just kill you in your sleep instead of this conversation?"

"It's not easy to convince an experienced electrical engineer to give up every aspect fo their lives for an indefinite period of time in favor of a cramped hideout in the lovely sewers of southern England?"

"True, but still off the mark.  The fact is, we don't care what you believe.  I don't.  Actually, a few of us have stared using your colorful 'Payne juice' and 'servohead' expressions.  You're quite right, a lot of the higher ups, Payne and Pixie themselve, for example, don't take it.  It has side effects, I don't mind saying, that aren't conducive on an organizational level, which is why none of our Operators are to use it on shift."

"So then why am I here?"

"Let's get back to the recording.  I, personally, think you'd be a lot more useful to everyone, and probably less harmful to yourself, if you relaxed a bit.  The fact is, we're recording because this is an extremely capable organization.  Don't make that face, your partner Sams is an intelligent young man, brilliant even.
I'll preface this by saying, yes, largely we do have a strategy.  We doing our best."

"But."

"But we're looking for ideas.  Things nobody saw before, about the Nessies.  So as much as I, and many others, hate the invasive nature of it, we'll continue listening in.  New ideas are crucial."

"You didn't call me down here to tell me to keep thinking."

"No.  The other reason for the recording is, very simply, that we need to keep stress as low as we can down here, given the situation.
Hayes, you're a mess.  Take some tranquilizers, or maybe during your down time read a book instead of watching vids.  Get your head out of these tunnels."

"My head's only in these tunnels because you won't let it out of them."

"You, me, all of us.  The other reason we're talking is your relationship with Operator Sams."

"Look, Sams is a good kid, he's just a bit behind on, shall we say, post conventional thinking?"

"Do you know why Sams is down here, Hayes?"

"Guy loves Payne."

"He is the second Sams to join us in the sewers.  The first was his older brother, one of the, what you call, 'servoheads.'  We lost him early on.  Operator Sams, while a follower of his own accord, came to us to find his brother.  Another ugly deceit we've done is take his help, his badly needed help, before telling him his brother's fate.
Given his circumstance, in addition to all of our circumstances, all I'm asking is that you hold back a bit in your conversations with him.  Not add to his burden.
And I can see you're taking that very personally.  I'm also asking that you don't.  There's no way you could have known."

"Will that be all then?"

"You have the rest of the shift off.  Please, try to relax."

"I'll try."

"Do you have any questions?"

"Do you know?"

"About the Nessi-"

"Just.  Do you know?"

"Have a good evening, Operator Hayes."

**End Recording**
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 30, 2011, 02:46:23 AM
Quote from: Dr. James Semaj on March 30, 2011, 02:45:21 AM
Holy shit. This thread is amazing!

Anyone mind if I try one?

That's the general idea.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Jenne on March 30, 2011, 03:22:00 AM
CLANG CLANG CLANG

What we got here, is a SITCHEEAYSHUN.  Listen UP, GIRLS—this is going to be one of the WORST days of your life, or one of your BEST.  So shut your whiney little baby mouths and use your heads before you go in and do something ASSOVERTAIL STUPID.  Do you HEAR ME?  You pussies better UP your GAME.


I sat up suddenly and wiped the drool from my chin.   Where the FUCK was I?  I wasn't on that transport to Panama, that was a dream from long ago—more than two decades had passed since that longlived fatal day.  No, I was on my way to London, on an express military bus that was reserved for top brass.  But someone was desperate and had called in a favor.

Those creatures coming up through the swamps, rivers  and lakes in the American countryside had infiltrated most of the US main metropolis areas as well.  We tried the gas on them, it wasn't working as well as we'd hoped.  But the boys were holding strong, and as long as we could keep the top brass from knowing what we were really up to, we were going to beat this thing, maybe.

About 4 am this morning I'd gotten a text message that simply read:

GOT YR MSG. UR NEEDED NOW.  BOUT TIME FUCKER. CALL 555-222-4545. TRANSPORT AWAITS. P

So I was going to finally meet him.  The man that started this whole cultish rebellion against the creeps in the sewer and the monsters and the mayhem.  He was on the run, yet still managed to hold whole battallions together through communiqués and contacts in the system.  I'd never seen anything like it, and I thought I was someone who lived off the grid.

The fog was thick when we set down rather sharply on the tarmac, somewhere outside the London lights.  As I alighted, I saw two solitary figures, backlit against the floodlights shining down against the cold, wet ground.  One of them looked like they were smoking, and the other was talking rapidly, hands moving up and down against their sides.

I hefted my hardbound leather case and readjusted my Stetson, duster sweeping the steps as I came down to meet them.  My boots scraped and the silence that met me as I approached them was a little disconcerting.  Who the fuck are these people?

And then I saw them as the fog cleared about ten steps away from where they were standing.  Payne.  Hands in his trench, canvas trainers on his feet, a smirk on a mouth that had a cigar dangling loosely from his lips, turned ever so slightly up in a half-smile of recognition.

Pixie was standing tensely by his side, her cheeks flushed with the cold air or the wild emotions I could still see were in her eyes.  Her tense attitude was in stark contrast to his nonchalant, patient one.

"Payne.  What the fuck?"

"Fuckin' finally, Rev.  How the hell are ya?"

We paused a half-second and embraced briefly, clapping each other's shoulders.  I gave him a punch on the arm, signaling instant camaraderie.  

"Roger!" Pixie jumped into my arms suddenly, and I dropped my case, whirling her in a spontaneous fit of joy and laughter—it was wonderful to be amongst those I'd only spoken to via phone and internet.

"ENOUGH, these are hardly laughing times—Pixie, I know!" this last as she made to interrupt him.  "Roger needs to know why we made this desperate move, Luv. Let's walk."

On the way to the taxi that awaited us at the curb outside the airport, Payne laid out what he thought would bring me up to speed the fastest.

"The thing is, Rev, we've got a situation, mate, and I'm not sure this is going to ever work.  If there's one man who might know, I'm thinking you're it."

"It's funny you should say that—and uh, I think I know what you mean.  Because I'm not sure if you've heard about what we're going through across the Atlantic, but..."

Pixie sighed.  "Let's go have a drink, Boys, and you can tell Payne and me all about it.  Driver, Bonn's Pub."

The taxi shot out into the dark night.  I knew that whatever happened, this would be a long night after a string of even longer ones.
...

Twenty-four hours earlier:

"FUCK FUCK FUCK get outta here—GET THE FUCK OUT!"

Junior's shout as I entered the barn to tell him about what Eddie'd posted on his blog in code brought my feet turning me in a one-eighty right back out the door.

"JESUS!  What's going on?"

"Brother, wouldn't you know it?  I think one of those camelbacks is about to blow.  Jimmy set it down and I heard a click.  You know what happens after you hear them clicks."

"Goddammit.  What happened to Stan?  Wasn't he going to check all that shit for us?  You remember Eddie told us the damned things were booby-trapped by the government in the first place."

"Yeah, well, guess he missed one."

"Fuck."

"Yeah."

About five minutes later, we heard a muted explosion, and Junior and I headed back inside.

"All contained, Sir.  We're ready to rock-n-roll."  Jimmy led us into the make-shift command center, putting Junior's freshly-filled coffee mug on the console.

"Ok, Jimmy, why don't you ready the vehicles while Rog and I talk shop for a bit?"

I waited for the kid to leave and pick up the rest of the camelbacks that were set up side by side, ready to be loaded for the last of the secret military platoons that were trained and ready to fight for their lives, on whose side they had no idea.  All they knew is they were following orders, and wanted to save America from this latest menace.

"So what'd Eddie say, anyway?"

"What, I'm gonna just blurt it out?" at Junior's dirty look, I amended, "alright alright—he says there's more traps to come.  They're gunnin' for us, Junior.  They know we're on to them, and I think we might have a mole."

"So?"

I squinted at him, staring about 5 seconds while I lit a cigar and took a few puffs.

"You know what I'm talking, here, Junior.  This shit's gonna hit the fan in all the wrong ways if it gets outta hand.  We're about on top of this thing, and just now figuring out where it's coming from.   We got the boys in the lab working without breaks, and we got too many lives on the fucking line."

"Roger, you've been out of action too long."  Junior sat back, fiddling with a pen and pushing a few buttons, staring at the console and moving the cursor around with his left hand.  On it was a scar that ran from his left pinky knuckle to his thumb.  It was an ugly reminder of a few of the prices he'd paid recently.

"I know, but I'm trying to watch your back, kid."

He sat up straighter and looked at me.  "Don't you believe it.  You're in this for the fucking excitement and adrenaline, man.  You always were."

I laughed at that, almost choking on my last intake of sweet cigar smoke.  "Hey, not my fault if my jobs are usually boring as hell compared to this shit."

"Well, I have seen enough action, but I made a promise to see this thing through, come hell or high water, so when it's 'Miller time,' you'll see me hitting the white sands of somewhere very far away, sipping rum and relaxin."

Just as Junior's pipe dream left his mouth, we heard shouting and an explosion right outside the door.

"WHAT THE—"

We jumped up and ran to the door, where Jimmy was standing, a smoking exploded camelback 20 feet away from the edge of the armored vehicle he was loading.

"That's the second one, Sir."

"Jesus.  Ok, let's get going," Junior clearly didn't want to think about what this meant.  I smelled a rat, and I wasn't going to let up until he tried to find out who it was, and what they were after, and who they were selling our plans to.

On the drive out west, Jimmy kept texting someone, and I couldn't see who it was or what it was he was saying to them.  

Junior caught my eye. "It's his family.  I allow him to tell them when he's going out in the field.  The kid puts his life on the line daily."  Junior went back to driving, and I sat back, thinking that I wasn't going to win this one with Junior, and decided to take a snooze.

Next thing I knew, I felt like I was in a wind tunnel.  The roar was amazingly loud in my ears.  Jimmy was yelling at someone, and I smelled burned flesh.  Our car had hit a roadside bomb, and it was howling wind outside.  The field where Junior'd manage to get our burning vehicle to safety was on fire, and beside the road I saw a body.  Jimmy.

I stumbled out of the car, thinking I was in a nightmare or something.  But no, this was real.  Junior was yelling on the phone to someone, who I didn't know, and there was a pain in my head the size of a cannon.  A ringing in my ears told me we'd definitely hit that bomb, and we were lucky to be alive.  I stumbled over to Jimmy, and he was barely breathing.  One leg was crushed, and he had a massive gash on his cheek.

"Roger!" It was Junior.  "Roger!"

In a daze, I looked at Junior.  "Huh?"

"Roger! Get the fuck off him, medics are on their way, helo's almost here.  You gonna be ok?  You're walking, you got blood on your face—head injury?" At this point, Junior came over and put a handkerchief on my head.  "Here! Hold that."

I wearily sat on my haunches, holding the square of folded cloth to the gaping wound.

At the hospital, I got the text from Payne.  I knew shit was going down in London, and that the sewers and underground metro were all fucked up.  I had read the reports coming in from MI6, and I knew they were goddamned desperate to contain the situation.  What I didn't know, was that this whole thing was about to blow sky high, for all of us.

I texted Payne back and called the number he'd given me.  It was a secure line, but mine wasn't, so I had to buy a throwaway phone just to dial the number.

"Roger speaking," I said to the voice who answered.  It was a woman's, in a clipped British accent.

"Go to O'Hare, at fourteen hundred.  A transport will be waiting, a driver's at the hospital entrance now.  Godspeed." She rang off.  I looked at the phone, shrugged, and threw it away, after crushing it with my heel on the hospital floor.

I'd stopped wondering how who knew what when.  I'd figure it out later.

"Junior, I gotta go."  He was sitting outside Jimmy's hospital room, talking quick and quiet into his phone.  He stopped to look at me, put the phone to his side, and stood up.  He hugged me, hard.

"Don't do anything I wouldn't do.  I'll be here when you return."

"You're going back out, aincha?"

At his nod, he went back to his phone conversation.  I raised my voice a little and threatened him that if he wasn't here when I got back, I'd fuck him up but good.

He flapped his hand at me, and I turned and walked through the hospital doors, a driver in a black sedan exiting to open the door for me as I neared it.  

"Going to O'Hare?" he asked me.  I nodded, weary.

"Can we stop by my digs there, first, to pick up some clean clothes?  I smell like diesel."

"As long as we make our flight, Sir, we can go to DisneyWorld."

"Oh Jesus, fuck THAT."
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 30, 2011, 03:25:52 AM
 :lulz:

:mittens:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on March 30, 2011, 03:33:12 AM
Okay, that most recent part was as far ahead as I thought when I started Mr. Exposition Dispatcher.  Done for the day, maybe/maybe not coming back to the character.  Hopefully continuing with something or other tomorrow.

Thanks for the praise of the first two parts, it's much appreciated.  Hope the second two measured up.

And again, this thread is balls fucking awesome, and I'm happy to be a part of it.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Jenne on March 30, 2011, 03:44:04 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on March 30, 2011, 03:25:52 AM
:lulz:

:mittens:

...is ok?  It's more novella than the rest of you, but I'm trying to pull in backstory.  I'm keeping it 1st person, and being inside your head is probably weird to you, but you're allegorical, not the actual ROGER.  Um, BUT...I did throw Panama in there, sorry.  I can take it out and fix it around.  And I put your Stetson, boots and duster in there, too.

Let me know if it's too personal, Rog.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 30, 2011, 03:46:26 AM
Quote from: Jenne on March 30, 2011, 03:44:04 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on March 30, 2011, 03:25:52 AM
:lulz:

:mittens:

...is ok?  It's more novella than the rest of you, but I'm trying to pull in backstory.  I'm keeping it 1st person, and being inside your head is probably weird to you, but you're allegorical, not the actual ROGER.  Um, BUT...I did throw Panama in there, sorry.  I can take it out and fix it around.  And I put your Stetson, boots and duster in there, too.

Let me know if it's too personal, Rog.

My head is like a great big party full of loud drunks, who keep bellowing at you even when the music stops.  There's always room for more, especially if you don't sick up on the couch or grope the cat.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Jenne on March 30, 2011, 03:50:15 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on March 30, 2011, 03:46:26 AM

My head is like a great big party full of loud drunks, who keep bellowing at you even when the music stops.  There's always room for more, especially if you don't sick up on the couch or grope the cat.

Ah, I should fit right in, then.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 30, 2011, 03:51:53 AM
Quote from: Jenne on March 30, 2011, 03:50:15 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on March 30, 2011, 03:46:26 AM

My head is like a great big party full of loud drunks, who keep bellowing at you even when the music stops.  There's always room for more, especially if you don't sick up on the couch or grope the cat.

Ah, I should fit right in, then.

Just keep the cat away from your booze.

You can't put a whiskey down near the little bastard.  It's not even MY cat!  It just wandered in after I moved here, and took the fuck over.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: LMNO on March 30, 2011, 03:58:55 AM
Fucking Christ, Jenne. That was BRILLIANT.


I've got one or two more, but nowhere near the scope this has gone.

I am simply blown away by where this has gone.

I will endure months of fallow times for one thread of this.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Jenne on March 30, 2011, 04:03:22 AM
I had that fucker stewing all day.  Thanks, Alphapance.  I've wanted to contribute to this site for years.  So... ta da?

And Rog, your cat's so very safe from me...not only am I NOT a fan of whiskey, but I'd rather induct the feline set into the wine club...
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Jenne on March 30, 2011, 04:07:52 AM
Ok, I'm setting the next damned scene (shit, this could go MOVIE if we wanted it...which reminds me of a whole OTHER site I was on that was an MW offshoot--did any of you know I was part of a Pagan television show production company, via internet, back in the day?  I'd almost forgotten myself...).

EoC, Richter, anyone else--Cainad, Semaj, Hawk and Req--if I forgot your name, I'll ask permission anyway--anyone in this thread!!!--can I incorporate your characters into the Payne + Rog + Pixie scene?  I might have to mention ops.  I can make up names, but it might blend better if I use the ones already in play.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Jenne on March 30, 2011, 04:12:03 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on March 30, 2011, 12:33:21 AM
(http://i476.photobucket.com/albums/rr126/TGRR/paynitetemplar1.jpg)
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on March 30, 2011, 01:10:45 AM
(http://i476.photobucket.com/albums/rr126/TGRR/battlesuit.jpg)

this. shit. is. awesome.

(and a wee bit fucked up.)  I likey.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Jenne on March 30, 2011, 04:13:03 AM
Quote from: Payne on March 30, 2011, 12:55:21 AM
I read this thread.

Now I am struck with the first case of proper full on insomnia I've had in years.

I've spent a good chunk of the last hour trying to sleep but being unable to.

Hey, is good.  You're feelin' da juice, man.  But ya need to rest.  So sleep, and wake up refreshed and hitting the pavement hard, running, in canvas trainers, tomorrow.   ;)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Jenne on March 30, 2011, 04:15:40 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on March 29, 2011, 09:37:34 PM
Hmmm...I think the spread to New York will be the closing act.

What I need now is more "man in the street" stuff from Southampton or London.

I mentioned Manhattan in my piece.  Total disconnect, sorry.  What do you need with geography, since I have brought you the whole of the US and taken you personally to London to wage "war" with Payne for a spell?

SPOILER:  I have you travelling briefly north, then sad news brings you home.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: LMNO on March 30, 2011, 04:18:02 AM
The horse is running. Match your gait to it, not the other way round.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on March 30, 2011, 04:19:15 AM
Quote from: Jenne on March 30, 2011, 04:07:52 AM
Ok, I'm setting the next damned scene (shit, this could go MOVIE if we wanted it...which reminds me of a whole OTHER site I was on that was an MW offshoot--did any of you know I was part of a Pagan television show production company, via internet, back in the day?  I'd almost forgotten myself...).

EoC, Richter, anyone else--Cainad, Semaj, Hawk and Req--if I forgot your name, I'll ask permission anyway--anyone in this thread!!!--can I incorporate your characters into the Payne + Rog + Pixie scene?  I might have to mention ops.  I can make up names, but it might blend better if I use the ones already in play.

Hey, go for it, that's what it's about isn't it?  
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Wizard on March 30, 2011, 04:21:05 AM
Found a tape recorder in the sewers, with a tape still in it. Not sure who this guy was, but hopefully someone can figure it out, get it to any loved ones the poor bastard had.
       Operator Fry

So, I guess this is going to be the last thing that'll ever be heard from me. The chances of me getting out of this on a messed up leg are slim at best. Throw in the fact that I'm lost, I can't find my flashlight, and the...things down here, and yeah...I'm probably not going to live through this. God help me...please...

voice breaks down into sobs for a minute or so.

Sorry about that. Look at me, crying like a fucking  baby.  Not exactly how I want to be remembered. Deep breathes. Okay, I'll start by explaining how I got down here. I was...am a journalist, or rather I'm studying to become one. I go to the London College of Media and Journalism. Anyway, I kept hearing these rumors about homeless people disappearing in the sewers, and about those Paynite psychos doing god knows what to them. So, I figured I could sneak down here with a video camera, one with night vision, and my tape recorder and blow the whole thing wide open. Jake Morrow, investigative journalist, hero. So stupid...

Sure it was dangerous, everyone has that friend of a friend who knew a guy who disappeared in the sewers. But, you never really think that you might end up being one of those guys. Yeah, my cousin's girlfriend knew this guy, Jake, who went into the sewers to do a story and was never seen again. Haha.

So, I used a manhole, one of the few that hasn't been bolted shut or put in a security camera's sights. I brought a flashlight so I could see, and a map of the sewers so I'd be able to find my around and back. The first hour or so was pretty boring, just wandering around in the dark, scared but stupidly certain that I'd be okay. I was about to give up and head back up to the surface when I heard it. A little bit ahead of me, around a bend or two, I could hear this...I don't know what it was. Sounded kind of like a bird singing. It freaked me out, but I really wanted this story, so I kept on going. As I got closer I could hear the sound of servos, the sound of power armor. Paynites.

I turned off the flashlight and pulled out the camera. Night vision worked fine, I figured I could get a quick shot of whatever was going on down here and then get out with none the wiser. I wasn't prepared for what I ran into.

It was a battle. A group of seven or eight Paynites in full power armor duking it out with these...things. Can't begin to describe them, they were moving way to fast for my camera. The servo-heads were packed up in a group, not letting the things hit their flanks. But the creatures were fast, and smart. Kept hitting the servo-heads at multiple angles, slipping in low to the ground, where the powered armor seemed to have difficulty reaching. The Paynites though, fought like steel angels, every swing taking hitting a monster.

The fight seemed to last forever. I couldn't move whether from fear or awe I can't really say. The singing grew louder, and more of the creatures flooded into the fray. Despite their efforts, the Paynites were being dragged down one by one. It didn't seem to bother them much, they just laughed or screamed out prayers over top the noise. The serv0-heads formation finally broke, and the things swarmed them. The crazy laughter turned into screams, and I ran. When the Paynites broke, so did my nerve. I ran as if the Devil was chasing me.

A low singing noise becomes audible in the background. There's a pause in the recording, like he's listening to it.

Oh god...they're coming. Okay, stay calm, gotta finish this. So, when I ran I left most of my stuff behind, including my flashlight and my map. I didn't care, I just wanted to get as far away from those things and their singing as I could. I'm not sure how far I ran before I slipped, but I did. I hit a particularly slippery batch of ground and my feet went out from under me. My camera went flying out of my hand, and I landed on top of my leg. A loud crack and pain just shot through my leg, pain so bad I couldn't help but scream. Probably killed myself when I did that, let the things know I was down here...

The singing grows louder, and his voice speeds up, starts getting that edge of fear in it.

So here I am propped against a wall, waiting for those monsters to find me. I can't walk on the leg, and the only thing I've got on me is this recorder. I'm not expecting a lot, but if anyone finds this...get it out there. People think that its all just urban legends or something. The public needs to be told.

Oh sweet jesus, oh mother, they're here! Please god, christ, help me! Eyes, eyes in the darkness! NO! PLEASE GOD...

There's a long drawn out scream, and then all that can be heard is the singing. It keeps going until the tape runs out.

Jacob Morrow has a couple of parents here in the city. We'll see what can be done for them, but for obvious reasons they can't know what happened to there son. As for the tape, destroy it. Nothing on it that'll do anyone any good.
       Chaplain Baker

Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Don Coyote on March 30, 2011, 04:21:27 AM
I have too many things in my head, but maybe I'll shake some out tomorrow while pulling 24 hour duty. This is something awesome and I want to be a part of it.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Jenne on March 30, 2011, 04:25:59 AM
Quote from: LMNO, PhD on March 30, 2011, 04:18:02 AM
The horse is running. Match your gait to it, not the other way round.

Ah, yeah, makes sense.

Quote from: Eater of Clowns on March 30, 2011, 04:19:15 AM

Hey, go for it, that's what it's about isn't it?  

Yes!  On it! :mrgreen:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Jenne on March 30, 2011, 04:27:58 AM
Semaj!  Awesome stuff--love how everyone's working in the media...
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Wizard on March 30, 2011, 04:32:20 AM
QuoteSemaj!  Awesome stuff--love how everyone's working in the media...

Thanks! You're bits were fucking awesome by the way. Working Roger in there...nice. 

:mittens: for the entire thread.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Requia ☣ on March 30, 2011, 04:39:51 AM
Quote from: Jenne on March 30, 2011, 04:07:52 AM
Ok, I'm setting the next damned scene (shit, this could go MOVIE if we wanted it...which reminds me of a whole OTHER site I was on that was an MW offshoot--did any of you know I was part of a Pagan television show production company, via internet, back in the day?  I'd almost forgotten myself...).

EoC, Richter, anyone else--Cainad, Semaj, Hawk and Req--if I forgot your name, I'll ask permission anyway--anyone in this thread!!!--can I incorporate your characters into the Payne + Rog + Pixie scene?  I might have to mention ops.  I can make up names, but it might blend better if I use the ones already in play.

Yes, except Susan and the cameraman (unless you want to set your scene before they were interviewing the nameless streetpeople).  Also, use 'KC' for my first person character's name.  I'd prefer a pseudonym of mine I can actually see using in meatspace.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Wizard on March 30, 2011, 04:44:42 AM
Oh yeah, forget to mention that. You can use me if you want to Jenne. And my bit is kopyleft for anyone that wants it.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Don Coyote on March 30, 2011, 04:47:40 AM
He dropped the envelope on my desk. The envelope I had mailed to his purchasing agent four days ago.
"Could you please explain to me why you just ordered triple your usual order of raw iron, and these," he paused, unfolding a rather long list, "are some rather unusual elements for a small time foundry to be ordering."
I cleared my throat loudly, hacking some of the dust out of them, and shrugged. "All I know some kooky cult in Britain commissioned some rather unique swords from me a few months ago."
I motioned for him to take seat, since I tired of standing, and a cup of water, since I was thirsty. It was well over 100 degree outside, and hotter back in the shop.
He arched on his stupidly manicured eyebrows at me.
"The day before I mailed that off, they ordered double what they did before, and requested I make some some changes to the alloy. I had enough for a test batch, and what ever it is they are using these swords for, I am sure we don't want to know."
"Go on"
I grunted as I get out of the chair, somethings get worse with age, and motioned for my guest to follow me back into the shop.

"Well?"
"Do you see how big this is?"
"what's your point? Might just be religious iconography."
"Have you ever seen a church with 8 foot long swords made from a modified super-alloy?"
"So...how much you making off of these?"
I tell him. He spit out the lukewarm water in shock.
"That per batch?"
"No. A piece"
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Jenne on March 30, 2011, 04:57:41 AM
At Bonn's Pub, the atmosphere was dark, dank and perfect.  Payne and Pixie knew the bartender, and we sat at a round table near the window, with Payne facing the door.  I didn't blame him.  I put my own back against the wall so I could watch the crowds of street kids, workadays and suits coming in for their evening pints.  The smell of swill mingled with that of cigars, cheap tobacco and stewed meats.  We'd ordered dinner, and were waiting for our orders while our beers sweated in their glasses.

"It's all shit.  I don't know how you've lasted this long."

Payne raised his eyebrow at me and then frowned down at the table while drawing on the table in the moisture left on the table by his glass.  He glanced at Pix, who was looking at me with something like desperation mixed with chagrin.  I knew these two kids were in it up to their necks, and I felt for them.

"We are doing what we can.  The juice isn't working anymore, the supplies are fairly limited.  We need the formula."

I looked at Payne while Pixie was talking, looking me earnestly in the face as she grabbed his hand from under the table.  At her touch, he stopped drawing, and he looked at me and nodded.

"It's true, mate.  Our funds have always been nonexistent, and the 'supply lines' are drying out.  The fuzz is on to us, see, and they keep haranguing us from up top about the destruction."

"What the fuck do they expect?  Lousy ingrates," I growled as I downed the rest of my pint.  I signaled to the saucy wench serving us, and she nodded and went to the bar to order me another dark brew from the taps.  "Listen, forget those fuckers, what does MI6 say, and not officially because I know better than that."

"MI6?  Who knows? Lost contact with them weeks ago.  We got one guy in the field, a Martin, I believe is handle is, who has been stationed in the back with some kid.  Martin's been directing most of the fight from his end, and he gets word now and again from up top through the channels we originally dealt with when this shit went down at the beginning of last year."

"Payne, that's rough, buddy, I'm sorry."  I paused as the waitress brought me my glass.  "Thanks, Babe, and put a flame under your cook, wouldja?" I winked at her and tipped her generously.  She nodded again and flounced off.

Keeping one eye on her and another on Payne, I asked gently, "Are the reports true?  Have the casualties gone up as much as they say?"

Payne struggled to meet my gaze, and then, angrily, he said, "Fuck yes they are true!  What the fuck do you want me from me?  I'm no hero, mate, I'm just doing what I can.  That's why we called you out here, that's why I got the military fucks to do their best and bring you down here without so much as a squeak.  We need your help.  Give us the formula."

"What the fuck are you talking about?" I asked, not understanding.  "The formula for what?"

"The GAS, Roger!" Pixie said, answering for him—I noticed they do that a lot for each other.  "We NEED that GAS!"

"Sh sh sh sh," Payne reassured her, putting his arm behind her shoulders and leaning in, "it's alright, Luv, Roger doesn't know."

Payne leaned even closer in, this time grabbing my shoulder across the table so that I had to lean in close, too, to catch what he said, "That gas, my friend, it's the key.  I know it.  If you could just get us the formula—"

I sat back suddenly, breaking contact.  "Payne, I'm sorry, but, I think you're wrong.  That gas—it doesn't work well...it's, I don't know, it's only minimally effective."

Payne looked confused as I broke off physical contact and then, with my bad news, he sat back, looking defeated.  "Then all is lost, mate, and I'm not sure where to turn next."

Pixie wouldn't have any of that.  "Fuck this.  How do you know this formula's the best?  Maybe if some lab or scientist worked on it—maybe it's just a matter of fixing the recipe, or how it's used, or—"

She broke off, and although I thought the idea a catching one, I couldn't help but wonder.  We'd put America's finest on the job, and what we came up with seemed substandard—but then, and now something that Crazy Eddie had said to me, naught but days ago, seemed to ring a bell in the back of my head.

"Pixie, I think you might be right.  A friend of mine, with some insider information, told me that they put the gas 'in the wrong suits.' I thought he meant the camelbacks—the backpacks with gas chambers the footsoldiers put on to fight the beasties we have creeping up through the waterways...but maybe he meant the wrong gas was put in them."

Payne turned his head slowly in my direction, and our eyes met.

"Can you find out?"

I considered before answering.  "I sure as hell could try."

Pixie looked hopeful, and then tired.  She leaned her head on Payne's shoulder.  And then our food arrived.

Payne kissed her forehead and then took out his knife and fork, set to dig into his pork pie.  "Well, mate, I'd say let's eat, and then get on it."

I laughed and made ready to eat the fuck out of my own fish and chips.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cainad (dec.) on March 30, 2011, 05:20:33 AM
Quote from: Jenne on March 30, 2011, 04:07:52 AM
Ok, I'm setting the next damned scene (shit, this could go MOVIE if we wanted it...which reminds me of a whole OTHER site I was on that was an MW offshoot--did any of you know I was part of a Pagan television show production company, via internet, back in the day?  I'd almost forgotten myself...).

EoC, Richter, anyone else--Cainad, Semaj, Hawk and Req--if I forgot your name, I'll ask permission anyway--anyone in this thread!!!--can I incorporate your characters into the Payne + Rog + Pixie scene?  I might have to mention ops.  I can make up names, but it might blend better if I use the ones already in play.

Absolutely. "Tom" is the only named character I created, but there's also the disaffected mental health counselor guy.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Jenne on March 30, 2011, 05:24:24 AM
Quote from: Requia ☣ on March 30, 2011, 04:39:51 AM
Quote from: Jenne on March 30, 2011, 04:07:52 AM
Ok, I'm setting the next damned scene (shit, this could go MOVIE if we wanted it...which reminds me of a whole OTHER site I was on that was an MW offshoot--did any of you know I was part of a Pagan television show production company, via internet, back in the day?  I'd almost forgotten myself...).

EoC, Richter, anyone else--Cainad, Semaj, Hawk and Req--if I forgot your name, I'll ask permission anyway--anyone in this thread!!!--can I incorporate your characters into the Payne + Rog + Pixie scene?  I might have to mention ops.  I can make up names, but it might blend better if I use the ones already in play.

Yes, except Susan and the cameraman (unless you want to set your scene before they were interviewing the nameless streetpeople).  Also, use 'KC' for my first person character's name.  I'd prefer a pseudonym of mine I can actually see using in meatspace.

Ah, makes sense.  I think in referring to the media, it will be in reference to scenes already on display ITT.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Jenne on March 30, 2011, 05:25:28 AM
Quote from: Dr. James Semaj on March 30, 2011, 04:44:42 AM
Oh yeah, forget to mention that. You can use me if you want to Jenne. And my bit is kopyleft for anyone that wants it.

Thank you!  And...*blush*...thank you.

Quote from: Cainad on March 30, 2011, 05:20:33 AM

Absolutely. "Tom" is the only named character I created, but there's also the disaffected mental health counselor guy.

Orsome..."Tom" may come up yet...Rog has a trip "up north"...
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cainad (dec.) on March 30, 2011, 05:25:53 AM
Also:

I want everyone to consider the fact that all of this, all ten pages of it, happened in barely over 12 hours. I wrote my first installment on my iPhone, ferchrissakes; that's how strong the creative tide was.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Jenne on March 30, 2011, 05:27:17 AM
I cannot fucking write on that iPhone.  Not as coherently as I like.  Kudos, man, you gots stamina.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: President Television on March 30, 2011, 05:40:25 AM
Audio record recovered from power armor of rogue Templar Angus MacLean.

"It's been about a week by my reckoning since I broke off from the rest of the Paynenites. Hard to tell without sunlight. It'll be harder still soon. Where I'm going, they don't have manholes. Heh. Where I'm going, they don't drop off power packs either."
He chuckles, and it seems to draw itself out into a hushed but horribly maniacal cackle.
A shrill, gurgling whistle can be heard.
"There ye are, bastard!"
He grunts, and the sound of metal on bone crunches out.

"Where was I? Oh, yeah. Where I'm going, it's just me, my axe, and the Nessies. And my armor, fer as long as it lasts. I know that this'll be my last dance. This is as it should be, far as I'm concerned."
There's a bit of a pause, accompanied by heavy breathing.
"Don't you worry about me. I think I like it better down here anyway. Things are simple down here, you know? It's real easy if you can handle the pressure."
Over the recording, "If You Wanna Be Dumb, You Gotta Be Tough" crackles in. He chuckles.
"First radio reception fer hours. Figures it'd be American country. But yeah, that's me. Dumb and tough. What can ye do?"
More whistles can be heard in the distance.
"You fuckin milk it for all it's worth, is what. Am I right or am I right?"
The whistles draw nearer.
"Come on, ye slimy motherfuckers. Smile fer yer daddy."
Crunches, shrieks, grunts, and snatches of radio are the only audible noises for about two minutes and thirty seconds. Then nothing but panting and huffing.

"I'm gettin too old fer this shite. But anyway, there's a reason I turned on the recorder, and a reason I'm about ter activate the distress beacon. Now, the battery's startin to die out. Just as I guessed.  But it should give me enough time to finish. Look, there's a cave down here. Big one. Crawlin with Nessies. Don't bother askin how I found it- I don't have the battery life to tell ye. All I know is it's a nest, an it's a big one. Could be the Big One. Maybe it ent, but I do know it's a fine place ter--"
The record cuts off here. The power armor was found a week later at the mouth of a narrow fissure in the sewer wall, empty. No body was found. The Templars went to a lot of trouble to recover it. The fissure appeared to be deep, and a team is being prepped to investigate as I speak.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Requia ☣ on March 30, 2011, 05:41:36 AM
Transcript of Southampton audio-visual fragment 153.

A man in his late 40s to early 50s, face is on the camera, and is the one speaking.

Male voice 1*: This thing is still rolling.  Gotta tell the nessies to get better at tearing up the things snoopers carry with them.  For that matter, pass it along to everyone in the fellowship.

The man's face draws back from the camera, he's holding a long thing tool of some kind.

MV1: Easy enough to deal with it this time though.  Gather up everything for a burning.

There is a blur of motion, and the fragment ends.

*Analysis indicates there is a decent chance this is the same person as MV2 in SH147.  Face and voice are also possible matches for MV4 in SH151
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Nephew Twiddleton on March 30, 2011, 05:43:08 AM
Posting so that I can come back to it when I can think straight.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Requia ☣ on March 30, 2011, 06:29:27 AM
Final report from field agent Smith on operation BRIGHT WATER.

My attempts to infiltrate the fellowship have been a qualified success.  I've established that the group consists mostly of the disaffected (2 of the three people I've met are homeless, the third is an addict who has confessed to me that he hasn't made rent in 3 months).  They certainly believe they can speak to DEEP THREAT, the relationship is one with the fellowship taking orders though.

They do believe that they can speak with DEEP THREAT, but given that none of them appear to be very stable, I find it more likely that this is a delusion.  The danger should not be discounted though, even with no resources to speak of they are still fanatics.

Any questions I've asked about meeting other members, about DEEP THREAT, or about the things the fellowship does to serve DEEP THREAT have been met with the answer that I'll find out after the initiation, which is tonight as soon as it gets dark.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Juana on March 30, 2011, 07:08:01 AM
Undoubtedly going to be subjected to massive editing, but here's my small contribution to the wave of PURE AWESOME that is this thread.


Personal Journal of Carol Lawrence, former wildlife biologist

29/10/2013
Christ, I don't even know where to begin to classify those fucking beasts. These...Nessies, or whatever the fuck it is they're calling them...are off the goddamn page, or from what I can tell from the fragments I've gotten.

The blood's got this weird consistency to it, hours old and cold though it may be. Like engine oil, almost. And the limbs the servoheads bring back to me are just ungodly fucking large. They're lean and long and heavily muscled, just in the thigh. I almost want to get my hands on a torso just to see the spine. It's got to be like a whip. The servoheads have never brought me back enough of a torso to verify that, though. Or enough of a head to make any reasonable guesses from one, either. Just eyeballs and skull fragments too big to be anything I recognize.

I hear them singing, through the walls and pipes sometimes. High and eerily beautiful and horrifying because it's almost like they're singing just for you. Sirenlike, in fact. They have to know where we're located. Even if they were fucking dumb as a box of rocks - and from what I hear, they're most emphatically not - they'd put two and two together. "Oh hello, these weird things who try to kill us pop out of holes in the general vicinity of this specific location, so maybe they're from here?"
It's why I wouldn't leave base, even if I could. The only safe place is as high off the ground as you can get and that's only for now, probably. It's better to stay here, where at least I know they're not.



Jesus Christ, what did I get myself into?
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Scribbly on March 30, 2011, 08:50:32 AM
Amazing thread you guys! I loved it all, so... I thought I'd take a shot.



Fragment of Minutes obtained from offices in Southampton on reclamation in 2023, an attempt seems to have been made to shred them. An unidentified substance has damaged the surviving pages.

--- know about this?

P2: No, probably not. People suspect, but nobody really wants to know.

S: Can hardly blame them.

P1: Either way, I'm telling you, we don't have the resources to deal with this. We're better equipped, sure, but we've got, what, half of the bodies those lunatics have, and--

M: Yes. We know. Don't worry, Superindendent, nobody is going to ask you to go down into the sewer yourself. Now, S. You have new intelligence, I believe?

S: Yessir. The new cameras have worked better than expected. It wasn't easy catching one, but, here. The first full scale shot of N.

P1: Jesus.

S: Exactly. I'm afraid I must also confirm that the ... infestation has spread. We have now had two confirmed sightings in London.

M: I trust the usual methods have been employed to keep it quiet?

S: Of course.

M: Good. Now, P1, P2, you say the Monks do a good job of keeping things quiet. How long do you think they can hold out?

P1: God only knows, Sir. That's why we asked you, we need (unintelligible) time (unintelligible) soldiers ---

---

This section lost to damage

---  transferred in the morning.

M: Our priorities are being shifted. It's unfortunate, but we must make sure resources are allocated properly. A skeleton force is all that is necessary here.

P1: I fucking hate London. Can hardly breathe the air in that hellhole.

S: Well, you are welcome to stay here. But in a month--

P1: I didn't join for this, you sick bastards. Maybe I'll quit, join those Monks and go down swinging!

M: And your wife? Your children? It'd be a shame if something were to happen to Alice, wouldn't it?

P1: You--

M: It's nothing personal. But now you know. You understand.

P2: Come on, mate. Lets go get a drink, you'll feel better.

M: I'm sure. I'll expect to see the transfer requests in before 9 tomorrow. Meeting adjourned, gentlemen. (laughter) We'll let the Big Society handle things here.

S: Yes, Minister.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Remington on March 30, 2011, 10:35:14 AM
DYX-3367  CLOSED MEMORANDUM                         

CLASSIFIED TOP-SECRET UNDER ORDER 233
FOR VIEWING BY JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF AND COMMANDER IN CHIEF ONLY

SUBJECT: STATUS REPORT ON EUROPEAN BIOHAZARD INFESTATION


INTELLIGENCE REPORTS FROM WITHIN MI5 HAVE CONFIRMED THE PROGRESSING NATURE OF THE SOUTHAMPTON INFESTATION. AS OF THIS MORNING PERIMETERS A4 THROUGH B2 HAVE BEEN BREACHED, AND INSURGENT EFFORTS TO CONTAIN THE SPREAD ARE FALTERING. GROUND-PENETRATING RADAR HAS CONFIRMED THE DEVELOPMENT OF MULTIPLE LARGE CAVERNS THROUGHOUT THE SOUTHERN SEWER COMPLEX. BIOHAZARD LIFEFORMS ARE CENTERING THEIR ACTIVITIES AROUND THESE STRUCTURES, AND RECENT EXPLORATORY SORTIES SUGGEST THAT THE EXISTING TUNNEL SYSTEM IS BEING ENLARGED AND EXTENDED. SHOULD NO ACTION BE TAKEN, THE TUNNEL SYSTEM IS PROJECTED TO REACH LONDON BEFORE JUNE.

GIVEN THESE DEVELOPMENTS WE ARE RECOMMENDING AN UPGRADE TO THREAT LEVEL 1, AND THE IMMEDIATE ESTABLISHMENT OF PREVENTATIVE STRIKE CAPABILITY. IF THE SOUTHAMPTON INFESTATION FOLLOWS THE PATTERN ESTABLISHED BY THE NEW MEXICO INCIDENT OF 1969, TOTAL SUBSUMPTION OF SOUTHAMPTON AND SURROUNDING AREA WILL OCCUR WITHIN 6 WEEKS.

THE JOINT CHIEFS ARE TO BE ADVISED THAT CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL AGENTS ARE LARGELY INEFFECTIVE, AND THAT NUCLEAR FORCE MAY BE NECESSARY.



US 1ST BIOLOGICAL WARFARE COMMAND, FORT DETRICK
COMMANDER ROBERT JACKSON



Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on March 30, 2011, 11:59:05 AM
Transcript of audio recording discovered near a Southampton storm grate.

Please, if this is found, get it to Payne.  I don't care if you think they're crazy, I don't care if you think I'M crazy, take it to the Paynites, they need to hear this.

They're getting smarter.  They're learning.

Those sounds they make...  There are patterns, meanings.  They're TALKING to each other.  Not like animals, not like just danger signals, or hunting calls, they're communicating.  Numbers, real tactics.  That's why we can't get a grip on their numbers, when we come down here, they KNOW.  Those... songs...  They're pitched to travel through the pipes, they can hear EVERYTHING.  It doesn't matter how quiet we run, if one of them sees us and gets a chance to open its maw, they ALL know.

But, listen.  That's not the big thing.

So many of these things.  Yeah, they eat the homeless, and us, we know that.  We walk right onto their dinner plates, that's no mystery.  But how the hell are they getting other people down here?  You've heard the police reports, it's not just the homeless that have started going missing.  Joggers, people out by themselves, they're not going to be able to keep a lid on it much longer. 

I saw it.  Oh, god, I saw it...

They got up to one of the grates, five of them.  They bumped it open, far enough that...  Far enough that it would work...  And one of them...  It started CRYING, Payne.  Crying like a lost little girl.  No words, but... it would break your heart.  There was a jogger, and... now there's not.

They're learning...  And I think they know I'm here.  I think they know...  They're coming, Payne...  They're...
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: LMNO on March 30, 2011, 02:17:25 PM
It wasn't so bad, at first.  I got laid off, sure, fine.  But there was the dole.  Then the bloody tossers cut funding.  Just like that, wouldn't ya know.  One thing leads to another, and I can't pay my rent.  So I'm out on the streets. 

Took a bit of getting used to, I can tell ya.  A bit o' panhandling, some busking if I can find a corner and some rubes without much taste in music.  I won't lie, there's more that a bit o' theft going on.  Best piece of advice I can give ya—find a spot to kip for a few minutes, and defend it to the death.  More than food, more than a nip of whisky to dull the pain, ten minutes of sleep is the best thing in the world.

Me and my mates got by all right.  Times get tough in the winter, but we make do.  I tell ya, some of these 'bums', as you may call 'em, have been a bloody sight more charitable then the wankers over at Downing Street.  They have something, you need something, and it's yours.  No questions asked.  Lately though, I've seen some changes.  Some o' the boys have been muttering 'bout this bloke Payne, saying he's got Ideas, with a capital "I", and that he's giving out food if people stick around and listen.  They say he's offering Religion.  I don't believe it.  Not me.  I seen things.  I notice things. 

Things like, you don't see too many of us vagrant-types on the streets anymore.  Things like, sometimes if you're getting out of the rain underneath the Cannon Street bridge you see... things... float by.  Things that might have been one o' your mates.  Not saying I know for sure, but I seen it.  People say gangs are doin' it, snuffing us stragglers.  People say a lot.  Some say its monsters.  Bugger that.  I know what I seen.  And you know when it all started?  Yep.  Around the time that Payne bastard started comin' round. 

Way I see it, that devious cunt lures in some hungry bugger, offs him, then uses him in one of his bleedin' cult ceremonies.  Chop 'em up, dump 'em in the sewers.  So you just stay away from those wankers.  Don't go 'round any churches, don't go out alone, stick to places you know, yeah?  Right.  I'm off.  All this talkin', I haven't been keeping tabs on my spot for the night.  Found a good one, you get some heat comin' up through vents they got in the sidewalk.  Pretty sure I saw one of 'em was loose, could probably pry it open, stay in the tunnels overnight, keep me safe from any of those Payne cultists walkin' around.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on March 30, 2011, 05:16:09 PM
Quote from: Jenne on March 30, 2011, 04:07:52 AM
Ok, I'm setting the next damned scene (shit, this could go MOVIE if we wanted it...which reminds me of a whole OTHER site I was on that was an MW offshoot--did any of you know I was part of a Pagan television show production company, via internet, back in the day?  I'd almost forgotten myself...).

EoC, Richter, anyone else--Cainad, Semaj, Hawk and Req--if I forgot your name, I'll ask permission anyway--anyone in this thread!!!--can I incorporate your characters into the Payne + Rog + Pixie scene?  I might have to mention ops.  I can make up names, but it might blend better if I use the ones already in play.

You bet.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Richter on March 30, 2011, 06:52:43 PM
(Tape recording begins)

Is it on?  OK, hang on, let me light up.

:lighter clicks in the background:

Right.  My name is Captain Horatio Able.  They just call me "Tio", as in "uncle".  Everyone in my squads will tell you it's out of respect for my long service, and partly a joke on how long I've survived at this.  I've been tunnel hunting Nessies for 6 years now.  Anyone who makes it 18 month's is considered and old hand. 

It was different when we started.  The Paynenites recruited us from WMA, Rena faires, SCA, martial arts tournaments, and historical combat lectures.  Said they needed folks who knew how to move and fight in restricting armor, and specialized in hand to hand.  They had some ex military too, but the majority of those screened called it nuts and left. 

Hell, who can blame them.  It IS nuts.  Going underground in a barely tested 1st gen. servo augment suit with only swords and spear, and hunting god knows WHAT out in old tunnels?  Live in a monastery while you're doing it?

I was between jobs, and in a bad way financially, so I said yes.  Try it out, get paid for training at least, I figured.  See what it was about, and quit if it's fucked up.  I'd get housing and food in the meantime, I could move all my stuff into storage and go from there. 

Got hooked on it though.  Rock and roll a few times a week, chill out the rest of the time.  The "religious" bit wasn't too obtrusive either.  Payne, the guy playing guru, wasn't you classic cult guy.  Didn't care what we believed, really, long as we thought it over, and gave a reasonable idea a fair shake.  We talked with him a lot, and always over a pint, or smokes if we wanted them.  Barroom philosophy, but he brought it all together.  He was passionate about the mission too.  Keep the Nessies down before they can fuck everything up.  I don't know how he of all people got involved with it.  Hendricks always said he was a scientist.  Coded up something form old DNA, lost control of it, and is trying to keep it down now.  Must be rich or something too, with the hardware we get.

Anyways, that was the first few years.  21st century armor and 10th century weapons.  Then people started to get creative.  We got the high velocity compressed gas guns.  Sequentially discharging barrels that look like a porcupine studded with oil filters.  The rail guns too, firing epoxy impregnated with powdered iron, to give the magnet something to grab. 

Oh yeah, you knew conventional guns were useless right?  Could touch off the methane in the tunnels.  Sure, it MIGHT happen anyways, if a weapon hits the wall.  I remember Bronsky beheading a Ness with one swing of his favorite claymore once, only to roast himself in the suit when his blade cleared its neck and sparked off a wall.  Fucking shame.

We had the "goo gun" too.  Ever see what silly putty will do at mach 3?  Hah, the guys who wrote Geneva would think hollow points are just FINE by comparison.  One last thing about common firearms, they're too SMALL.  The Nessies, they're weird.  A 9mm might as well be a pinprick to a hippo.  Useless.  Fifty cals were getting close, if you have the time, ammo, and guts to get about 30 rounds on each Ness.  With a rifle, even a recoilless, it's a bitch.  The stuff we've got now is better.  Less thrill, having the long range option, but no complaints, I WANT my job to be boring these days.  Boring means most of my squad comes home.   

(Inaudible question)

The drugs?  Rituals?  Yeah, we have those.  It's nothing overly glorifying Payne or anything.  He doesn't want that.  The purpose of the rituals, the litanies, even adding metaphor and ceremony to maintaining our gear, it keeps us tuned in, mindful.  If you're cleaning the bolt on an M-16, and just want it done, you get messy.  Give it a quick wipe and slam it back into the upper receiver.  If you're doing it in the mindset that it is your holy duty to purge the bolt of the filth that would jam your weapon and disgrace you, and get you or your buddy killed, it sinks home more.  You take time, and work into the crannies like you should.  Not that we use M-16's, but that's the idea.

Oh yeah, the drugs.  Payne comes down and delivers them before each sortie.  Hell if I know what they are chemically.  Not amphetamine, or PCP, nobody gets the symptoms or withdrawal.  You just crash really hard when you get back, eat enough for 5 regular dudes, and sleep for 12 hours.  Shit, it's like having the supermunchies.  One moment you're just a bit peckish, next you've housed a whole pan of lasagna, and are asking after a loaf of bread to wipe the pan, and about a gallon of beer to wash it down.  All carbs, that's what you get hungry for.  Protein's kind of a sideline, and everyone who's had a turn cooking knows to load up veggies and spinach into things too.  Make sure we get some fiber and vitamins in.  Maybe some sort of synthetic adrenaline?  I hear that adrenaline puts ALL the energy producing stuff your body keeps stored into your system at once.  Sorta makes sense we have to replace it.

Some guys don't take it.  That's fine.  The ones that make it work do just fine on the juice their own brains and glands make.  There's no pressure, no expectation.  You don't want the drugs, just tell Payne before you go out.  As he's handing out the doses, he'll just pass you a saltine or something.  Makes some joke about how it will be transubs....  Trasnsabstanshee....

Fuck, however you say it.  He'll just crack that magic will make it into his caustic scottjizz by the time it hits our veins anyways.  Lightens the mood, then we all have a chant, and a moment to focus as we come up.  Break open the sally port and rock on. 

Off duty we chill out, read, work out.  We all pitch in a few hours a day to keep stuff up, if we don't have a sortie.  Chaplain of Captains can assign other duties if someone messes up, but we don't have to much.  Some of the guys play video games, write, or read on their downtime.  Others go out on the town to find girls.  Can't bring them back to the dorms though, that's the most "monastic" rule we have, so some guys keep apartments in town.  Most are around here for most of the week anyways.  It's just where things are happening.

That's the life, in a nutshell.  Any more specific questions?

(inaudible)

Cool, I gotta go talk to the armory before dinner anyways.  Good luck bud.

(recording ends) 
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Payne on March 30, 2011, 07:11:33 PM
Quote from: Richter on March 30, 2011, 06:52:43 PM
Some guys don't take it.  That's fine.  The ones that make it work do just fine on the juice their own brains and glands make.  There's no pressure, no expectation.  You don't want the drugs, just tell Payne before you go out.  As he's handing out the doses, he'll just pass you a saltine or something.  Makes some joke about how it will be transubs....  Trasnsabstanshee....

(http://www.marketingpilgrim.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/iStock_000003827645XSmall1.jpg)

Got my bit nailed now, all I gotta do is, yanno, write it.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Jenne on March 30, 2011, 07:53:54 PM
:mittens:  I will get back to this thread soon--gotta run atm.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 30, 2011, 08:02:02 PM
FUCK

YES
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on March 30, 2011, 09:35:08 PM
I think my muse left. I got nothing.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 30, 2011, 09:37:48 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on March 30, 2011, 09:35:08 PM
I think my muse left. I got nothing.

Try again tomorrow.

I'm pulling together the FIRST "collection" tomorrow.  I expect to get a lot more than that, so there's no hurry...And nothing says this has to be presented in any kind of order.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on March 30, 2011, 09:39:58 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on March 30, 2011, 09:35:08 PM
I think my muse left. I got nothing.

Don't try to force it.

Grab a pencil and paper and just doodle for awhile, don't try to write, just draw.  Tap the muse on the shoulder.  Draw the armor, a Nessie, see if something sparks.  If not, let it be for awhile.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on March 30, 2011, 10:08:38 PM
The damn things really are getting smarter. We started putting 6 man teams together as, well, kind of bait. The nessies were catching onto the bigger teams and wold either run or gang up on them and wipe them out. Somebody, maybe Payne came up with the idea for a smaller team to cover the larger ones.

Now by cover I mean we go in and make noisy, noisy enough to cover the sound of the larger trailing team. We had some of the new weapons too, the high velocity compressed gas guns. Those damn things were nice, just a couple of shots and down they went.

The lab loves the new weapons because they are getting bigger and better test pieces. I dunno if they have come up with anything or not, us grunts are always the last to hear about that stuff.

We still have the old refurb suits though. The main teams call us Sues. Kinda short for suicide teams.

We were stomping through Tunnel 11 one day making as much noise as we could. We could smell the damn things so we knew we were getting close. Nobody on a Sue team ever passed on the juice either, so we were all amped up and ready.

Captain <redacted> suddenly started, well, smoking. Not a butt, but like he was on fire. I grabbed him and threw him down so we could strip his suit, but just then they showed up. There were 3 of the bastards. I had to stop working on Cap and start fighting.

We had one down and another in bad shape when the main team showed up. They finished them off pretty quick, but Cap was nothing but ash by then, Some kind of short they said. The smell of him was far worse than any nessie ever was.

Suddenly we heard singing and had to evac before they could get behind us and cut us off. We had to leave Cap laying there. Most of us made it out because we were using running cover fire while we backed out.

Well, that's a pretty normal day for a Sue squad. Nobody bothered to get to know us, what was the point? We never lasted long enough to make friends.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on March 30, 2011, 10:10:12 PM
"Nothing," he says.   :)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on March 30, 2011, 10:12:39 PM
Quote from: Luna on March 30, 2011, 10:10:12 PM
"Nothing," he says.   :)

:D

I just forgot to quit thinking while I was writing.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: ñͤͣ̄ͦ̌̑͗͊͛͂͗ ̸̨̨̣̺̼̣̜͙͈͕̮̊̈́̈͂͛̽͊ͭ̓͆ͅé ̰̓̓́ͯ́́͞ on March 30, 2011, 11:16:59 PM
This is awesome. I'm trying to keep tabs, but you guys are churning it out too quickly.

Net,
needs more interbutt time.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: East Coast Hustle on March 31, 2011, 12:15:39 AM
She woke up in the dark, with no memory of who she was or how she had gotten there. There was a hard chill in the fetid dampness, but it merely registered in her central nervous system as a condition of her new environment. She certainly didn't feel it.

Truth be told, she didn't seem to feel anything.

The darkness was cloying, so thick it was almost physical, but that didn't bother her any more than the cold. Her eyes might be useless now, but that didn't mean she couldn't see. Sounds, smells, vibrations...all colliding in her head, swirling together, painting a more vivid and accurate picture than any sense of sight ever could. She had awoken in a dead-end tunnel hewn from ancient rock. The floor was mostly dry here, but the walls were slick with water and covered with patches of a fungus no human had ever laid eyes on. At the far end, there was a crack in the rock, and through the crack another tunnel ran perpendicular to the one she was in. This tunnel was made of a different, smoother material. The walls were perfectly round, and in the middle of the broad, flat floor ran a channel with some liquid coursing through it.

Having no other apparent options, she began to move towards the strange smooth tunnel. Slowly at first, as she adjusted to the unusual gait necessitated by her current number of appendages, then faster and more confidently until she hit the junction with a speed bordering on urgency. One immediately apparent advantage of this strangely-designed body was that her current limb configuration made it possible to pivot around a 90 degree turn without slowing down or losing traction. And there was real urgency in her movement now, as the first and most basic instinct common to all life began to dawn on her. The liquid in the floor of the tunnel had to be moving in a downward direction, and what she needed was above her current position, so she followed the liquid upstream. Eventually, she came to a larger tunnel and followed that for a while until she heard a particular sound being carried by the tunnels. There was something else in the tunnel, 2 turns ahead of where she was now. A few more yards brought a scent. Something alive. Warm-blooded, even. Something that would satiate this new, overriding imperative that had taken her over. She was ravenously hungry.

It had never even occurred to her that there might be others. Food had been too large a focus to allow for any further inquisitiveness about her situation, let alone borderline-philosophical thoughts about the nature of her very existence...so it came as a complete surprise to her that when she opened her gaping maw to sing in her new language about the joys of a meal found, the darkness came alive with an answering choir.

She had found her pack, and tonight they would feed together.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: East Coast Hustle on March 31, 2011, 12:41:56 AM
Oh, and anything I post in this thread only is usable "by permission" with attribution to my real name.


(edited for accurate rights status)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 31, 2011, 12:55:48 AM
Quote from: Rip City Hustle on March 31, 2011, 12:41:56 AM
Oh, and anything I post in this thread only is Kopyleft with attribution to my real name.

Okay, but I'm using it "by permission", which means the original authors keep all rights with the exception of the rights to my publication itself which, as I have said, will wind up with 100% of any profits going directly to PD upkeep, no matter what happens.

Unless it blows the fuck up, in which case I'll distribute funds in a fair and equitable manner that 169% guarantees lawsuits and screaming and blood on the walls.

:lulz:

(Just kidding.  It all goes to PD.  If they make a movie about it, we'll just buy Ireland to use as a server room.)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 31, 2011, 12:56:35 AM
Quote from: Rip City Hustle on March 31, 2011, 12:15:39 AM
She woke up in the dark, with no memory of who she was or how she had gotten there. There was a hard chill in the fetid dampness, but it merely registered in her central nervous system as a condition of her new environment. She certainly didn't feel it.

Truth be told, she didn't seem to feel anything.

The darkness was cloying, so thick it was almost physical, but that didn't bother her any more than the cold. Her eyes might be useless now, but that didn't mean she couldn't see. Sounds, smells, vibrations...all colliding in her head, swirling together, painting a more vivid and accurate picture than any sense of sight ever could. She had awoken in a dead-end tunnel hewn from ancient rock. The floor was mostly dry here, but the walls were slick with water and covered with patches of a fungus no human had ever laid eyes on. At the far end, there was a crack in the rock, and through the crack another tunnel ran perpendicular to the one she was in. This tunnel was made of a different, smoother material. The walls were perfectly round, and in the middle of the broad, flat floor ran a channel with some liquid coursing through it.

Having no other apparent options, she began to move towards the strange smooth tunnel. Slowly at first, as she adjusted to the unusual gait necessitated by her current number of appendages, then faster and more confidently until she hit the junction with a speed bordering on urgency. One immediately apparent advantage of this strangely-designed body was that her current limb configuration made it possible to pivot around a 90 degree turn without slowing down or losing traction. And there was real urgency in her movement now, as the first and most basic instinct common to all life began to dawn on her. The liquid in the floor of the tunnel had to be moving in a downward direction, and what she needed was above her current position, so she followed the liquid upstream. Eventually, she came to a larger tunnel and followed that for a while until she heard a particular sound being carried by the tunnels. There was something else in the tunnel, 2 turns ahead of where she was now. A few more yards brought a scent. Something alive. Warm-blooded, even. Something that would satiate this new, overriding imperative that had taken her over. She was ravenously hungry.

It had never even occurred to her that there might be others. Food had been too large a focus to allow for any further inquisitiveness about her situation, let alone borderline-philosophical thoughts about the nature of her very existence...so it came as a complete surprise to her that when she opened her gaping maw to sing in her new language about the joys of a meal found, the darkness came alive with an answering choir.

She had found her pack, and tonight they would feed together.

Whoa, fuck!  :lol:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Wizard on March 31, 2011, 12:58:02 AM
QuoteShe woke up in the dark, with no memory of who she was or how she had gotten there. There was a hard chill in the fetid dampness, but it merely registered in her central nervous system as a condition of her new environment. She certainly didn't feel it.

Truth be told, she didn't seem to feel anything.

The darkness was cloying, so thick it was almost physical, but that didn't bother her any more than the cold. Her eyes might be useless now, but that didn't mean she couldn't see. Sounds, smells, vibrations...all colliding in her head, swirling together, painting a more vivid and accurate picture than any sense of sight ever could. She had awoken in a dead-end tunnel hewn from ancient rock. The floor was mostly dry here, but the walls were slick with water and covered with patches of a fungus no human had ever laid eyes on. At the far end, there was a crack in the rock, and through the crack another tunnel ran perpendicular to the one she was in. This tunnel was made of a different, smoother material. The walls were perfectly round, and in the middle of the broad, flat floor ran a channel with some liquid coursing through it.

Having no other apparent options, she began to move towards the strange smooth tunnel. Slowly at first, as she adjusted to the unusual gait necessitated by her current number of appendages, then faster and more confidently until she hit the junction with a speed bordering on urgency. One immediately apparent advantage of this strangely-designed body was that her current limb configuration made it possible to pivot around a 90 degree turn without slowing down or losing traction. And there was real urgency in her movement now, as the first and most basic instinct common to all life began to dawn on her. The liquid in the floor of the tunnel had to be moving in a downward direction, and what she needed was above her current position, so she followed the liquid upstream. Eventually, she came to a larger tunnel and followed that for a while until she heard a particular sound being carried by the tunnels. There was something else in the tunnel, 2 turns ahead of where she was now. A few more yards brought a scent. Something alive. Warm-blooded, even. Something that would satiate this new, overriding imperative that had taken her over. She was ravenously hungry.

It had never even occurred to her that there might be others. Food had been too large a focus to allow for any further inquisitiveness about her situation, let alone borderline-philosophical thoughts about the nature of her very existence...so it came as a complete surprise to her that when she opened her gaping maw to sing in her new language about the joys of a meal found, the darkness came alive with an answering choir.

She had found her pack, and tonight they would feed together.

So, that's what the Nessies are doing with the folks they capture. Interesting...plot thickening and all that.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: East Coast Hustle on March 31, 2011, 01:00:33 AM
Well, if that's what you want to read into it, feel free. I left it that ambiguous on purpose. ;)


Also, it was all I could do not to end it with "and then she got eaten by a grue."
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Jenne on March 31, 2011, 01:00:40 AM
The tunnels were filthy and smelling of soot, smoke and feces.  I don't know if I'd ever smelled anything worse in my entire life, and I've been in some pretty fucking shitty areas in the world.

After spending the night on someone's couch in a safe house run by Payne's uncle, I got a text from Payne telling me a taxi would come and take me to where one of his "Sue" (short for suicide) groups was currently fighting back the London Menace the Payneites were calling "Nessies."  I'd read varying reports on what the hell they were, how they attacked, and what held them back.  No one could use firepower down below because of the explosions it would cause.

I guess in America we were lucky because we were fighting above ground.  Our C4 only seemed to make so much headway, though, and that gas that Payne and Pixie were on about last night...it just hadn't done as much as we'd thought when the lab guys from Quantico shipped it out two weeks ago.  

I tried to get a hold of Crazy Eddie to clarify what the fuck he was on about with the "wrong suits" and the gas.  Damn my hide for being too impatient to ask him what that shit meant—and now he'd gone underground, deeper than before.  I had an outgoing message to him through the usual contacts, but I'd probably have to hunt him down myself if I was going to find the wily bastard.

The tunnels were not that wide—I guess the original engineers of the London underground didn't think there needed to be more than a 3-man-wide space between the walls.  The place smelled of death, everywhere.  I had lowered myself in through a manhole off of Pall Mall, sometime around oh-seven hundred.  While the daylight was just beginning, the tunnels never stopped raging.  Their dark deathly depths were full of chaos, mayhem, and the cries of men as they met their last.

I followed the "lieutenant" down the manhole, and we were met by four men, all dressed in what looked like moon-jumping suits, holding swords that looked like a military-version of a Samurai sword, or katana.  One of them was also carrying two duffel bags, and it looked like they had suits in them when he unzipped them.  I got into one, pulling it over my leather jacket and jeans.  I'd traded my Western style boots for black jackboots, and I was glad I'd thought to leave the Stetson at the safe house.

The "lieutenant" put his suit on, and nodded to me.  He'd told me at the manhole up top that we'd use limited communication until we were "in the hole," meaning, where no digitized or radioed communication could get in or out.  The men down there had apparently been carrying small tape recorders, so they had been recording communiqués and reports periodically.  Sometimes the reports made it out for transcription and distribution, and sometimes...well, no one knew.  But you could make a fair guess.

We turned and headed to the right of the manhole, back towards the center of the city.  The reports had said last week that the Payneites had taken heavy casualties near the midrange of the London inner city section, but that the actual numbers were obscured.  I was hoping we'd be luckier than the men I'd been reading about—those who'd come out and survived were often taken for mental patients, so altered they were in just split seconds of an attack.

I smelled smoke through the mask on my helmet, and it sounded like we were coming upon some action.  I was right—shit was going down not five hundred feet from the first turn we took through the tunnels.  And it was not looking pretty.

I heard a shout and someone shoved me from behind.  I took my bearings quickly and unsheathed the long sword they'd given me, crouching slightly so as to not lose my footing again in case I was bumped.  It was very dark, and from what I could make out, several Payneites were fighting a shadowy mass—grunts, screams and the clang of the weapons were all I could hear.

The "lieutenant" turned at my side and said urgently,"Sir, you have to move back.  We have strict orders—"

"I don't give a good goddamn about your orders, I am not here to be killed, dammit, I'm just going to watch my ass, now go watch your own."

I wasn't going to have any of that.  I came to the tunnels of my own free will, I was going to fight if needed.

Suddenly, there was a break in the action, and before I could raise the sword and get in there, it was over.  Whatever it was had fled when it saw the Payneites who'd been fighting had gotten reinforcements.  The "lieutenant" went over to the Sues and told one of his men to get out his medic kit and triage.  I walked over to him and looked around.  There was blood, and some strange sweet, sickly smell as well.

One of the wounded kids who survived looked up from where he was propped up against the wall, his comrade binding his shoulder.  "They came at us in a full run this time, Sir.  I don't know how many of them there were.  We were on our way to a rendezvous point, and I think they meant to come after that manhole you just came down.

The "lieutenant" sighed.  "Very well then, we'll regroup on further down at the rendezvous point.  We have a special guest here, and he needs to see our plans."

The Payneite soldier muttered "Yessir" and then a sharp intake of breath as spasm of pain rocked him.

We picked up those who could still walk and left others who had fallen behind with a couple of guards to wait for help.  I asked the "lieutenant" how soon the help would actually get there.

"It depends on how fast the messenger we sent can go, and whether or not he's waylaid." At this he turned and looked at me, and I could see by his eyes that plenty of messengers had been "waylaid."

"I see," and I quit talking until we came to the rendezvous.  This whole situation was fucked.
...

"You want me to do WHAT?" I asked incredulously.  "I don't think so.  That's fucking ridiculous.  I'm here to look around, I'm here to get a sense of what's needed.  You know I saw Payne himself last night—"

"Sir, sir, calm down," urged the "commander" that was in charge when we finally reached the rendezvous.  The Payneites had put together some sort of office down here, and it had cell block structures complete with locking gates and the whole shebang.  The "commander" and the "lieutenant" had both sat me down, handed me a whiskey, and told me that they needed me to help stop the media.  They thought this thing had one fighting chance—and that was ultimate silence until they found a campaign strategy that was working.

"You see sir," the "lieutenant" started back up again, standing up suddenly and using a tone that suggested I was being unreasonable, "the more people know about what's going on down here, the more they want to come here and see for themselves.  We have enough to deal with watching our own asses, we can't be responsible for the damned media's too!"

His voice rose on that last bit and the "commander," an older gent, put his hand firmly yet gently on the younger man's arm, which seemed to calm him down again.  The "lieutenant" sat back down in his chair, looking a bit spent.

"What my lieutenant's trying to tell you, Sir," started the "commander," turning and looking me full in the face, "is that we're a bit desperate, and the media's not helping our situation at all.  I believe Mr. Payne explained to you what you Yanks have been able to manufacture seems like a godsend to us.  You have already seen what we're up against.  We need your help."

I sat back in my chair, thinking.  I didn't think any of the top brass was behind this decision, but I couldn't know for sure.  I had no idea who these Brit yahoos were, but I know they felt their mission was on the side of justice, which feeling I knew all too well.  I decided not to promise anything, I'm not in the habit of writing checks with my mouth that my ass couldn't catch.

"Gentlemen, I'll definitely think about it.  For now, though, I was told that you had some information for me about the creatures you're fighting.  I'm supposed to be comparing notes so that, in the event this gas does work, we can see how it's most effective."

The "commander" watched me carefully as I said this, raised his brows, and shrugged.  I think he realized he was barking up the wrong tree.  "Yes," he replied, standing as he did so, "let's go into the command room and get you those plans Mr. Payne told you about."

After that, I was given the plans, a copy had been made for me, apparently, and then escorted back to the manhole, with one pause at the point where we saw the skirmish. Although there was still evidence of a struggle, there were no soldiers in uniforms and no "creatures" to be seen, either.  I guess the messenger had been successful, this time.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: East Coast Hustle on March 31, 2011, 01:01:41 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on March 31, 2011, 12:55:48 AM
Quote from: Rip City Hustle on March 31, 2011, 12:41:56 AM
Oh, and anything I post in this thread only is Kopyleft with attribution to my real name.

Okay, but I'm using it "by permission", which means the original authors keep all rights with the exception of the rights to my publication itself which, as I have said, will wind up with 100% of any profits going directly to PD upkeep, no matter what happens.

Unless it blows the fuck up, in which case I'll distribute funds in a fair and equitable manner that 169% guarantees lawsuits and screaming and blood on the walls.

:lulz:

(Just kidding.  It all goes to PD.  If they make a movie about it, we'll just buy Ireland to use as a server room.)

Even better. I'm OK with you hacking it up and doing nefarious things with it. I was a little squeamish about giving ANYONE an opening to do that.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Wizard on March 31, 2011, 01:02:37 AM
QuoteWell, if that's what you want to read into it, feel free. I left it that ambiguous on purpose.

That's what I got from it at least. Also,

QuoteAlso, it was all I could do not to end it with "and then she got eaten by a grue."

:spit:

There goes my soda. Nice job, ECH.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cainad (dec.) on March 31, 2011, 01:05:34 AM
Quote from: Dr. James Semaj on March 31, 2011, 12:58:02 AM
So, that's what the Nessies are doing with the folks they capture. Interesting...plot thickening and all that.

Could also just be what happens when the larvae hatch from their cocoon...awake, aware, and fully functional within minutes.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Wizard on March 31, 2011, 01:09:54 AM
QuoteCould also just be what happens when the larvae hatch from their cocoon...awake, aware, and fully functional within minutes.

Yeah, that could also be the case. That was just the first thing that popped into my head. ECH left it vague, so there's a couple ways it could be interpreted. Though, I think your idea is less of a stretch.

Also, Jenne, really nice work!
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Jenne on March 31, 2011, 01:10:43 AM
Thankee...still working on the last bits...I think I have like 2-3 more chapters.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Wizard on March 31, 2011, 01:13:45 AM
QuoteThankee...still working on the last bits...I think I have like 2-3 more chapters.

Can't wait to see them!
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 31, 2011, 01:16:33 AM
It's got the perfect amount of vague.  Leave as is.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Don Coyote on March 31, 2011, 01:47:39 AM
Quote from: Cainad on March 31, 2011, 01:05:34 AM
Quote from: Dr. James Semaj on March 31, 2011, 12:58:02 AM
So, that's what the Nessies are doing with the folks they capture. Interesting...plot thickening and all that.

Could also just be what happens when the larvae hatch from their cocoon...awake, aware, and fully functional within minutes.

Or after being shoved through a tear through time and space.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on March 31, 2011, 02:07:05 AM
**Recording.  Tunnel 9 Gymnasium.  6/23/13 0900**

"This is the fucking gym!?"

"Hayes?  What are you doing here?"

"I told you the other day, I'm trying to keep my nerves down.  Makes sense, really, I used to enjoy walking so I might as well keep doing it.  Even if it is in place.  Never saw the use in that topside but I guess when the alternative is Tunnel 13 I'll settle for this."

"Never thought I'd live to see the day."

"Poor choice of words, given our predicament.  How have I never been here before?  Seen what a sorry state this is.  Did they actually bring this stuff down to the sewers because it looks like they just found it as is and decided to make the best of it."

"Heavy objects and stationary walkways, what more do you need?"

"Could stand to gaze at a finer arse than yours, for one."

"So how's the late shift?"

"What late shift, I work seven to three now."

"They moved you?"

"Nah, see, I figure if we're down in this pit there isn't much use for thinking of time by daylight.  So I work seven to three, and you work seven to three, it just happens that there's an eight hour difference between your seven to three and mine."

"A bit strange."

"Like I said, trying to be healthier.  Working seven to three, I can wake up, go work my shift, have a quick bite and then come to the gym, running into a fine co-worker like yourself, Palmer.  Seeing one of those psychiatrists they've got down here, voluntary rather than mandatory like the servoheads.  Learning French."

"Get the fuck off, learning French?"

"Knew you were a smart one.  And quite an early riser, I see, it's what, one in the morning for you?"

"No, Hayes, it's nine, like it is for everyone else, and the Paynites, you know, who run the place?"

"Ah me and the Paynites have another thing to disagre on then."

"Speaking of which.  I hear you spoke with the Chaplain?"

"Don't worry, they don't know anything about the plan.  They wanted me to - hey, Palmer.  What do you do during your down time at work?"

"My particular seven to three happens to be very busy, but they've got me reviewing vids when there isn't a team out."

"What kinds of vids?"

"Scout, mostly.  You want to talk about the Templars being crazy.  These fuckers jump in cold.  They run topside, see, no armor so they don't raise suspicions.  Usually younger guys, fast ones.  Go up above with a list of locations, make sure they aren't spotted, and jump right into the nearest manhole, grate, whatever leads to the sewers."

"Fuck off, that's nuts.  Do they ever make it out?  How have I not heard about this?"

"We've got some good ones, but yeah, we lose them.  And if you think it ain't pretty what Nessies do to armor.  Thing is, they don't talk about the scouts because the scouts go above.  It's quite an enviable job, you'll have to admit, being able to walk about like a normal person."

"And that's where your info comes from.  Palmer I'm starting to think you're a clever bastard and it's frightening.  Speaking of which, what's the latest word?"

"It's like we aren't even trying.  Got the odd press coming down to investigate, but that's on account of the locals getting their attention."

"No government, then?"

"When's the last time you got any official attention?"

"Aside from the police?"

"I think we're better off getting some involvement down here if we elect a Nessie to Parliament.  I think the Paynites have a bit more pull than we thought."

"Let's find out.  Next time you talk to your scout, get him in touch with the press again.  This time, don't even talk about the Nessies.  Have them look into the Paynites - they're big, but they're local.  Tell them to follow the money.  Follow the fucking money.  Find out how a new little church can pay us bastards and outfit a bunch of servoheads in this high tech stuff.  Maybe if we can find their seat of power we can put a lever on it to get some actual armies down here to wipe these Nessies out."

"That's the thing, Hayes, about that runner.  Didn't make it back from the last mission."

"Rotten luck."

"I'm not sure.  Before this guy I had another contact, and the day after one meeting he got torn up on a run.  Got me thinking.  What if they're sending the ones I'm involved with to the dangerous drop-ins?  Don't know if I can be responsible for any more of them."

"If they know about you, then you'd be the one that got attacked."

"Yeah, but maybe it's not me, maybe they're seeing the contacts they're having above.  I just don't know, Hayes."

"There has to be a way to get to the media.  Think about it, government troops down here instead of mercenary rejects.  What chance would the Nessies have?"

"Bugger it.  I just don't think it's worth it."

"Not sure I follow."

"Hayes.  You ever thought about leaving?"

**End Recording**
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on March 31, 2011, 02:18:50 AM
Semaj, I used Frye's name here because I like the name and I was looking to keep the cast down.  I'll gladly change if that's not alright.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: East Coast Hustle on March 31, 2011, 02:21:58 AM
:mittens:

Love where it seems like your story arc is going, EoC!
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 31, 2011, 02:23:41 AM
I'd like to invoke the Thieves' World Rule:

You can use - but not use up (without permission) - each others' characters.

Please do try to keep them IN character, though.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Juana on March 31, 2011, 02:41:05 AM
I support this. Carol Lawrence, if anyone needs a frightened biologist, is up for use. And my post is kopyleft/whatever.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Wizard on March 31, 2011, 02:41:43 AM
QuoteSemaj, I used Frye's name here because I like the name and I was looking to keep the cast down.  I'll gladly change if that's not alright.

No problem. Samuel Fry is just a recurring character in my head. I'd ask you use the Thieves World rules, like Roger suggested, but aside from that have a ball.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on March 31, 2011, 03:41:07 AM
Quote from: Dr. James Semaj on March 31, 2011, 02:41:43 AM
QuoteSemaj, I used Frye's name here because I like the name and I was looking to keep the cast down.  I'll gladly change if that's not alright.

No problem. Samuel Fry is just a recurring character in my head. I'd ask you use the Thieves World rules, like Roger suggested, but aside from that have a ball.

Alright, not knowing what the Thieves World rules are (I'll google later) and this being a recurring character for you, I'll change the name.   :)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Wizard on March 31, 2011, 04:15:15 AM

QuoteAlright, not knowing what the Thieves World rules are (I'll google later) and this being a recurring character for you, I'll change the name.

No need for that. Thieves world rules means we can use each others characters as long as we dont' kill them. That's all. Go ahead and use the character.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on March 31, 2011, 04:43:28 AM
If I didn't say so earlier, use anything of mine worth using.  Attribute to my real name.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on March 31, 2011, 02:45:44 PM
Now what? What the hell do they want from me? I was roused from the barracks, put in a car and hauled here and nobody is saying a word. They brought me to a red brick 3 story house, told me to go in and wait.

A guy carrying a weapon I have never seen points to a room and I go in and sit down. Damn, I'm so tired. 36 missions under my belt, the last 5 on a Sue squad. I should be dead.

There's a mirror on the wall and I walk over to it. The face looking back is scarred, 3 times my own men had accidentally cut me, hell it was common in close quarter fighting with swords. The hair on the sides was beginning to gray some. Hell, not too bad for a 40 year old, trouble is I was 23.

Outside a stretch Benz pulled up, 5 men got out and fanned around the back door. Another person got out but was surrounded by the men that I couldn't see anything. I heard them come in the house, but they went to another room.

After about 30 minutes the person and their escort left. I was drifting off when there was a light knock and the door to the room I was in opened. I had never seen him, but it had to be <redacted>.

He sat down and started talking, no introduction and no small talk, right to the point. What I was hearing was incredible.

this part of the journal has been deleted for reasons of security.


When I got out of the car I was in the warehouse district. The building we went to was distant from the others though. Then I saw the damn thing. It looked like a skid of sorts, completely enclosed and just big enough for one man to lay face down in it.

There were 4 impulse guns, 2 mounted forward and 2 mounted backward. When I got in there were screens attached to cameras so I could see where I was going and what was around me. The hull was made out of <redacted> so it could withstand a lot of heat and pressure.

The speedometer read up to <redacted>. This thing would haul. I was the beta test. Great. Well, beats walking, I guess. One weeks training is all I get, then to the tunnels. Let me tell you, I sure paid attention, this thing had switches everywhere. Steering was very touchy too, the slightest move and it was gone. From 0 to <redacted> in <redacted> seconds.

My code name was Streak. That made me laugh, even though it fit.

Journal end.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on March 31, 2011, 05:42:41 PM
**Recording.  Tunnel 9 Operations.  6/24/13  0142**

"So what's your read on Tom?"

"Wanker."

"Payne?"

"Wanker."

"Pixie."

"All those wankers?  She's the reason why."

"Chaplain Baker?  Chaplain Thomas?  Palmer?  Fry?"

"Wanker.  Wanker.  Decent sort.  Wanker."

"Well what about The Old Man?"

"War."

"What?"

"War.  Of the Apocalypse.  Rides a Red Horse.  The Old Man is a rare sort because he's the only one that manages to be perfectly sane and all kinds of hard in the tunnels.  And you can measure the rest of the servoheads by him.
Take a look at the next crew that goes with him.  The ones that seem to fit by him, those are warriors.  The rest, that avoid him or breathe a big sigh of relief when it's over, those are just the psychos and the poor fuckers who signed up for the worst job under the earth.  Got to be something supernatural about him, too; calls me Alec.  Never gave him my first name."

"Yeah, he calls me Sam too."

"Well that's what everyone calls you."

"No, they call me Sams."

"Hold off, your name is Sam Sams?  Oh that's fucking rich."

"Say what you like, I've heard it before.  Usually go by my middle name, anyway.  So what do you think the other horsemen are?"

"Death's easy.  Death is the Nessies.  Famine, now, famine I figure is going to come when the Payne juice runs out."

"Hayes.  Runs out?"

"Said it yourself, this is a top quality drug.  It's not like they're brewing it in the shitter, right?  And you can't exactly make off with some stuff like that without someone noticing.  And the servoheads are getting addicted.  Using more and more of it per troop, plus more troops all the time.  Yeah, I figure Famine will be when we have a bunch of high powered addicts willing to do just about anything for a dose."

"You know I'm not taking it anymore, right?"

"Didn't make much sense for you to, honestly.  It jacks you up, and it seems you needed a calming down more than that."

"I needed to forget, which is why it helped.  But I might need it again."

"Oh?"

"I'm thinking about joining the Templars."

"Fuck me.  I think we just found Pestilence.  'S you.  Plague upon my fucking mind."

**End Recording**
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 31, 2011, 05:50:34 PM
HA!  I love the idea of The Old Man as War.

I still haven't decided if he's actually thousands of years old, or if he's just a nutter.

I think I'll leave it open-ended.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on March 31, 2011, 05:54:14 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on March 31, 2011, 05:50:34 PM
HA!  I love the idea of The Old Man as War.

I still haven't decided if he's actually thousands of years old, or if he's just a nutter.

I think I'll leave it open-ended.

I read the part as a very "I was there.  I've always been there.  I'll always be there."  Sounded like War to me, but yeah, it could go either way, and that's the awesome part.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cainad (dec.) on March 31, 2011, 06:39:49 PM
Heh, I was kind of amused by the way "The Old Man" creates the initials "TOM", whether or not that was intended. EoC's version is pretty cool, though.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 31, 2011, 06:42:43 PM
Quote from: Cainad on March 31, 2011, 06:39:49 PM
Heh, I was kind of amused by the way "The Old Man" creates the initials "TOM", whether or not that was intended. EoC's version is pretty cool, though.

Definitely not the same guy.  Tom loved it too much, and to The Old Man, it's just another gig.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on April 01, 2011, 12:27:53 AM
**Recording.  Tunnel 9 Operations.  6/24/13  0255**

"When was the last time I told you you're a bloody fool?"

"Actually that specific choice of words, this is the first."

"Mark it, it's nearly eleven in the morning."

"This again?  It's two fifty-five a.m."

"One day you'll see the benefits of Hayesian Standard.  Oh, scratch that, you'll get killed before then because you're signing up to be a tin of meat fighting nature's most efficient tin openers!"

"What makes you so sure I'll get killed?"

"Have you ever put on the power armor?"

"Not as such."

"Have you ever held a sword?"

"Well no."

"Have you even ever been in a fistfight?  Look, don't answer that, none of the answers matter.  I'm sure you'll get killed because they all get killed."

"The Old Man hasn't."

"Oh The Old Man hasn't, alright, well then you best get to training to be a grizzled old fucker.  It starts twenty years before you were born."

"Not everyone gets killed, Hayes, and getting killed is besides the point.  It's doing the right thing."

"The right thing is being an Operator that most of those servoheads would kill to be brainy enough to accomplish.  So as to avoid the whole wading around in human shit in a suit that sticks a plug up your arse."

"And recruits keep coming to do just that."

"Let me tell you why recruits keep coming to Payne.  It's religious fervor of a kind never seen.  Not that it's any more powerful than, say, the Crusades, but that it's a new type.  It's never been done."

"What's that?"

"Every religion grows by its sell.  Have you accepted Christ in your heart, or do you know of the Buddha or some shite.  You follow?"

"Of course."

"Now a nation grows strong on its sense of duty.  The yanks had the 'ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country' bit, and it works.  Sacrifice of the people to make the cause stronger."

"What's this got to do with Payneism?"

"The fundamental difference between the two is this.  Your common religion says, basically, 'you need us.'  It attracts the impoverished, the guilty, the weak, not to make the goal more real but to just be a part of something bigger.  It's solace.
Payneites are fed the opposite.  'We need you.'  It's a recognition of the strength of the individual it's being told to.  It's a sense of duty, the kind that's mixed with a religious strength.  That's the scariest bit, too, because the Payneites aren't even hiding it - they call their troops bloody Templars!"

"You and I have talked about this before, though, in a sense.  Payne might not be doing the best thing, but at least he's doing something."

"That's true, but ask yourself this.  Say we win this.  Say The Old man steps into the sewers tomorrow and slays every last Nessie.  What then?"

"I suppose we'd all go home."

"Maybe you would, and that's probably what makes you an Operator.  The servoheads?  They just going to waltz back into a normal life soon as it's all done?  That's why this whole thing is dangerous.  You've got a group of drug addled killers whose primary existence is based on the idea that they're needed.  Either you tell them they aren't needed any more when the Nessies are dead, or you find them another thing to be needed for."

"I just can't see it turning into all that."

"At least think on it.  And preferably without a servomotor whirring away behind your head."

"Hayes.  You really think it'll all turn into a religious war, after the Nessies?"

"No.  I don't think there'll be an after the Nessies."

**End Recording**
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Juana on April 01, 2011, 03:22:03 AM
Oooh! :mittens: That's wonderful!



I don't know what's going on anymore. The news keeps saying it's the gangs who're doing all these disappearances, but I don't believe that now! I saw little old lady and her dog get yanked down into the sewers through a storm drain just this morning and unless the gangs have taken up singing like...like sirens, and grown long sharp claws for fingers, it's not them. I'd think I was hallucinating if I hadn't gone back this afternoon to check. There's long slashes through the metal storm drain and they look fresh, new and bright in the sunlight. I don't know what made them, but they're not the gangs like everyone's insisting.

I do know, though, that I wanted to follow that singing, and I felt like I could almost hear the words.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Jenne on April 01, 2011, 04:54:38 AM
Quote from: Hover Cat on April 01, 2011, 03:22:03 AM
Oooh! :mittens: That's wonderful!
Agreed!  I gotta get the other installments out before I take off for Spring break on Sunday, dammit.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: East Coast Hustle on April 01, 2011, 07:41:23 AM
EoC is on fucking fire.

:mittens:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: LMNO on April 01, 2011, 01:43:09 PM
WHO SAID THAT THE BOARDS WERE DEAD?  I ASK YOU!



Fuck... this whole thing is so damn good. 
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on April 01, 2011, 01:47:32 PM
Quote from: LMNO, PhD on April 01, 2011, 01:43:09 PM
WHO SAID THAT THE BOARDS WERE DEAD?  I ASK YOU!



Fuck... this whole thing is so damn good. 

I have never seen anything like this.  Y'all amaze me.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on April 01, 2011, 04:20:15 PM
When does it get put together?
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on April 01, 2011, 05:34:08 PM
TGGR's on it. I'm working on some concept art in the meantime. Watch this space.

ETA: oh and keep posting - this shit has me inspired like I aint been in a long time
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on April 01, 2011, 08:47:20 PM
**Recording.  Tunnel 9 Operations.  6/24/13  0534**

"Sams, you said you'd met Payne before, right?"

"Of course.  Actually surprised you haven't.  For the leader of such a big thing he's quite accessible."

"Never said I haven't.  What was your read on him?"

"Brilliant, but not so much in the way, say Einstein was brilliant.  I mean, maybe he is but I couldn't know that.  No, more like he had answers to things.  Questions we never even thought of before.  Why do you ask?"

"Looking into a theory I have."

"Another one?  Maybe you should apply all this thinking to Nessies instead of Payneites.  Hell, you could probably think them to death."

"All these vids I don't know I've seen a single person think in the presence of a Nessie."

"Oh yes, the dumb servohead fixation you've got."

"No, I mean those creatures get you working on an instinctual level.  You either fight them because it's what you were born to do, or you focus all your thoughts on not running away and fight them anyway.  I reckon the deep thinkers are the ones with their suits sliced open and sunk to the bottom of the muck."

"Ah.  Well what was this about Payne this time?"

"Got trapped in a conversation with a servohead lately.  Try to avoid those, they're an unnerving bunch.  Never can tell when they're on the juice, actually.  Well he started talking about Payne.  Painted this picture of the fella like some glorious leader, a regular Napoleon, standing to lead his men on the morning of a great victory.  Started talking about sermons delivered with hellfire, mad prophet's words that stir your soul, like.
Got me wondering if this was the same bloke I met."

"I suppose he's like any other person.  Rises to meet the occasion and such.  Does what's necessary."

"Thought that too, but this is something else.  It's like they're talking about a whole other person.  You have the guy gazing in the beyond, they've got him lighting fires in their heads."

"Well, what do you see in Payne?"

"I see a regular fellow.  Same as you or me.  Maybe a bit on the wilder side, someone you'd have a pint with, not talk about the weather.  Seemed like he didn't even choose to be in the position he's in, like he doesn't want it.  And I don't mean doesn't want to fight Nessies, but doesn't want to have such a following, even.  But he does it anyway."

"Here I thought you didn't like the guy."

"Never said that.  Actually if it's going to be anybody leading these folk I'd prefer it be him.  The worst thing that could happen would be someone getting such devotion and actually wanting that."

"So it's not as bad as you were talking about earlier tonight.  As if this whole thing'll blow up if - when we're done with the Nessies."

"Questionable.  I hear that Christ fellow was a good sort in his day as well, and look how that turned out when he wasn't around."

"It's like you said, though.  At least he doesn't want it like this.  At least he knows he's got responsibilities and such to turn it out for the best."

"Yeah, but who says I'm right?"

"You do, most often."

"Funny.  But if you see him your way and the servoheads see him theirs, what's to say I don't just see him as reluctant leader because it's what I want to see?  And I don't know what's more frightening.  That I don't know what he's really like, or that he might not either."

**End Recording.**
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Jasper on April 01, 2011, 09:28:02 PM
Hell's bells.  This is GOOD!
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 02, 2011, 02:34:18 AM
This is really amazing stuff, guys. I'm sorry I haven't read the thread before now. I am impressed.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Requia ☣ on April 02, 2011, 02:41:48 AM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 02, 2011, 02:34:18 AM
This is really amazing stuff, guys. I'm sorry I haven't read the thread before now. I am impressed.

April fools joke I'm afraid, this thread doesn't really exist.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 02, 2011, 02:42:41 AM
 :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x

Then I guess I won't be joining in.  :x
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Payne on April 02, 2011, 09:37:09 AM
You know, I had no idea this would happen. Oh no, but that's a curse that has afflicted those who 'know' anything since the dawn of time. They only ever know that they didn't know after the fact, no?

But fuck, this isn't a philosophical treatise on knowledge. Philosophy is for those who have food in their belly, and the monsters locked away. And playing word games with the word 'know' is rank amateur hour shit.

I was drunk, as I recall. I'd stumbled into some hole in the road as one does when inebriated. Any more of the details of the before time would be profligate, really.

So I'm in this hole, and there's a rushing sound and it's dark and I'm freaking out you see? I think my shoelace got caught on something as I tumbled head first, so I'm just hanging there upside down arms and legs all spread wide like some Saint Andrew, and I'm twisting in the wind some indeterminate height above the ground. And I mean wind. Some kind of foul subterranean wind that I could feel sliding off me greasilly.

Then I feel something just as greasy but horrifyingly more substantial wrapping around me tentatively. I can't describe what happened next. I was in an adrenaline rush like no other I'd ever had before and it was dark, but I could feel myself lost in some kind of super-sensory survival fight against this thing. Bare hands, mind. Bare hands and DM's.

I'm sitting on the pavement upside again, panting. My clothes are torn and shredded like in a bad zombie flick, hands and face covered in some kind of ichor that clings to everything. The diffuse light from a streetlight some forty feet away, shining through a lightly sieved drizzle casts me in an evenly shadowed and mystic light. And my face aches from the huge grin plastered all over my face.

Never so alive never so free never so alive never so free

I was back down the hole a few weeks later. Then a few days later. Within six months I was virtually living down there. Hell, I WAS living down there from day one. I wasn't alive when I was on the upside.. But you know what I mean, doncha? I needed the things I found and fought down there, and I was to find out later they needed me just as much. A symbiosis born of life and death struggle against each other. I improved my weapons and my skills, and they only grew tougher and more numerous. One could never defeat the other. We were balance personified. But then things changed.

I got The Idea after a few years of combat fed meditation on the subject. I was a priest of a new religion. I was a prophet who could actually free some select few from the mundanity and horror of the upside existence. I could show a glimpse of the totality of infinite human existence to a discple or two. And so I followed through on it - I knew that down below if you don't follow through you are dead, and reasoned that my new mantra would be 'As below, so above'.

So I constructed the first suits - the things were matching me and my new abilities and would only get stronger with additional numbers on my side, the green disciples would be torn apart in their inexperience. I formed the first basics of the mantras and prayers, the distilled Philosophy of Below. I adapted the ritual of communion from the Catholics (I left out the crackers, though) the power of Justification by Faith Alone from Luther and a fucking truckload of Eastern ideas.

Word spread after the first sortie. Slowly, as the first five, the Green Disciples, were taciturn loners really. But it spread. The Idea strengthened, the numbers grew and the equipment and the philosophy adapted. Fighting against what one of the Green Disciples called 'The Nessies' (he swore he actually saw one in full light once) ee were the Glorious Brotherhood, the Neo Cowboys, The Post Angelic Host.

We were writing our doom in ink of ignorance and hubris. A tipping point had been reached now we had an army of the blessed, and the Nessies had to reach balance. And they, it turned out, were better at it than us. Not by much, but enough to overwhelm us if we failed in our resolve. I withdrew from the front line, sickened by what Below had become for me and knowing I was needed above to co-ordinate the now very much neccessary recruitment effort. I had become Payne, The Leader.

And may the universe itself forgive us all we must do to survive.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on April 02, 2011, 09:38:51 AM
Oh, yeah.

Ohhhh, yeeeeah.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Payne on April 02, 2011, 09:44:32 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on April 02, 2011, 09:38:51 AM
Oh, yeah.

Ohhhh, yeeeeah.

I didn't know where to take it really. Just knew that Richter and his Transubstantiation (more on that later) sparked off a train of thought in my head.

I composed this largely during work the last few days, in between the ideas for a huge new project I'm working on.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on April 02, 2011, 09:44:55 AM
Memory module extract from the suit of Templar Hanes, September 2013

...Last one left.  Jones went down 150 meters left.  What the hell?  Funny, we're all measuring time in distance.  

Snap out of it, Hanes.

Right.  The squad's dead, we killed three times our own number in Nessies, but that doesn't break even, and I alone have survived to tell thee...Shit, talking like Coleridge, I must be getting a bit shocky.  Probably that whole "no feet" thing.

Activated my beacon, but I think the Nessies are tracking me.  I can't crawl any further, so I'm priming my suit bomb.

I won't need it, though.  Payne wouldn't leave me to die here...

...Curly, hear me in my hour of need...

End transcript.  Suit bomb apparently defective.  Suit was found (mostly) intact, though Hanes' body was missing and not recovered.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Telarus on April 02, 2011, 10:13:09 AM
Holyshit. I'm only on page 4 and this sit is AMAZING. Nice job everybody.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on April 02, 2011, 11:44:08 AM
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i312/P3nT4gR4m/Hat-1.jpg)

(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i312/P3nT4gR4m/prayer.jpg)

(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i312/P3nT4gR4m/Righteous-Kill.jpg)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on April 02, 2011, 04:25:59 PM
I can't remember ever having this much fun online. You guys rock.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on April 02, 2011, 04:47:32 PM
Pixie administers the eucharist...
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i312/P3nT4gR4m/pixie.jpg)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Pope Pixie Pickle on April 02, 2011, 04:49:02 PM
 :aaa:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cainad (dec.) on April 02, 2011, 04:49:40 PM
:mittens: to the last several posts.

guys I'm running out of mittens to give, halp! this thread is using them all up
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on April 02, 2011, 05:06:13 PM
Recording from new recruit briefing


"Allright, lissen up maggots. This will be your first week of missions, most of you will die, especially if you do not listen to your squad leaders. Do I make myself clear?"

{mumbled sounds of agreement}

"Simple advise for you, take the Juice. If you survive 5 missions then you can decide otherwise. Trust your training, don't think down there, just react. You've all seen the films, but once you see one of these damn things face to face your world will change.

They are fast, powerful and smart. If you are slow, you will be eaten, if this happens make damn sure you don't take anyone else with you. This is the real world now ladies, at least the new real world."

"Sir?"

"Yes?"

"I thought when I signed up I was supposed to be in operations, that's what they told me."

{laugh}

Well, get this straight kid, IF you survive 15 or 20 missions then you may be considered for something like that, until you will do exactly as you are told, when you are told to do it, and how you are told to do it. AM I clear on this?"

"Yes Sir."

"The people in those jobs have paid their dues and most of them have been too badly disfigured to stay in the field. Do Not fool yourselves children, we are in a war, a war for the survival of man kind. Our enemy is faster, stronger and bigger than us. Our brains and equipment close that little gap, but only if you can manage to not get dead.

You are all assigned to Sue squads, your squad leaders have survived at least 5 Sue missions. Keep your mouths shut and your eyes open. Keep your finger on the trigger. Survive 3 missions and we may even ask what your name is."

"Any other questions?"


"Allright, squad leaders take over, get your teams squared away and those assigned duty today, you have one hour to be back here. Make your peace before then."

mumbling and shuffling as teams get together, recording ends


Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on April 02, 2011, 05:13:04 PM
Pent, that fucking art is HOT!
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 02, 2011, 05:15:15 PM
Pent, that art is fucking aces. Absolutely kick-ass.

Loved the last bit, Charley. "Survive three missions we may even ask what your name is." Wow.

Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on April 02, 2011, 05:37:15 PM
The first time you pull the hat on, then feel the spike of pixies needle, straight in the base of your skull, that's the kicker brother. When the visor goes down, that's when it changes. It's down to your ears and your sense of smell and that other sense that nobody seems to talk about, y'know the way you somehow know where everything is? That sense is boosted by the eucharist, brother, you don't need your eyes, that's why the visor's there. Stop you making stupid mistakes cos your vision gets clouded. We fight blind. It's the only way.

When it's quiet and you and your brothers are heading down the tunnels, just before the howling starts. Just before the fucking nessies are on you. That's when you'll shit your armour. Everybody does. First couple of times. And then you feel the bastards, coiling round you, snapping at your legs, clawing at your chestplate. Keep your axe swinging, use your elbow spikes and trust the servos and, if you're really fucking lucky, or really fucking good, or maybe a mixture of the two, you'll come out of there alive and we'll talk again. If you get killed then remember this one thing - it's only killed, no big deal.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on April 02, 2011, 07:05:24 PM
That artwork is great, Pent.

And Payne, that last one just threw off my perception of this world in such a good way.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Payne on April 02, 2011, 07:10:22 PM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on April 02, 2011, 07:05:24 PM
That artwork is great, Pent.

And Payne, that last one just threw off my perception of this world in such a good way.

You're welcome ;)

Quote from: P3nT4gR4m on April 02, 2011, 04:47:32 PM
Pixie administers the eucharist...
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i312/P3nT4gR4m/pixie.jpg)

I may or may not fap to this...  :lulz:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on April 02, 2011, 07:13:56 PM
Recording from new Sue team

"Hey Top."

"Yeah kid?"

"Were you scared the first time?"

"Scared? Hell no. I was fucking terrified. Funny thing though, what I was most afraid of was pissing myself. Don't get me wrong, the thought of going into those tunnels was making me damn near cry, the thought of facing one of those damn monsters made my fucking knees weak. I dunno though, pissing myself would have been the most humiliating thing I could have imagined."

"So, how did you get over it, I mean I am shaking and I don't want to cry."

"Hit the juice kid. Go ahead, do it now. You forget all about the fear, you just want to get down there and kill something after that."

"You don't take it now Sarge."

"No, no need anymore. Listen kid, I don't remember a lot about my first mission, but what I do remember is getting jerked off of my feet from behind and rolling to my feet ready to kill something, I mean anything. It was my squad leader, the fight was over, but I kept pushing on so he had to stop me.

It was a pretty tense minute or two, no doubt he would have killed me if I had gone after him. I remember looking around and the rest of the newborns were as in as bad shape as I was. I only took the juice one more time after that."

"Kid? Hey, kid. hehehe, well, so much for being scared kid.


Move out meatheads, split up , half on one side, half on the other. Look sharp, reports say heavy traffic ahead."

{recording ends with the sound of boots walking off.}

Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Payne on April 02, 2011, 07:56:44 PM
So, you freaks always want to ask me about the 'rituals'. I'll tell you straight up, I don't know how they became what they are. The Communion thing was just a thing to do, you know? The Green Disciples were going Below with me about once a week, and they were all tripping out on The Idea so I threw them the Eucharist. And yeah, originally it was just a glass of wine. Any man deserves a last drink.

I was off my face on The Idea more than they were. I was reading Augustine and Paul and all the early church fathers. I was soaking up all the Buddhist shit I could find, all the Tao. I was quoting Marx and Hegel and Nietzsche at them, losing my intellectual shit in a flood of verbs and nouns. I knew I hadn't defined The Idea with any of it but I kept trying to chip away at the monolith that kept it hidden using any philosophy I could.

Those first five, man. They were fucking giants. We all could see it: from me down to the newest recruit to see the last living Green Disciple. They took those words and gave them real fire. The Idea was mine, but the mission was theirs.

It was Disciple Samson who brought the first notebook to the pre Sortie ritual. I could see him scribbling down notes in the gloom as I ranted myself hoarse. He was rocking himself back and forth on his knees like a Moslem lost in his love for Allah. I remember thinking that we had no Mecca you see. That compasses and maps and direction are meaningless Below. There is Up, and there is the battle and that is everything.

Samson was rapidly becoming something more. He was lethal and resolute in the most astoundingly, primitively, gracful way I have ever seen Below. Above, he was quiet and contemplative. He was the first to build his quarters in the Catacomb. And he was the first to administer the 'Juice. It was pulled out of a kit bag he brought with him to the Sortie ritual, wrapped up in a stained purple stole. It was laid out alongside his Prayer book and a wicked simple looking obsidian dagger so precisely that it reminded me of a surgical table.

And I ranted. This was rolling on now and I couldn't stop, even had I wanted to. The Idea, I could see it in their eyes - they could see the shape of it despite the inability of my words to make it pristine and clear. Samson began the first counterpointed rolling chant behind my words, and soon Evans and Brock and all the rest were doing it. They had obviously prepared this before, but I knew they intended it to honour me and so I was.

Then came Communion. We were celebrating our unity of purpose, and yeah it now seems appropriate that this new unity, this closeness greater than the atms of a neutron star, was to be celebrated by a new ritual. As the Disciples and the recruits took their sip of wine, Samson took the arm and gently inserted the needle. And then he asked me to do it for him, and so I did. I don't know what was in that batch, I never did find out what Samson had used. When I asked him he said it was Nessie blood with an absolutely earnest bent to his words. The other men did too, though we all could see that the fluid resembled nothing of the ichor we returned from our Sorties covered in.

For them, I guess it really was Nessie blood. Belief is powerful. Maybe it was the promise that taking it would allow them to shed Nessie blood. Whatever it was, 'Juice became a part of it all, a link in the ever expanding chain that bound us together.

Samson was the first to die, and we never found out exactly what his Idea was. He went Below without the armour and was torn up so bad that we had nothing to take above with us. Now and again one of the recruits will wear a necklace with what they claim is Samsons trigger finger on it, or his eye. Brutal stuff, but these are brutal times. After Samson was gone, I remained ever after at the threshold of the Below. I was needed there to co-ordinate the ever expanding mission, and I needed to prepare all those children as best as I could.

His last batch of the 'Juice is lined up in five syringes behind the altar, as are his other ritual devices, and the rookies whisper to each other in their bunks at night that Samson isn't really dead, that in some Final Night he will return to don his armour and administer the Last Eucharist and we will all be killed in some final battle against the Below. I don't believe in these things, because we cannot, must not, lose.

Samson was gone, and so too were the others of the First Five. There was another, greater, change to come. For on the heels of the last Green Disciple came Pixie, the Templars and the beginning of the true war.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 03, 2011, 02:43:10 AM
I came up with this small three section story but I'm having trouble prying it out of my head in between work, sleep, work, and work. :S
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Telarus on April 03, 2011, 03:30:05 AM
Quote from: P3nT4gR4m on April 02, 2011, 04:47:32 PM
Pixie administers the eucharist...
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i312/P3nT4gR4m/pixie.jpg

DAMN P3NT. Those are sweet. I was thinking about the servo power-Armor and I got the image in my head that they look a little like the space suits on Stargate Universe (interesting 'ancient'-punk design). These would make great reference material. Links:

http://malor.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/stargate-universe05.jpg
http://josephmallozzi.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/peter-in-uniform.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tvsquad.com/media/2010/11/stargate-universe-the-greater-good.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tvsquad.com/media/2010/06/sguincursionrecap610.jpg
http://popculturezoo.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/NUP_139336_0255.jpg
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Jenne on April 03, 2011, 06:11:48 AM
I got about 4 hours sleep between the outskirts of London and Edinburgh. I'd been on the loop of sleep-then-no-sleep for about a week anyway—why stop now? Payne figured after my "debriefing" in the Sue Zone with the Servoheads I'd need to go up north and talk to his scientists about that Payneite Juice and see if the gas we had in the US would be "effective" like he and his troops seemed to believe.

I put myself on the train because, frankly, driving in buttfuck England is like driving yourself delirious, one kilmometre at a time. They have these roundabout circulars that are Bob-honest built to just drive a man to drink, and those men already in their drink can just drive themselves straight to hell in 'em.

So I picked the station with the most direct route and headed north. I was supposed to meet up with P3nt, Payne's point man in all things computer. I had no idea what that meant, except that P3nt knew who the lab guys were, having worked with them when he was a young whelp in the 80's. What I didn't figure on was that this trip would end up bringin me news that would change my life.

I was met at the station by a cabbie with a name placard, so the guesswork was taken out of that one. I climbed in and sat back in the cushions, trying not to fall asleep. I hoped that when I met up with P3nt, he'd have some coffee hot, dark, thick and ready.

The building we pulled up to was your usual Scots afair—with a hodgepodge of stone and brick, maybe some wood stuck here and there to prop it up against the wind and damp. We rolled up outside and I just could make out a dark doorway where a man threw away a butt into the cobblestones and headed out to meet us, hands in his pockets and head down as he walked. He reached us just as the driver pulled my case out of the boot.

"P3nt? How the hell are ya?" I reached and tried to shake his hand. He looked down at my hand, hesitated a fraction and grabbed me in a quick embrace, dropping it as soon as it happened.

"Rog, shit's not good here. I'm sorry we're meeting like this, Mate, but you know, better now than never."

"Fuck yeah. Let's go in. Do you savages out here do anything but scotch and ale? I need some coffee like a sonofabitch."

"I'll fix ye a cuppa, I might. Let's go in."

The small dark galley that led from the door to the back of the small house-like structure in the front had a hotplate, a stove, a small microwave and a fridgerator that I swear to god dated from 1955.

I watched as P3nt grabbed a mug, instant coffee, and turned on the electric water boiler. When all was in order, he turned to me with a raised brow and a question in his eyes. I knew what it was.

"He's fine. Pix is too. But I know they are missing life as it is. Or was."

P3nt seemed to know what I mean and sighed. He lit a cigarette, offered me one, which I declined, shrugged and leaned back on the sink in the corner of the room, blowing smoke in a thoughtful manner.

"I tell ye what, Roger. If I had a DIME for every mate that I saw coming back from these godforsaken tunnels, fucked up six ways to Sunday...I'd be a very fucking rich bugger."

"I was there, not seven hours ago. P3nt, I know what's wrong, but I can't begin to know how to fix it. If you nuke the whole underground of London, you destroy the people up above. The mobilization it would take to evacuate the whole city and its surroundings...it boggles the mind. Blows me away."

"Aye. But what's to do? Payne's killin' himself, and I'm fair tied up here, working the internet underground for him. Life as we know it, it's at a stand still it is, and I'm fair done with it. We was hoping you would be part of the solution, and I'm hoping with what we show ye tonight, it'd be on its way to be finished."

"I'm curious as to what that could be. Payne was mighty mysterious in London," I replied, accepting the cup of steaming brew from P3nt's hands. I blew the steam off and sipped, hoping as he was that tonight, we'd all get some answers. I didn't have a clue how much I could actually be of help to these comrades in arms, but I was willing to try.

Three hours later I was standing in front of a hugeass computer, trying to understand what any of this had to do with the battle going on underground in London.  As P3nt was explaining to me how the configurations of different battle plans were going, I got a call on my private cell.  I excused myself and walked out of the building.

The chill air made my breath puff out in little expirations of steam.  "Yes," I said, "this is he."

"Sir, your brother's been injured.  He's in the OR, and they are prepping him for surgery now."

"Fucking shit."  I sat on my heels, against the brick wall on the outside of the bunker that P3nt's men were in, feverishly working on strategies that might work for the Payneites.  "What happened?"

"Sir, I don't know, I was given this message ten minutes ago to give to you.  I know he was in a battle in Utah, and that there was a considerable loss of life, but I don't know what's wrong or how he was injured."

I stared down at my feet, wishing I'd had one of P3nt's cigarettes in my hand.  A deep drag on some nicotine would be helpful at this moment.  "Thank you.  I'll be on the next plane out.  Can I have his location?"

"Sir, we'll have someone meet you in Salt Lake City.  Text your flight information to this number."  The voice on the line gave me some digits, and I recorded them into my phone, hanging up after we were done.

Fuck.  I had to wrap things up quickly here, and I'd barely begun.  I should have taken a partner.  Doing this shit alone had its definite drawbacks.

"P3nt, I've gotten some bad news.  Shit's hit the fan back home, my brother's in the hospital.  What can we do here in the next hour before I have to get back on a train and take a plane the fuck outta here?"

P3nt looked at me with that raised eyebrow of his and considered.  I'll show you something no one outside of this building's seen.  Others only know and have heard of."

What.  The.  Fuck.  "Ok."  I hesitated a fraction, P3nt saw it and laughed for about ten seconds straight, side-splitting, gut-wrenching belly laughs that started from his groin and made their way up through his mouth.

He straightened up finally and took me through a corridor, into a stairwell and down, down, under the floor.  I could tell this was not your usual "into the basement" affair.  There was a whole different, clinical atmosphere here.  And this is probably what Payne had sent me to see.

"You see, Rev," P3nt said, as he pushed a series of code buttons into a keypad display on a door at the end of a hallway, overhead fluorescent lights blinking on and off, washing out his complexion to where he looked not a little ethereal, "this shit's, well, a little off the hook."

And then I saw it.   Actually, I smelled and heard it before I saw it.  That same, sickly sweet smell I'd encountered in the tunnels under London was present, and a high-pitched keeling wail assaulted my ears at the same time.  P3nt had captured a "Nessie," a beastie...  In Scotland, of all places.
...

On the plane back from Edinburgh, I considered several things.  First and foremost, I had to go see Junior.  I got more details from his wife out in Colorado.  Janey had always liked me, though we hadn't always seen eye to eye on things.  I egged Junior on, whereas she had always wanted him to take a desk job and take the "high road" in life.  My attitude had always been:  Fuck that.  

Though, if she'd had it her way, he'd probably not be in this mess and not be in the recovery room of a hospital out in Utah.

Janey'd given me the low-down on Junior's condition, and he was fine, not in a coma or nothing, just needed some surgery after a C4 blast had given him a run for his money.  The latest mission had gone badwrong, and Junior'd been on the front lines.  I asked Janey if she'd be meeting me out there, and she replied that she was more or less warned by Junior's second in command to stay put and watch out for anything havey cavey at home.  Some of the homefront operatives' homes had been burgled recently, and many of them had shit stolen, mostly their cell phones, laptops, CPUs off their desktop computers, any files at home that weren't personal, etc.

This worried me somewhat, as I hadn't been home to safeguard my own shit in days.  I know I had Crazy Eddie's information in an encrypted file on my phone as well as my desktop computer at home.  If shit's gonna hit the fan, I didn't want to be the guy who started it all.

Thinking back to the monstrosity I'd seen in P3nt's underground bunker in the lab building...I just didn't know how I was going to process all I'd seen.  I wanted to go home and assume the fetal position after a few shots of cheap whiskey, but then I figured that'd be the pussy's way out.

No, the best thing to do was to meet this shit head on.  P3nt's "beastie" just didn't fit what we'd all thought.  It responded to light, sound and smell.  No one could tell if it was male or female, but it did show emotion.  P3nt shared with me that at one point, they played Lionel Ritchie's greatest hits for ten hours straight, and it eventually beat itself into unconsciousness.

The boys in London had found this one about three months ago, thinking it was a baby, as it was tiny and could be transported in a truck up north.  P3nt's men were experimenting on it daily, and its susceptibility to the elements is what made Payne and everyone else think it might respond to nerve gas, similar to what we were generating in the US.  I thought I could get a handle on Crazy Eddie's resources and smuggle some to P3nt or Payne, but I'd have to get Crazy Eddie to agree.  Since the fucker had one AWOL, that might be harder than I thought.

We touched down into Salt Lake City airport, and again I was met right outside the gate by a guy with a placard and a towncar, and off we went to find my brother, damn his hide.
...

I hate hospitals.  There's no way I want to spend more than an hour or two, tops, in one.  Of my own free will.  But, when my little brother is in a bed, fixed up to tubes and monitors, I guess I have to just submit.

He came to after I'd been there for the better part of an evening, and his first words shocked the shit outta me.

"Crazy Eddie's dead."

"Junior.  How you feeling?"

"He's dead, Roger.   I'm sorry."

"The fuck, Junior?  You just woke up.  Out of motherfucking surgery.  For chrissakes."

Junior sighed.  He looked tired.  Dark circles under his eyes, a bluish, greenish area under his left  cheek and a split lip, hands all bruised as they lay lifeless on top of the hospital-white sheet.  "I know this is hard for you.  You went through basic with him."

"Shhh.  Just, fuckin' rest already.  We'll—we'll talk tomorrow.  Or later on this morning, whatever the fuck.  I'm just glad you're ok."

Goddammit.  Goddammit all to hell.

Junior closed his eyes.  "Ok," he whispered.  "Have it your way."  He was asleep in two seconds.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on April 03, 2011, 09:44:43 AM
Quote from: Telarus on April 03, 2011, 03:30:05 AM
Quote from: P3nT4gR4m on April 02, 2011, 04:47:32 PM
Pixie administers the eucharist...
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i312/P3nT4gR4m/pixie.jpg

DAMN P3NT. Those are sweet. I was thinking about the servo power-Armor and I got the image in my head that they look a little like the space suits on Stargate Universe (interesting 'ancient'-punk design). These would make great reference material. Links:

http://malor.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/stargate-universe05.jpg
http://josephmallozzi.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/peter-in-uniform.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tvsquad.com/media/2010/11/stargate-universe-the-greater-good.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tvsquad.com/media/2010/06/sguincursionrecap610.jpg
http://popculturezoo.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/NUP_139336_0255.jpg

The way I described the armour to TGRR was "a warhammer 40k marine crossed with a JCB" The more I draw them the more refined my design is getting, Every time I think I've gone as chunky as it's possible to go, whaddya know - it gets chunkier  :lulz:
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i312/P3nT4gR4m/armour.jpg)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on April 03, 2011, 10:36:49 AM
Every mass is different. Sometimes Payne will just sit there, for hours on end, just stare at us all, never say a word. Other times he climbs up on the pulpit, stamps his foot on the book and screams at us. Sometimes it's not even words he's saying, he's just screaming, like he's talking in tongues. We all listen. Cos, even when you can't make out the words, you know he's still telling the truth up there.
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i312/P3nT4gR4m/brimstone.jpg)

(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i312/P3nT4gR4m/Up-close-and-personal.jpg)

Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Richter on April 03, 2011, 12:57:23 PM
:mittens:

You gave the armor a look without falling into the "look" of any other common sci-fi armors.  Great stuff.
Nice and menacing on Pixie/payne/nessies too.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on April 03, 2011, 01:12:17 PM
Thanks, man! I'm still trying to get the armour right but the more I sketch the more it's coming together.
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i312/P3nT4gR4m/formation.jpg)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 03, 2011, 04:59:03 PM
Kick-ass, Jenne!
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on April 03, 2011, 07:43:47 PM
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i312/P3nT4gR4m/surprise.jpg)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Jasper on April 03, 2011, 07:46:56 PM
YES
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on April 03, 2011, 09:42:57 PM
Listen, dregs!  Listen, lost!  Listen, wanderers, and heroes!  Listen repressed warriors, listen brave philosophers, listen questioners and brawlers!  Listen!

We are humankind.  Your Gods, whichever wrong path you follow, saw fit to throw to us ill conceived tests.  Tens of thousands of years of triumphs.  We fought beast and we mastered them.  We survived the breath of titans and the rumbling of deeply sleeping ancients.  We grasped the infinity of the sky; we've played with it.  We even fight one another, with sword and gun, with rhetoric and invention.  And still we triumph.

But there is something else.

There is a thing above mankind.  Finally, for all the suffering incurred by our own greatness we are rewarded.  We are given this because there is nothing else!

It is stronger than us.  We are a frail specimen and even as such adapted to overcome.  It can crush us even as we augment ourselves with steel flesh, for what is the servo but an extention of ourselves.

It is more relentless than us.  With a singularity of purpose it hunts.  It thinks as one and alone, together, a synchronicity and a capacity for individual thought both.

It is smarter than us.  Because it watches us, learning our brutality and ingenuity.  It improves while we grow stagnant.

This is a gift, humanity!  It is not a test like our many forgotten undertakings.  It is a gift because it is the End.

And we can kill it.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on April 04, 2011, 01:14:14 AM
Payne, it just occured to me - Templar Samson, Operator Sams.  Was that intentional?  Because the idea of the naive Operator's brother being a ridiculous badass is pretty awesome.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Payne on April 04, 2011, 05:25:25 AM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on April 04, 2011, 01:14:14 AM
Payne, it just occured to me - Templar Samson, Operator Sams.  Was that intentional?  Because the idea of the naive Operator's brother being a ridiculous badass is pretty awesome.

Not his brother, just someone taken by his myth.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on April 05, 2011, 03:27:35 PM
I'm all dried up for now, but this was the most fun I've ever had online.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on April 05, 2011, 03:32:36 PM
It's my humble opinion that, regardless of when Roger decides what bits to play with and possibly publish, there's no reason at all to stop at that point.  This has been amazing, and every last one of you who's pitched in has given me a happy. 
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on April 05, 2011, 06:36:57 PM
Quote from: Luna on April 05, 2011, 03:32:36 PM
It's my humble opinion that, regardless of when Roger decides what bits to play with and possibly publish, there's no reason at all to stop at that point.  This has been amazing, and every last one of you who's pitched in has given me a happy. 

This.  If you're all out, come back later.  Pent is having a field day with this, and I'll be sending him the first panelized stuff this week.

The more the merrier.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on April 05, 2011, 06:51:25 PM
I think I have a few more conversations in me.  I think the trouble I'm having now is, the world is built, which is what we've been doing thus far.  The rest would be moving forward with it, having some kind of narrative?

Because I have ideas as to where I could go with my part, but I don't want to bring it anywhere it's going to fuck up anyone's work.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on April 05, 2011, 06:55:33 PM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on April 05, 2011, 06:51:25 PM
I think I have a few more conversations in me.  I think the trouble I'm having now is, the world is built, which is what we've been doing thus far.  The rest would be moving forward with it, having some kind of narrative?

Because I have ideas as to where I could go with my part, but I don't want to bring it anywhere it's going to fuck up anyone's work.

Just write.  I'll put them into panels in the order that makes sense, which will not be chronological as posted.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 05, 2011, 06:56:27 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on April 05, 2011, 06:55:33 PM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on April 05, 2011, 06:51:25 PM
I think I have a few more conversations in me.  I think the trouble I'm having now is, the world is built, which is what we've been doing thus far.  The rest would be moving forward with it, having some kind of narrative?

Because I have ideas as to where I could go with my part, but I don't want to bring it anywhere it's going to fuck up anyone's work.

Just write.  I'll put them into panels in the order that makes sense, which will not be chronological as posted.

That answers something I was wondering about too. Cool.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on April 05, 2011, 06:57:47 PM
This thing could have enough sequels to make George Lucas jealous.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on April 05, 2011, 06:59:23 PM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on April 05, 2011, 06:51:25 PM
I think I have a few more conversations in me.  I think the trouble I'm having now is, the world is built, which is what we've been doing thus far.  The rest would be moving forward with it, having some kind of narrative?

Because I have ideas as to where I could go with my part, but I don't want to bring it anywhere it's going to fuck up anyone's work.

I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing. There's some contradictions in here already. When I was designing the helmet I got the idea that these guys were fighting blind, down in the sewers and, at about that time, I realised how awesome it would be if they were hallucinating the nessies and even hallucinating the suits and were actually just down there, rolling about in sewage,with buckets over their heads, tripping balls and killing each other. So I wrote the part about the visor being a blindfold. Then when I was reading back I realised Richter had already described an infra red display. That was when I realised just how little I knew about what was actually going on. I think maybe only one person does actually know, and that's Roger. All the rest is just ideas but it's up to TGRR to sift through these and decide what's canon and what doesn't square with his vision.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 05, 2011, 06:59:45 PM
Or make him buy the rights so he can butcher it into several movies. :P If you want to try to publish it as a graphic novel or a series of stories whatever, Subterranean Press and/or Shock Totem (respectively) might actually give it a go.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on April 05, 2011, 07:00:19 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on April 05, 2011, 06:57:47 PM
This thing could have enough sequels to make George Lucas jealous.

Well, it's there's going to be some mix & match, and some of the stuff will stay in text, where it makes sense.

Richter's prayer, for example, will be either in the background of something else, or in gothic script on the inside back cover.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on April 05, 2011, 07:00:59 PM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 05, 2011, 06:59:45 PM
Or make him buy the rights so he can butcher it into several movies. :P If you want to try to publish it as a graphic novel or a series of stories whatever, Subterranean Press and/or Shock Totem (respectively) might actually give it a go.

I'll sound them out, but I'm reasonably certain we're first going electronic, and print by order.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on April 05, 2011, 07:06:11 PM
Graphic is the format, then?  I was pretty sure I'd seen that earlier, which was why I went with the script style.  Not sure I mentioned it earlier but if any of my stuff makes the cut, attribution can go to RL name.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on April 05, 2011, 07:07:45 PM
Don't worry about if your writing fits with the rest.  If it doesn't fit, but is good stuff, it can always be tapped gently with a sledgehammer until it DOES fit... or presented as the delusions of somebody who's looked deeply into the eyes of a Nessie...
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on April 05, 2011, 07:10:08 PM
Quote from: Luna on April 05, 2011, 07:07:45 PM
Don't worry about if your writing fits with the rest.  If it doesn't fit, but is good stuff, it can always be tapped gently with a sledgehammer until it DOES fit... or presented as the delusions of somebody who's looked deeply into the eyes of a Nessie...

I just sharted. Out loud. In my mouth!  :lulz:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on April 05, 2011, 07:11:27 PM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on April 05, 2011, 07:06:11 PM
Graphic is the format, then?  I was pretty sure I'd seen that earlier, which was why I went with the script style.  Not sure I mentioned it earlier but if any of my stuff makes the cut, attribution can go to RL name.

It will be both graphic and text.  When I figure out what goes in the first issue, I'll post the list, and ask everyone to PM me with the exact way they want their name to appear.

I'm also kind of torn between crediting on the chapter page, or crediting on the front inside cover.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on April 05, 2011, 07:18:50 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on April 05, 2011, 07:11:27 PM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on April 05, 2011, 07:06:11 PM
Graphic is the format, then?  I was pretty sure I'd seen that earlier, which was why I went with the script style.  Not sure I mentioned it earlier but if any of my stuff makes the cut, attribution can go to RL name.

It will be both graphic and text.  When I figure out what goes in the first issue, I'll post the list, and ask everyone to PM me with the exact way they want their name to appear.

I'm also kind of torn between crediting on the chapter page, or crediting on the front inside cover.

Why not inside front cover for ease and simplicity? BTW, my screen name is IRL name, so accredit that if my stuff makes the grade.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on April 05, 2011, 07:20:52 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on April 05, 2011, 07:18:50 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on April 05, 2011, 07:11:27 PM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on April 05, 2011, 07:06:11 PM
Graphic is the format, then?  I was pretty sure I'd seen that earlier, which was why I went with the script style.  Not sure I mentioned it earlier but if any of my stuff makes the cut, attribution can go to RL name.

It will be both graphic and text.  When I figure out what goes in the first issue, I'll post the list, and ask everyone to PM me with the exact way they want their name to appear.

I'm also kind of torn between crediting on the chapter page, or crediting on the front inside cover.

Why not inside front cover for ease and simplicity? BTW, my screen name is IRL name, so accredit that if my stuff makes the grade.

EOC was doing fine at peedeedotcom, until he played the Ambassador Klock Kaos gambit ....


ETA: Damnit - that was Charley. I'm a dumbass, nothing to see here  :oops:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on April 05, 2011, 07:21:58 PM
Quote from: P3nT4gR4m on April 05, 2011, 07:10:08 PM
Quote from: Luna on April 05, 2011, 07:07:45 PM
Don't worry about if your writing fits with the rest.  If it doesn't fit, but is good stuff, it can always be tapped gently with a sledgehammer until it DOES fit... or presented as the delusions of somebody who's looked deeply into the eyes of a Nessie...

I just sharted. Out loud. In my mouth!  :lulz:

:wink:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on April 05, 2011, 07:23:27 PM
Quote from: P3nT4gR4m on April 05, 2011, 07:20:52 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on April 05, 2011, 07:18:50 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on April 05, 2011, 07:11:27 PM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on April 05, 2011, 07:06:11 PM
Graphic is the format, then?  I was pretty sure I'd seen that earlier, which was why I went with the script style.  Not sure I mentioned it earlier but if any of my stuff makes the cut, attribution can go to RL name.

It will be both graphic and text.  When I figure out what goes in the first issue, I'll post the list, and ask everyone to PM me with the exact way they want their name to appear.

I'm also kind of torn between crediting on the chapter page, or crediting on the front inside cover.

Why not inside front cover for ease and simplicity? BTW, my screen name is IRL name, so accredit that if my stuff makes the grade.

EOC was doing fine at peedeedotcom, until he played the Ambassador Klock Kaos gambit ....


ETA: Damnit - that was Charley. I'm a dumbass, nothing to see here  :oops:

:lulz:

I think ego needs to take a backseat to the project. Just being mentioned as a 'contributing writer, would be more than enough for me.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on April 05, 2011, 07:27:17 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on April 05, 2011, 07:23:27 PM
Quote from: P3nT4gR4m on April 05, 2011, 07:20:52 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on April 05, 2011, 07:18:50 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on April 05, 2011, 07:11:27 PM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on April 05, 2011, 07:06:11 PM
Graphic is the format, then?  I was pretty sure I'd seen that earlier, which was why I went with the script style.  Not sure I mentioned it earlier but if any of my stuff makes the cut, attribution can go to RL name.

It will be both graphic and text.  When I figure out what goes in the first issue, I'll post the list, and ask everyone to PM me with the exact way they want their name to appear.

I'm also kind of torn between crediting on the chapter page, or crediting on the front inside cover.

Why not inside front cover for ease and simplicity? BTW, my screen name is IRL name, so accredit that if my stuff makes the grade.

EOC was doing fine at peedeedotcom, until he played the Ambassador Klock Kaos gambit ....


ETA: Damnit - that was Charley. I'm a dumbass, nothing to see here  :oops:

:lulz:

I think ego needs to take a backseat to the project. Just being mentioned as a 'contributing writer, would be more than enough for me.

Naw, I thought EOC had posted "my screen name is my real name" as a kind of joke - AKK did the same a while back but without a sense of irony. Nothing wrong with a bit of ego - if you do something cool you deserve recognition.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on April 05, 2011, 07:58:53 PM
Yeah, I got that you were just poking at EoC a bit.  :D
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on April 05, 2011, 08:10:02 PM
Huh?  There was a question about usage and attribution earlier in the thread.  I was answering it because I hadn't yet.

What does this have to do with ego and AKK?   :?
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on April 05, 2011, 08:10:50 PM
was joke
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on April 05, 2011, 08:11:42 PM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on April 05, 2011, 08:10:02 PM
Huh?  There was a question about usage and attribution earlier in the thread.  I was answering it because I hadn't yet.

What does this have to do with ego and AKK?   :?

Nothing at all.  There was just some minor confusion.  Carry on, more good writing, plz!  (Hee, I don't have to wait for the books to come out!)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cainad (dec.) on April 05, 2011, 08:13:22 PM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on April 05, 2011, 08:10:02 PM
Huh?  There was a question about usage and attribution earlier in the thread.  I was answering it because I hadn't yet.

What does this have to do with ego and AKK?   :?

Case of mistaken identity asshattery.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on April 05, 2011, 08:15:57 PM
You fuckers.   :argh!:

I have enough asshattery that I can be held accountable for without being given someone else's.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on April 05, 2011, 08:22:08 PM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on April 05, 2011, 08:15:57 PM
You fuckers.   :argh!:

I have enough asshattery that I can be held accountable for without being given someone else's.

You were mostly an innocent bystander in this one.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on April 05, 2011, 08:22:47 PM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on April 05, 2011, 08:15:57 PM
You fuckers.   :argh!:

I have enough asshattery that I can be held accountable for without being given someone else's.

shaddup-n-take one for the team!  :argh!:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on April 05, 2011, 09:20:22 PM
**Recording.  Tunnel 9 Gymnasum.  6/25/13  0915**

"You know, I don't suppose getting out of here would be any kind of problem."

"Precisely what I was thinking."

"Just a matter of taking a short stroll down a tunnel and popping up above."

"Precisely not what I was thinking."

"Tunnel 13 is probably a decent choice, anyway.  Plenty of sights to see along the way."

"You really think I'm a nutter?"

"Sing songy voices of the Nessies to help you ambling along.  Adventure to be had, and the stunning smell of stirred up shite."

"Where are you going with this, Hayes?"

"Have you really given any thought to this whole getting out business?"

"Course I have.  It sounds like you have as well."

"Been thinking is all."

"So then you're interested?"

"Oh certainly."

"Suddenly have a new desire to breathe the comparatively fresh air of above ground England again?"

"No."

"Not sure I'm following."

"I'm staying."

"You just said -"

"The kid, Palmer.  The kid.  Sams.  I want him out of here."

"He wants out?"

"Well that's the tricky bit.  I have to keep working on him.  He's taking something out of our talks."

"Fuck's sake, you've gone soft."

"Only when I'm not thinking about your mum."

"Not sure if you've noticed but time isn't exactly on my side.  This thing gets bigger by the day.  If we don't act now, we might lose our chance."

"The kid needs to go.  It's not fair, him all wrapped up in this.  You and I aren't exactly old fuckers, well, I'm not, but he's right out of University.  He deserves to get his heart torn out by a woman or two before it gets torn out by a Nessie."

"He's an Operator, it's not like he's in immediate danger."

"Yeah, not until the Nessies figure out a way into our hive.  Is it easy convincing yourself we're safe down here when you can hear them horrors echoing about as you're trying to sleep?"

"Still remains that we can't wait to let you preach the light to him until he decides you aren't a nutter.  Well, not about this at least."

"Maybe he doesn't need to think I'm right.  Maybe the suggestion, or order, needs to come from the right direction."

"I can see it.  Dear Sams, get the fuck out our sewers, Love Payne.  And if that'll work on anyone, it'll work on Sams."

"I don't like it, but I'm more comfortable with that than the alternative."

"Whatever you do, get it done within a week.  A week regular time, not your own fucking Hayesian time, by the way.  We're moving on it with or without you."

"And the Paynites don't know about it."

"What do you take me for?  I've been deleting these recordings."

"How the bloody hell you been do that?"

"You take certain actions that compromise ethics that you'd previously held."

**End Recording**
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Dysfunctional Cunt on April 05, 2011, 10:34:06 PM
"Damn me James, I thought I told you to replace the chicken's water?"

"Ma, I told you, the bucket is stuck down the well and I can't bring it up."

"Have you tried just pulling the rope and not using the winch at all?"

"Yes ma'am, its stuck or something because it will pull up so far then nothing."

"Go get your Da from the milking parlor and have him help you with it.  Most likely the rope is stuck on that one stone that sticks out.  If he's too busy, fill their pans from the pump on the backside of the house"

"Yes ma'am."

"Go on now, I'm busy.  You see to it those chickens have water no matter how it gets done."

"Yes ma'am."

She swatted him on the bottom as he scooted out the door into the sunshine. 

The sun was shining she remembered.  It was a glorious day, the kind you thank whatever powers that be there are that you are alive and well with a roof over your head and food in the larder.

She'd been kneading dough for that week's bread and didn't want him all dusty and smelling like a busy little boy in her kitchen.  Time enough when he and his Da came in for lunch in a couple of hours.  Her last loaves would be on the back of the Aga rising with a fresh loaf on the table to cut thick slices from still warm.

She was humming under her breath and really working the dough when she first heard the screams.  At first she thought it was her son playing with the dog or chasing the chickens screaming with laughter.  With a half a smile on her face she walked to the door to tell him to stop pestering her hens or they would stop laying when she saw it. 

Whatever it was, her first thought was that her Grandda's stories when she was a girl had never done these hideous creatures justice.  If this was a Loch Ness monster, then it had certainly evolved.  She kept walking towards the creature, absently wiping a piece of her husband's brain off her face.  She turned her face to the sky as it started to rain.  Holding out her hand she realized the rain was red.  It fascinated her to see the red drops fall into her hand like ruby water.  Looking up she saw her son's legs still kicking as the creature swallowed him down its throat.  A rage she had never felt before filled her and she grabbed the garden hoe by the shed as she ran head on towards the creature brandishing her hoe like a knight with a lance.

She swung once, twice then on the third swing she felt the hoe hit and catch, the blade sharpened for cutting weeds cutting into the creature's skin like a hot knife thru butter.  She yanked it free and hit the creature again and again, dodging its claws and leaping out of the way as it spit some venomous green goo which started to smoke when it hit the ground.  As she turned to take yet another swing she tripped over her husband's legs, looking down she realized the rest of him had been ripped off.  She pushed herself up, preparing to swing again when she realized the creature was sliding into her well, down the rope.  She quickly ran over and hacked at the rope with the hoe.  Just as she made her final cut she felt a burning sensation on the side of her face and she screamed in agony.....  Those screams being the last thing she remembered when she woke up in hospital 6 weeks later.

She opened her eyes slowly, immediately aware she was not in her own bed in her own home.  Her nose twitching from the scent of antiseptic and disease combined.  She looked to her left and realized she could not see out of that eye.  Raising a bandaged hand she touched her face feeling the pebbling and roughness of new scar tissue.  When she tried to open her eye she couldn't, when she touched her eyelid she felt the stitches.  She lay there and took stock, legs, still there, arms, still there, hands, still there but both are heavily bandaged. 

She glances over and sees a small mirror on the side table.  Stretching to reach it she catches a glimpse of her scarred and disfigured face and she starts to scream.....

The nurse quickly comes over with a needle in her hand.  The screams become moans which become a light snore within seconds.

"That was a close one nurse, fast acting with that sedative."

"Yes Doctor, thank you."

"I think just a couple more days and we will be able to let her come awake fully."

"You think Doctor?"

"Yes, we have to let her regain consciousness so she can tell us who attacked her family on their farm."

"Who Doctor?"

Looking sharply over the Doctor snaps "Of course who nurse.  Please do not tell me you are buying into this "creature" nonsense." He asks punctuating creature with finger apostrophes.

"I'll be honest Doctor, I just don't know.  The stories from there are terrible and this kind of thing has been happening almost daily.  Why the morgue is full and the ward is fuller with what is left of the survivors.  How can you not believe?"

"Now nurse, please don't make me replace you, we work so well together."

"Of course not Doctor, it's all utter nonsense."

"That's more like it nurse."

The nurse shook her head as the Doctor walked away.  He was American and just hadn't grown up with the monsters that went bump in the night.  The old stories hadn't made it when the people left in droves for a new land, a monster free land.  They weren't raised with warnings to stay away from the lakes and ponds, to avoid the dark places in the wood or the caves by the sea.  They made up their own monsters, then they elected them to run the country. 

Tsking the ignorance she went on her rounds knowing that when they woke the poor woman in a few days even if she physically survived, her mind was gone.  Because you couldn't look into the eyes of the monster and walk away sane.

She walked down the line to the next horribly disfigured patient, the healing burns on their body looking like they had been purged in the very fires of hell.

She looked up and saw the men in strange uniforms coming towards her.  They were battle worn and shuffling on their feet, their strange almost armor casting odd shadows on the floor.  None would or maybe they couldn't look her in the eye.

"Can I help you gentlemen?"

"Sergeant Hickland ma'am.  Ma'am we have been ordered to transfer this ward to the army hospital on board the HMS Victoria."

"That is impossible sergeant, these patients cannot be moved. Wait, stop your men sergeant, these people cannot....." she sank slowly to the floor never having felt the needle slide under her skin.

"Ok boys, get these people loaded up and taken out of here.  I'll find the Doctor and take care of him then we are out of here.  Private Wimmer, you are sure all the farms in that area have been leveled and the wells blasted in correct?"

"Yes sergeant.  But sarge, the pieces of people, could we not have given them a decent burial and those monsters, sarge what the hell are those things?"

"Ours is not to question Private.  You knew that when you joined.  You do what you are told, same as I do.  I knew it was a thankless job when I joined in '40.  Of course when I joined I thought I'd be fighting the Nazis, not these stinking monsters."  He walked down the ward checking to make sure any personal possessions had been collected and all charts were emptied....  It was a thankless job, he'd sure rather have been shooting some Nazis.

"Grandda, where did you hear such a scary story?" asked the beautiful little girl sitting at the old man's feet?

"Well sweetheart, let me ask you. What is your last name?"

"Wimmer, same as yours." she proclaims with a missing front tooth grin only a child can give.

"Well there you have your answer sweetheart, I lived it."

Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on April 05, 2011, 10:37:06 PM
WOOT!
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on April 05, 2011, 10:42:40 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on April 05, 2011, 10:37:06 PM
WOOT!

Seconded!
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on April 05, 2011, 11:48:05 PM
Thanks to Khara for an entire new thought direction.


Water Borehole Prognosis Report for drinking and irrigation.

To; Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)

CC; Geological Society, Well Drillers Association, CDC

CONFIDENTIAL

Environment agents recently ran water quality tests on a newly drilled water well. The well has been capped and quarantined pending the results of said test.

It has been discovered that an unusually high and potentially (likely, in fact) deadly amount of an unknown highly acidic chemical exists in the ground water supply. Chemists have been working around the clock to identify the chemical, without success.

We are continuing to test other wells in the area and this finding is consistent across the board. Many isolated farms have suffered 100% human casualties from drinking the water. This has been confirmed by post mortem examinations.

We are currently looking into the possibility of newly surfacing pollutants caused by UNDEX from as far back as 1946. A connection is unlikely as the bulk of those explosives were WWII type and had none of the chemicals we have isolated.

All new borehole permits are being denied and any approved in the meanwhile have been revoked.

Physical symptoms include blistering of the skin, infection, loss of motor skills and mental capacity. This has so far been 100% fatal to livestock drinking from any underground water source.

The contamination is increasing, not only in potency but in area as well. Wells that tested clean in the previous week are now contaminated.

Evacuations are being conducted quietly so as to prevent widespread panic and the cities being overran. Currently 2,000 rural residents are being held in a way to prevent any outside communication. Water is being imported from municipal water supplies. The municipal water is showing only trace amounts of the substance at this time.

Please contact this office if there are any questions or


"WHAT THE HELL? What happened to the power, everything just crashed!"

"Sir, we have just been informed there is to be no witnesses, confirm, no witnesses."

"Roger, make sure to grab that fucking hard drive and wipe the rest of them."

"Yes, Sir."
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on April 05, 2011, 11:52:13 PM
This page has just made me jizz intestinal fluid all over my monitor and keyboard. Was beginning to think teh thread was going to die now and, hell, if it had that'd been plenty but no - there's moar  :fap:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Dysfunctional Cunt on April 05, 2011, 11:53:39 PM
Fucking RAH Charley. Glad I added something to work with!!!
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on April 05, 2011, 11:55:28 PM
Quote from: Khara on April 05, 2011, 11:53:39 PM
Fucking RAH Charley. Glad I added something to work with!!!

Damned brilliant idea you had there. :mittens:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on April 05, 2011, 11:57:23 PM
Quote from: P3nT4gR4m on April 05, 2011, 11:52:13 PM
This page has just made me jizz intestinal fluid all over my monitor and keyboard. Was beginning to think teh thread was going to die now and, hell, if it had that'd been plenty but no - there's moar  :fap:

Oh, hell, no, there's plenty more out there.  Just folks lying back, having a smoke, and getting ready for another round.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on April 06, 2011, 07:09:06 PM
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i312/P3nT4gR4m/seraphimmanual1.jpg)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on April 06, 2011, 07:10:31 PM
Sweet!

I've got another bit, but it won't gel...  Gonna let it stew for awhile.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on April 06, 2011, 11:37:32 PM
This should make sense eventually...

(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i312/P3nT4gR4m/servo.jpg)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Wyldkat on April 07, 2011, 02:53:00 AM
   The darkness vibrated with sound.  She could feel it all over her body, but particularly through her feet and that was what she was paying attention to currently.  Part of the brilliant vibrations she felt were from the song of her pack.  She could feel them shifting behind her, slowly growing more impatient, but it wasn't time yet.  They would have to keep waiting for awhile longer.  She looked back at them, the darkness of the Below only allowing faint outlines of black against black.  They were all good fighters, most veterans of many hunts.  Her song shifted expressing her pride in them and theirs warped to match hers.  Pleased that spirits were high she went back to concentrating on the vibrations of the Below.
   She could feel the very faint vibrations of her sister Alpha's pack even with the distance between them.  It wasn't the part of the song her ears could hear, but the deep subsonics that communicated across long distances.  She tuned in to that sensation, readjusting her weight on her haunches, settling in for the wait.  It was one of her sister's pack that was acting as scout this hunt, lying in wait for the next group of armored Above creatures that they knew would eventually venture out into the Below.  The other Alpha was close enough to feel the alert from the single scout and then her pack would sing the signal alerting the other group with the vibrations.
   Her pack was to feast on the first, smaller group while her sister's pack took the larger group by surprise from behind.  They were each expecting to lose about half of their respective packs on this hunt, but there should be much meat to bring back to the den.  It would be a satisfying fight with good rewards.
   Suddenly the strumming deep vibrations shifted urgency and she rose off the ground, changing her song to her pack as she did.  They all rose in unison, their singing mutating to merge with hers, matching it, alerting her sister Alpha that they had received her message.  She led them through the passages in search of their quarry, feeling for the vibrations of metal on artificially made stone and allowing them to guide her to her goal, her song taking on an exhilarated fighting edge and her pack matching her in song and movement.  Nothing could possibly surpass the joy of an Alpha leading her pack on the attack.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on April 07, 2011, 02:58:59 AM
Nice.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: LMNO on April 07, 2011, 03:02:56 AM
Not bad at all.

I'd say a bit... declarative?  Um.  In a way, not vague enough.  It's not the "show, don't tell" problem.  It's... wossname.  Needs more vague, alluded-to horror.  Or pointing at some distant, un-named truth.  Or something.

But maybe that's just me.  Refer to ECH's take on first person Nessie for clarification.

Still, good job, and thanks for jumping in.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Wyldkat on April 07, 2011, 03:53:30 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on April 07, 2011, 02:58:59 AM
Nice.

Thanks.

Quote from: LMNO, PhD on April 07, 2011, 03:02:56 AM
Not bad at all.

I'd say a bit... declarative?  Um.  In a way, not vague enough.  It's not the "show, don't tell" problem.  It's... wossname.  Needs more vague, alluded-to horror.  Or pointing at some distant, un-named truth.  Or something.

But maybe that's just me.  Refer to ECH's take on first person Nessie for clarification.

Still, good job, and thanks for jumping in.

I've read the whole thread from start to finish.  Love this thread...

I'll think on it.  This popped up because I was wondering how the nessies could coordinate over distances.  I was trying to think from their perspective.  Good/Bad is all relative after all.  Might go back and edit it if I can figure out what to tweak.

The other idea that was bouncing around was the hive mind concept that someone else had mentioned earlier.  I was trying to go for a leaders and drones type feel, but I don't think I got it very well.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on April 07, 2011, 04:01:06 AM
Quote from: Wyldkat on April 07, 2011, 03:53:30 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on April 07, 2011, 02:58:59 AM
Nice.

Thanks.

Quote from: LMNO, PhD on April 07, 2011, 03:02:56 AM
Not bad at all.

I'd say a bit... declarative?  Um.  In a way, not vague enough.  It's not the "show, don't tell" problem.  It's... wossname.  Needs more vague, alluded-to horror.  Or pointing at some distant, un-named truth.  Or something.

But maybe that's just me.  Refer to ECH's take on first person Nessie for clarification.

Still, good job, and thanks for jumping in.

I've read the whole thread from start to finish.  Love this thread...

I'll think on it.  This popped up because I was wondering how the nessies could coordinate over distances.  I was trying to think from their perspective.  Good/Bad is all relative after all.  Might go back and edit it if I can figure out what to tweak.

The other idea that was bouncing around was the hive mind concept that someone else had mentioned earlier.  I was trying to go for a leaders and drones type feel, but I don't think I got it very well.

We're kind of not explaining about Nessies.  Or, if people choose to, we're letting contradictions stand in the publication, because eye witness testimony is notoriously shit.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Don Coyote on April 07, 2011, 04:02:37 AM
Quote from: Wyldkat on April 07, 2011, 02:53:00 AM
   The darkness vibrated with sound.  She could feel it all over her body, but particularly through her feet and that was what she was paying attention to currently.  Part of the brilliant vibrations she felt were from the song of her pack.  She could feel them shifting behind her, slowly growing more impatient, but it wasn't time yet.  They would have to keep waiting for awhile longer.  She looked back at them, the darkness of the Below only allowing faint outlines of black against black.  They were all good fighters, most veterans of many hunts.  Her song shifted expressing her pride in them and theirs warped to match hers.  Pleased that spirits were high she went back to concentrating on the vibrations of the Below.
   She could feel the very faint vibrations of her sister Alpha's pack even with the distance between them.  It wasn't the part of the song her ears could hear, but the deep subsonics that communicated across long distances.  She tuned in to that sensation, readjusting her weight on her haunches, settling in for the wait.  It was one of her sister's pack that was acting as scout this hunt, lying in wait for the next group of armored Above creatures that they knew would eventually venture out into the Below.  The other Alpha was close enough to feel the alert from the single scout and then her pack would sing the signal alerting the other group with the vibrations.
   Her pack was to feast on the first, smaller group while her sister's pack took the larger group by surprise from behind.  They were each expecting to lose about half of their respective packs on this hunt, but there should be much meat to bring back to the den.  It would be a satisfying fight with good rewards.
   Suddenly the strumming deep vibrations shifted urgency and she rose off the ground, changing her song to her pack as she did.  They all rose in unison, their singing mutating to merge with hers, matching it, alerting her sister Alpha that they had received her message.  She led them through the passages in search of their quarry, feeling for the vibrations of metal on artificially made stone and allowing them to guide her to her goal, her song taking on an exhilarated fighting edge and her pack matching her in song and movement.  Nothing could possibly surpass the joy of an Alpha leading her pack on the attack.

And then Corporal Jameson woke up in a cold sweat and took a big slug of 'Juice.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Wyldkat on April 07, 2011, 04:27:00 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on April 07, 2011, 04:01:06 AM
Quote from: Wyldkat on April 07, 2011, 03:53:30 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on April 07, 2011, 02:58:59 AM
Nice.

Thanks.

Quote from: LMNO, PhD on April 07, 2011, 03:02:56 AM
Not bad at all.

I'd say a bit... declarative?  Um.  In a way, not vague enough.  It's not the "show, don't tell" problem.  It's... wossname.  Needs more vague, alluded-to horror.  Or pointing at some distant, un-named truth.  Or something.

But maybe that's just me.  Refer to ECH's take on first person Nessie for clarification.

Still, good job, and thanks for jumping in.

I've read the whole thread from start to finish.  Love this thread...

I'll think on it.  This popped up because I was wondering how the nessies could coordinate over distances.  I was trying to think from their perspective.  Good/Bad is all relative after all.  Might go back and edit it if I can figure out what to tweak.

The other idea that was bouncing around was the hive mind concept that someone else had mentioned earlier.  I was trying to go for a leaders and drones type feel, but I don't think I got it very well.

We're kind of not explaining about Nessies.  Or, if people choose to, we're letting contradictions stand in the publication, because eye witness testimony is notoriously shit.

Oh, I know that, I did read the thread.  The nessies just caught in my head and I started wondering about how they worked and that was what happened.  I tried not to put in anything too descriptive, at least not physcially.  If you want me to change anything I can.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on April 07, 2011, 04:28:31 AM
Quote from: Wyldkat on April 07, 2011, 04:27:00 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on April 07, 2011, 04:01:06 AM
Quote from: Wyldkat on April 07, 2011, 03:53:30 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on April 07, 2011, 02:58:59 AM
Nice.

Thanks.

Quote from: LMNO, PhD on April 07, 2011, 03:02:56 AM
Not bad at all.

I'd say a bit... declarative?  Um.  In a way, not vague enough.  It's not the "show, don't tell" problem.  It's... wossname.  Needs more vague, alluded-to horror.  Or pointing at some distant, un-named truth.  Or something.

But maybe that's just me.  Refer to ECH's take on first person Nessie for clarification.

Still, good job, and thanks for jumping in.

I've read the whole thread from start to finish.  Love this thread...

I'll think on it.  This popped up because I was wondering how the nessies could coordinate over distances.  I was trying to think from their perspective.  Good/Bad is all relative after all.  Might go back and edit it if I can figure out what to tweak.

The other idea that was bouncing around was the hive mind concept that someone else had mentioned earlier.  I was trying to go for a leaders and drones type feel, but I don't think I got it very well.

We're kind of not explaining about Nessies.  Or, if people choose to, we're letting contradictions stand in the publication, because eye witness testimony is notoriously shit.

Oh, I know that, I did read the thread.  The nessies just caught in my head and I started wondering about how they worked and that was what happened.  I tried not to put in anything too descriptive, at least not physcially.  If you want me to change anything I can.

Nope.  If I throw yours in an issue (and, obviously, you agree to the terms), I may edit it...If I do, I will run the finished bits past you for your approval.  Other than that, this is open source horror.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Don Coyote on April 07, 2011, 04:28:46 AM
Quote from: Wyldkat on April 07, 2011, 04:27:00 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on April 07, 2011, 04:01:06 AM
Quote from: Wyldkat on April 07, 2011, 03:53:30 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on April 07, 2011, 02:58:59 AM
Nice.

Thanks.

Quote from: LMNO, PhD on April 07, 2011, 03:02:56 AM
Not bad at all.

I'd say a bit... declarative?  Um.  In a way, not vague enough.  It's not the "show, don't tell" problem.  It's... wossname.  Needs more vague, alluded-to horror.  Or pointing at some distant, un-named truth.  Or something.

But maybe that's just me.  Refer to ECH's take on first person Nessie for clarification.

Still, good job, and thanks for jumping in.

I've read the whole thread from start to finish.  Love this thread...

I'll think on it.  This popped up because I was wondering how the nessies could coordinate over distances.  I was trying to think from their perspective.  Good/Bad is all relative after all.  Might go back and edit it if I can figure out what to tweak.

The other idea that was bouncing around was the hive mind concept that someone else had mentioned earlier.  I was trying to go for a leaders and drones type feel, but I don't think I got it very well.

We're kind of not explaining about Nessies.  Or, if people choose to, we're letting contradictions stand in the publication, because eye witness testimony is notoriously shit.

Oh, I know that, I did read the thread.  The nessies just caught in my head and I started wondering about how they worked and that was what happened.  I tried not to put in anything too descriptive, at least not physcially.  If you want me to change anything I can.

Knowing how the monster thinks make it less scary. If you know what it wants, how and why it does things you can start to predict it more. Put it into your world filter. The Unknown is the scariest thing of all.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on April 07, 2011, 04:31:42 AM
Quote from: Donald Coyote on April 07, 2011, 04:28:46 AM
Quote from: Wyldkat on April 07, 2011, 04:27:00 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on April 07, 2011, 04:01:06 AM
Quote from: Wyldkat on April 07, 2011, 03:53:30 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on April 07, 2011, 02:58:59 AM
Nice.

Thanks.

Quote from: LMNO, PhD on April 07, 2011, 03:02:56 AM
Not bad at all.

I'd say a bit... declarative?  Um.  In a way, not vague enough.  It's not the "show, don't tell" problem.  It's... wossname.  Needs more vague, alluded-to horror.  Or pointing at some distant, un-named truth.  Or something.

But maybe that's just me.  Refer to ECH's take on first person Nessie for clarification.

Still, good job, and thanks for jumping in.

I've read the whole thread from start to finish.  Love this thread...

I'll think on it.  This popped up because I was wondering how the nessies could coordinate over distances.  I was trying to think from their perspective.  Good/Bad is all relative after all.  Might go back and edit it if I can figure out what to tweak.

The other idea that was bouncing around was the hive mind concept that someone else had mentioned earlier.  I was trying to go for a leaders and drones type feel, but I don't think I got it very well.

We're kind of not explaining about Nessies.  Or, if people choose to, we're letting contradictions stand in the publication, because eye witness testimony is notoriously shit.

Oh, I know that, I did read the thread.  The nessies just caught in my head and I started wondering about how they worked and that was what happened.  I tried not to put in anything too descriptive, at least not physcially.  If you want me to change anything I can.

Knowing how the monster thinks make it less scary. If you know what it wants, how and why it does things you can start to predict it more. Put it into your world filter. The Unknown is the scariest thing of all.

That was my thinking.  It turns from horror to fear, which has less impact.

Still, it's open source.  Anyone can write what they please (within the Thieves World Rules), but nobody is expected to conform to anyone else's story line.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Don Coyote on April 07, 2011, 06:46:14 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on April 07, 2011, 04:31:42 AM
Quote from: Donald Coyote on April 07, 2011, 04:28:46 AM

Knowing how the monster thinks make it less scary. If you know what it wants, how and why it does things you can start to predict it more. Put it into your world filter. The Unknown is the scariest thing of all.

That was my thinking.  It turns from horror to fear, which has less impact.

Still, it's open source.  Anyone can write what they please (within the Thieves World Rules), but nobody is expected to conform to anyone else's story line.

So many horror movies just end up blowing because of that.

30 days of night? WOULD HAVE BEEN FUCKING TERRIFYING if they hadn't made the reveal that the whatsits that were cause troubles were vampires.
Vampires aren't even horror worthy anymore.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Freeky on April 07, 2011, 06:47:22 AM
Nope, they're totally thparkaley!
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Don Coyote on April 07, 2011, 06:52:51 AM
Quote from: Jenkem and Bubble Baths on April 07, 2011, 06:47:22 AM
Nope, they're totally thparkaley!

FUCKING GAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Wyldkat on April 07, 2011, 06:57:03 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on April 07, 2011, 04:28:31 AM
Quote from: Wyldkat on April 07, 2011, 04:27:00 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on April 07, 2011, 04:01:06 AM
Quote from: Wyldkat on April 07, 2011, 03:53:30 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on April 07, 2011, 02:58:59 AM
Nice.

Thanks.

Quote from: LMNO, PhD on April 07, 2011, 03:02:56 AM
Not bad at all.

I'd say a bit... declarative?  Um.  In a way, not vague enough.  It's not the "show, don't tell" problem.  It's... wossname.  Needs more vague, alluded-to horror.  Or pointing at some distant, un-named truth.  Or something.

But maybe that's just me.  Refer to ECH's take on first person Nessie for clarification.

Still, good job, and thanks for jumping in.

I've read the whole thread from start to finish.  Love this thread...

I'll think on it.  This popped up because I was wondering how the nessies could coordinate over distances.  I was trying to think from their perspective.  Good/Bad is all relative after all.  Might go back and edit it if I can figure out what to tweak.

The other idea that was bouncing around was the hive mind concept that someone else had mentioned earlier.  I was trying to go for a leaders and drones type feel, but I don't think I got it very well.

We're kind of not explaining about Nessies.  Or, if people choose to, we're letting contradictions stand in the publication, because eye witness testimony is notoriously shit.

Oh, I know that, I did read the thread.  The nessies just caught in my head and I started wondering about how they worked and that was what happened.  I tried not to put in anything too descriptive, at least not physcially.  If you want me to change anything I can.

Nope.  If I throw yours in an issue (and, obviously, you agree to the terms), I may edit it...If I do, I will run the finished bits past you for your approval.  Other than that, this is open source horror.

I'm fine if you want to publish it, screen name or real name doesn't matter to me.

Hadn't thought about the horror aspect of it specifically.  Although the horror is amazing it was the critters that stuck in my head. {thinking of the original Alien}  I can see where not knowing anything about the baddies is a good thing, I was obviously thinking along different lines.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Don Coyote on April 07, 2011, 06:57:55 AM
Although now that I think of it.

Which is more horrifying?

The thing making people disappear that you never really even glimpse at.

OR

The seemingly normal human that does unspeakable acts in a seemingly rational manner?


That line of thought might have inspired me.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 07, 2011, 07:05:55 AM
He stumbled down the alley, wrinkling his nose and grimacing at the stench before he remembered it was more likely to be himself than the filth leaking out of over-stuffed bins. Rubbish collectors hadn't been by, which was strange. Every bum knew the bin men come at 9 sharp on Tuesdays in this part of town, so they'd best do their picking over before then. The collectors for this route were mean ones, just as willing to slap a fellow with a crowbar for poking around as look at him.

But if they were slacking off then he had time to do a quick look-through for a bit of breakfast. That made him smile. Brekky was the best meal of the day, his mum had been fond of saying. Though the soft-boiled eggs she'd favored had been ghastly.

Spotting a likely bin at the far end of the row (one with a tight lid so the flies couldn't get a the treasures inside) he shuffled along, eyes on the prize. He fetched up against the side, wheezing a bit. Alley ways were always longer when you wanted to be at the other end in a hurry, he thought with a bit of petulance. And damn the bum ankle, blazing like a fury for so little work. But no matter, brekky time!

He pried open the lid and set it aside quietly. Nothing ruined a breakfast more than being chased off by some toe-rag with a baseball bat and fancy slippers. His thick, numb fingers fumbled with the tie around the garbage bag. It was quicker to just tear the bag open.

Success! Right on top, no less than half a roast with the potatoes and all besides. And only a little mucked up with a few specks of what looked like kitty litter. Easy enough to pick off if there wasn't much of it.

A metallic thunk and sliding noise made him turn around, ready to defend his breakfast from the bin men. But it wasn't them, no. It was a giant headless snake, forever long and thick as his torso reaching up, up, and towards him. Taller than he and smelling twice as foul. He tried to scream but nothing came out.

The thing, quick as a whip, flickered through the air. It wrapped around him, slick and rough as it slide and squeezed. Then there was no air to scream as it lifted him higher, carried him towards the opening as it withdrew. And now he saw the rubbish collector's truck, empty and abandoned in the next alley. Trash and blood strewn everywhere - it had to have made some noise for all that mess, where were all the people? Why did no one rescue him?

Where . . . ?

But he was being pulled down and could see nothing but the hole that was too small to fit both him and whatever held him.

A crack in the air and a sting on his forehead . . . then nothing. He was dead as the creature pulled him below, snapping his spine in half and tearing his skull free of his neck in its eagerness to enjoy its own breakfast.

ETA: Didn't like the last bit, upon reflection.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: LMNO on April 07, 2011, 12:27:40 PM
Quote from: Donald Coyote on April 07, 2011, 06:57:55 AM
Although now that I think of it.

Which is more horrifying?

The thing making people disappear that you never really even glimpse at.

OR

The seemingly normal human that does unspeakable acts in a seemingly rational manner?


That line of thought might have inspired me.

I think I dropped something like this near the beginning. One of the debunkers, or something.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on April 07, 2011, 03:44:03 PM
Journal found by scout team. Tunnel 13, after unexplained explosion.

New journal entry.

We have been down here so long that the light hurts my eyes. We tried to go topside earlier, so we know. Maybe after dark.

We am pretty sure we am insane, we left the Payne army so very long ago, and have been alone ever since. At first they were leaving us supplies, but after a while that stopped, so now we scavenge for what we need. Weapons are easy, the dead have no use for them. Food is a problem though. Can't eat the critters, and even the human dead are so infected with their vile poison. We get by though, oh yes we do, the nessies aren't the only ones who have learned to feed on the slow, oh no!

The bastards can't even smell us anymore, We keep some of their goo spread all over me, hahahahahahaha, they aren't so damn smart. We found this nice little hole in the wall that is way too small for them to even look in, some nights we just watch the beasties slither by, other nights we kill them, if we're bored. 

We had to discard my armor long ago, it was starting to corrode and make squealing noises, damn near got us killed. It wasn't that great after all. Clothes and shoes we get from the same place that we get my food. Hehehehe.

We can hear them singing now, that means death, death for both sides, life for us. See, when this happens we get to move around more freely. Nobody will watch back here. We am pretty sure we have found a home nest. Only a few stay to watch the young, silly beasties.

We have slowly been placing explosives in the nest. You have to make sure there is a lot of goo on you and you have to move slowly and very quietly. Once we walked right up behind one of them and whispered at it. Hahahahahaha. Stupid bastards.

One more charge near the door and then I am going to set it all off! Gonna make a big hole topside though. Hehehehehehehe. Stupid fuckers. All they used to say was keep it secret, no one must know. HAHAHAHAHAHA.

Shhhh... they will hear us.


We can't even count the young in the nest, just too damn many of them. Hehehe, until tonight, hehehehehehe.

Shhh!

We have all the charges connected and set to go off at the same time, the one tonight will be set on a trip wire in the main entrance. Hehehehehe. That way we will get some of the returning warriors. Bastards.

We might even get out in one piece too. Don't know where we would go after that though, damn sure can't go topside. OHO! We'll worry about that after won't we!

We should shave first, don't you think? But what do we have to shave with? All our blades have too much venom on them. Ahhhh, never mind.

What was our name? We can't remember because we haven't needed a name in so long. Well, maybe some of the soldiers can figure that out later, not important right now.

We have to go now, the bastards just went by on their way to kill soldiers, just one last charge. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

JOURNAL ENDS HERE

Recording from ops room

"Who the hell was this guy?"

"Beats me, but he sure did blow a hole in the city, how are they going to explain that one?"

"Oh, they already have, something about a huge methane build-up. About a hundred people died in the blast."

"Damn, this guy must have it packed in pretty tight."

"Yeah, oh well, let's get this sent on up to the top honchos and get it off our plate."

"Yeah."
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on April 07, 2011, 03:46:59 PM
Fuck, Charley.

Awesome.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Dysfunctional Cunt on April 07, 2011, 03:52:04 PM
Damn Charley, that was great! 
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on April 07, 2011, 04:04:38 PM
Thanks guys.  :)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: East Coast Hustle on April 07, 2011, 05:26:31 PM
Quote from: Wyldkat on April 07, 2011, 02:53:00 AM
   The darkness vibrated with sound.  She could feel it all over her body, but particularly through her feet and that was what she was paying attention to currently.  Part of the brilliant vibrations she felt were from the song of her pack.  She could feel them shifting behind her, slowly growing more impatient, but it wasn't time yet.  They would have to keep waiting for awhile longer.  She looked back at them, the darkness of the Below only allowing faint outlines of black against black.  They were all good fighters, most veterans of many hunts.  Her song shifted expressing her pride in them and theirs warped to match hers.  Pleased that spirits were high she went back to concentrating on the vibrations of the Below.
   She could feel the very faint vibrations of her sister Alpha's pack even with the distance between them.  It wasn't the part of the song her ears could hear, but the deep subsonics that communicated across long distances.  She tuned in to that sensation, readjusting her weight on her haunches, settling in for the wait.  It was one of her sister's pack that was acting as scout this hunt, lying in wait for the next group of armored Above creatures that they knew would eventually venture out into the Below.  The other Alpha was close enough to feel the alert from the single scout and then her pack would sing the signal alerting the other group with the vibrations.
   Her pack was to feast on the first, smaller group while her sister's pack took the larger group by surprise from behind.  They were each expecting to lose about half of their respective packs on this hunt, but there should be much meat to bring back to the den.  It would be a satisfying fight with good rewards.
   Suddenly the strumming deep vibrations shifted urgency and she rose off the ground, changing her song to her pack as she did.  They all rose in unison, their singing mutating to merge with hers, matching it, alerting her sister Alpha that they had received her message.  She led them through the passages in search of their quarry, feeling for the vibrations of metal on artificially made stone and allowing them to guide her to her goal, her song taking on an exhilarated fighting edge and her pack matching her in song and movement.  Nothing could possibly surpass the joy of an Alpha leading her pack on the attack.

My opinion may be colored by the fact that you're a smelly pagan from a pack of shitbirds and I don't like you at all, but...


I'd appreciate it if you'd stay the fuck off of my story arc. Thanks. You can do what you want, as this is an open-source project, but I'm asking.

Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on April 07, 2011, 06:36:47 PM
Damn, Charley!   :lulz:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on April 07, 2011, 06:37:37 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on April 07, 2011, 06:36:47 PM
Damn, Charley!   :lulz:

My mind ain't right, is it?
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on April 07, 2011, 06:39:33 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on April 07, 2011, 06:37:37 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on April 07, 2011, 06:36:47 PM
Damn, Charley!   :lulz:

My mind ain't right, is it?

May not be right, but I like the kinda wrong it is.  :kiss:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 07, 2011, 07:21:51 PM
The party had gone tits up the moment "Clowns For Christ" had shown up. Cake, punch, balloons, and plastic smiles were all fine. But sodding clowns?

Petie dropped to the ground behind a huge tree with a thud and leaned his head back against the trunk. He was mussing up his carefully combed and gelled hair which would make his mother mad, especially when she saw the stains on his good clothes.

"Clowns For Christ" had been the entertainment at every one of his birthdays since he could remember. It had been his mother's idea, of course. But his father hadn't argued. Now his father was dead, his older brother had left, and at ten years old Petie was man of the house.

And his mother still thought clowns were appropriate.

He pulled out a cigarette he'd stolen from his dad's nightstand and lit it with a shaking hand. Men did manly things, grown-up things. They drank Scotch and smoked and made odd comments that made ladies laugh and lean closer. They did not entertain their friends with clowns.

The swish of footsteps running through the park's untidy grass startled him into dropping the cigarette on his pants. Swearing, he brushed it into the grass and fumbled it back up to his lips in an attempt to look cool once he realized it was only Lizzie and not his mother.

"What kind of punter skips his own party?" She demanded, hands on the hips of her blue party dress. "Your mum is awfully upset."

"Well then that's two of us," he muttered, taking a drag and trying not to cough.

Lizzie wrinkled her nose and then sat down beside him, close enough that their shoulders touched. "Are you sad because your dad ran away?"

Petie glared. Then coughed and spat out the filter he'd bitten off the cigarette.  "My dad did not run away. He's dead."

"That isn't what my mum said. She said your mum was just making up stories because if he were dead, why weren't we invited to the funeral?"

"There wasn't one. There was no body. We got a jar of ashes and a note delivered by a man in uniform saying there'd been an accident."

"You're lying."

"Fine then, go back to the clowns, hag."

Lizzie punched his arm. "Your dad worked on the subway. His name wasn't in the list of victims from the tunnel collapse a few weeks ago. And we saw him after that, in London."

"It was a week ago, not last month. He was delivering supplies to repair the collapse. He'd been doing it since the tunnel caved in."

"Did more of the tunnel fall? I thought the repairs were going spot on?"

Petie pulled out another cigarette and tried again. Once you got past the awful taste and the stench, they were great for calming the nerves.

"The only reason mum could use this park was because she cried at the new attendants at the entryway. All the parks are being closed down. The curfew is being enforced with guns. My dad came home one night, two weeks into repairs and he was whiter than glue. He didn't kiss mum hello, he didn't mess up my hair.

He got into the shower with his clothes still on and stayed there all through supper. Mum made me go to bed early and then I heard her and dad talking. Mum got hysterical a few times. Said we'd go stay with Aunt Lottie out in the country. After that I didn't hear anything. But dad came home white-faced every night after that. Then one day he didn't come home and the next day there was a man in uniform with a jar of ashes."

"What was your dad doing?" Lizzie demanded.

"I don't know. One time, after dinner, he came into the living room while I was watching telly and told me to look after mum, that he had seen horrible things and didn't know if he could keep seeing them. He said men were disappearing down below. Entire crews. He kept talking about stuff until Mum came in and shooed me off to bed like I was a kid."

They sat in silence for a long minute, listening to the faded sounds of Petie's birthday party.

"I'm sorry about your dad, Petie. And your mum is daft, with the clowns."

"Thanks. I'm sorry I called you a hag."

"That's okay, can I have a drag of your cigarette?"

ETA: Fixing redundant word usage.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on April 07, 2011, 07:26:30 PM
FUCKING WOW!

This just keeps getting better.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 07, 2011, 07:28:25 PM
Your last bit is kick-ass, Charley. I love the methane excuse. That's probably just what they'd say, too.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on April 07, 2011, 07:29:07 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on April 07, 2011, 07:26:30 PM
FUCKING WOW!

This just keeps getting better.

And it's leaking to other threads.   :lulz:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on April 07, 2011, 07:47:42 PM
Recording found in Vault/Inner Sanctum.


"Jesus Christ! Is everyone alright?"

"Yeah, what the hell was that explosion? Damn, that was huge!"

"We'll find that out shortly, for right now let's get this damned equipment back on line. Are the back-up generators working okay?"

"Yeah, system is rebooting as we speak. Should take about 10 minutes."

"Good, as soon as you can find out what happened and inform me about any containment efforts already in play."

"Yes Sir."

Following day.

"Sir, a journal was just dropped off, it was found near the blast site. The official word on the explosion is it was caused by a methane build-up."

"Excellent. Let me see the journal.  Damn, could it be?"

"Sir?"

"Remember Tom? He was the first to go mole, years back. The son of a bitch killed more nessies single handed that any 4 squads combined.
Was there any signs of bodies?"

"Sir, parts were everywhere, nessie, human and even some pets. We may never get them all sorted out."

(sigh)

"I was afraid of that. Well, please keep me informed on any progress."

Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: East Coast Hustle on April 07, 2011, 07:57:31 PM
Hot damn! CPD, that was awesome. Charley, fucking :mittens: !
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 07, 2011, 08:10:28 PM
Quote from: Luna on April 07, 2011, 07:29:07 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on April 07, 2011, 07:26:30 PM
FUCKING WOW!

This just keeps getting better.

And it's leaking to other threads.   :lulz:

:lulz: :lulz: :lulz: :lulz: :lulz:

Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 07, 2011, 08:11:39 PM
I have a horrible urge to write a story about Petie's older brother, Harry, surviving a Nessie attack on an underground rave and his drugged up date making a joke about how he's "the boy who lived". I am trying to kill this urge but it's just so damn funny.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on April 07, 2011, 08:17:13 PM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 07, 2011, 08:11:39 PM
I have a horrible urge to write a story about Petie's older brother, Harry, surviving a Nessie attack on an underground rave and his drugged up date making a joke about how he's "the boy who lived". I am trying to kill this urge but it's just so damn funny.

Write it.  On paper.  Wipe with it after the oranges contest tomorrow.  :-P
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on April 07, 2011, 10:11:03 PM
**Recording.  Tunnel 9 Operations.  6/29/13  0036**

"You look well.  Healthier, lately."

"I told you, I'm living a healthy lifestyle."

"You said that, yeah, but you say a lot of things."

"Wasn't always a pudgy fucker you know.  Did some sports in my school years."

"That's not what I was saying."

"Don't quite get a lot of exercise down here.  Never did see the point of walking in one place until the alternative was holding hands with a bloody monster."

"They're monsters, then?"

"They're certainly named after one.  What else would you call them?"

"Monsters works."

"What about yourself, ever get into athletics?"

"Not as such, no.  Always been a bit of a book person, I suppose."

"Well we share that.  Can't live a life out of books, though."

"Who says I have?"

"Ever been outside the country?"

"Never got the chance.  Rather expensive."

"And with that nice university degree you decided to work in the sewer, perhaps sign up as a servohead."

"I have my reasons."

"Your brother?"

"Who told you about my brother?"

"A man hears things.  Maybe it echoed off the tunnels."

"Yeah.  My brother."

"Except you don't have one."

"Come again?"

"You don't have a brother."

"I suppose I don't anymore, no."

"You never did."

"And you heard that echoing off the tunnels as well, did you?  Seems I'll have to have a discussion with the Chaplain."

"You'd have to tell him why you lied."

"I did not lie."

"Here's how I figure the conversation went.  You talk to the Payneites about serving down here.  They ask you why.  Rather than say because you believe in Payne's mission, you try to earn a bit of respect.  You'd heard the stories of a particularly heroic Templar and you let them make the connection themselves.  Sams isn't such a stretch to Samson is it?  Must've taken a bit of acting to find out he was dead, which really only helped in that he wasn't around to contradict your story."

"It was harmless."

"I agree."

"I shouldn't have done it."

"I agree there as well."

"It's just.  My whole life I haven't been taken seriously.  Through school, even as an engineer, really.  I just thought I could get treated with some respect.  And I didn't hurt anyone by it."

"But it didn't exactly help you either, did it?  You got some sympathy, but it's damn clear you're nothing like Samson.  Hell, nobody is."

"Don't suppose it did, no."

"Which is why you want to join up as a Templar.  Show us all you've got the minimals to do it just like your fake brother.  All that about duty and whatnot was bullocks."

"Getting a bit personal now, Hayes?  What about yourself, you cynical fucker?  I bet you want me to go and live life just like you did, eh?  Talk down to half the world and trick myself into thinking I've got a right to?  You're down in this sewer just like we all are, but somehow you got me thinking that there's a reason for you doing it.  I bet you have yourself half convinced you actually do, too.  The Payneites are evil bastards, the servoheads are stupid pawns, and the Operators all have the wool pulled over their eyes.  Is that it?"

"If I knew what I was getting into, Sams-"

"Yeah?  You and me both.  Probably all of us.  Except the Templars."

"Maybe so.  What if there was a way out?"

"What are you on about?"

"Sams.  Let's be honest with each other a second.  Do you believe in what we're doing down here?"

"Yes.  The Nessies need to be stopped."

"But you aren't sure we're doing it the right way."

"Well that.  Yeah, that's a bit more on the mark."

"Because we aren't winning.  And this is too big a job to handle for a church, even one with the resources of the Payneites."

"Yeah."

"So I'll ask again.  What if there was a way out?"

"I still think I should be down here doing my part."

"And if you could do your part elsewhere?  Be the one to alert higher authorities?  Get us some real presence down here to stop the Nessies before they do any more damage to England?"

"The Chaplain says-"

"Bugger what the Chaplain says, Sams!  I am asking you.  Operator Sams.  Do you think we need help down here, and are you willing to be the one to get it?"

"I...I would, yeah."

"Tonight I want you to get in touch with Palmer.  Yes, that Palmer.  Tell him I sent you.  And not another word."

"What happens then?"

"I think you'll get your chance to be taken seriously."

**End Recording**
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Wyldkat on April 07, 2011, 10:24:03 PM
Quote from: Rip City Hustle on April 07, 2011, 05:26:31 PM
Quote from: Wyldkat on April 07, 2011, 02:53:00 AM
   The darkness vibrated with sound.  She could feel it all over her body, but particularly through her feet and that was what she was paying attention to currently.  Part of the brilliant vibrations she felt were from the song of her pack.  She could feel them shifting behind her, slowly growing more impatient, but it wasn't time yet.  They would have to keep waiting for awhile longer.  She looked back at them, the darkness of the Below only allowing faint outlines of black against black.  They were all good fighters, most veterans of many hunts.  Her song shifted expressing her pride in them and theirs warped to match hers.  Pleased that spirits were high she went back to concentrating on the vibrations of the Below.
   She could feel the very faint vibrations of her sister Alpha's pack even with the distance between them.  It wasn't the part of the song her ears could hear, but the deep subsonics that communicated across long distances.  She tuned in to that sensation, readjusting her weight on her haunches, settling in for the wait.  It was one of her sister's pack that was acting as scout this hunt, lying in wait for the next group of armored Above creatures that they knew would eventually venture out into the Below.  The other Alpha was close enough to feel the alert from the single scout and then her pack would sing the signal alerting the other group with the vibrations.
   Her pack was to feast on the first, smaller group while her sister's pack took the larger group by surprise from behind.  They were each expecting to lose about half of their respective packs on this hunt, but there should be much meat to bring back to the den.  It would be a satisfying fight with good rewards.
   Suddenly the strumming deep vibrations shifted urgency and she rose off the ground, changing her song to her pack as she did.  They all rose in unison, their singing mutating to merge with hers, matching it, alerting her sister Alpha that they had received her message.  She led them through the passages in search of their quarry, feeling for the vibrations of metal on artificially made stone and allowing them to guide her to her goal, her song taking on an exhilarated fighting edge and her pack matching her in song and movement.  Nothing could possibly surpass the joy of an Alpha leading her pack on the attack.

My opinion may be colored by the fact that you're a smelly pagan from a pack of shitbirds and I don't like you at all, but...


I'd appreciate it if you'd stay the fuck off of my story arc. Thanks. You can do what you want, as this is an open-source project, but I'm asking.



Um...  This was my own take on them.  I wasn't trying to mess with anyone's story arc.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on April 07, 2011, 10:59:58 PM
**Recording.  Tunnel 9 Operations Lower Office.  6/30/13  0327**

"Hayes, sit down."

"Believe I'll stand."

"This is past the point of games, Hayes."

"Which is why I'm ready to run, Chaplain."

"How far do you think you'd make it?"

"I imagine further than ordinary, given standby teams are tending to the incident."

"You aren't in any danger, Hayes.  Even now.  Just have a seat.  There.  Now, I don't need to ask you why you're here."

"Something to do with whatever is going on."

"Ever the perceptive one.  And yeah, it has something to do with whatever is going on.  I suppose when we get a minute and this is over, reviewing the vids, we won't find out you had anything to do with this."

"What is this, again?"

"A half hour ago, an operator, two runners, and an unidentified fourth party left the perimeter."

"Why the alarm?"

"Because they're, for lack of a better term, civilians.  We can't have them in danger."

"So you decided to drag them back here against their will?"

"Yes."

"Why don't you ask them what it's about then, not me?"

"They aren't in any state to answer us."

"What happened?"

"Rotten luck, as far as we can tell.  It looks like they had a plan.  Where to go, how they intended to get topside, precisely the kind of thing you'd expect to see from very capable people.  Except for one thing."

"That would be what?"

"Didn't bring any weapons.  As close to the perimeter as they were, they probably didn't think they needed any.  One Nessie, as far as we could tell.  Two of them killed outright, the other two caught running in separate directions.  Only one we could identify was Operator Palmer."

"Fuck's sake."

"Pretty chummy with Palmer, weren't you Hayes?"

"Yeah.  Yeah, he was a friend.  Or at least as close to one as you can come down here."

"If you're finding out this way, and I'm not certain you are, then I'm sorry.  What about Operator Sams?"

"Did you find him?"

"We started doing a body count as soon as this all started.  There isn't a way of telling with the state of the bodies, but right now we're assuming he was among them.  But then, until you were found, so were you."

"Sams.  The fucking kid."

"This is a big loss for us all, Hayes."

"Kid never did anything wrong.  He trusted you.  He trusted me.  We fucking killed him.  I...I killed him."

"Thought you might have been invo-Hayes?  Operator Hayes where are you going?"

**End Recording**
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on April 07, 2011, 11:15:45 PM
**Recording.  Tunnel 9 Staging Grounds.  7/2/13  0750**

"You don't have to do this, you know."

"The needle, please."

"We saw the vids.  You're a bullshitter, it's not your fault the kid listened."

"The needle, Chaplain."

"This'll sting a moment.  We were missing one other, you know.  Tech, worked on the armor."

"Hope he got out alright."

"You hear what I'm saying?  Sams might have made it out."

"The words please, Chaplain."

"Stubborn fuck then still?  Fine, we'll see how stubborn you are after a few runs."

"The words.  Starting to lose my edge to this juice. The words, Chaplain, before I can't muster them any longer."

"This isn't your pla-"

"May this maille."

"May this maille, blessed by Payne, guard thy skin."

"MAY IT GUARD MY SKIN, AS HONOR GUARDS MY SOUL."

"May the servos of thy arms and legs carry thee into peril and back again."

"MAY THEY AID ME THERE IF MY TASK NOT BE DONE, OR LEAVE ME IF MY TIME BE UP."

"May the helm protect thy neck, be thy eyes, and guard thy conciousness."

"MAY MY PRINCIPLES AND FAITH GUARD ME WHERE I SHALL WALK."

"May thy weapon be sharp, and thy skill unerring."

"MAY I BE THE ARMORED FIST OF PAYNE, TO CARRY OUT HIS SENTENCE UPON THE VILE."

**End Recording**

Chaplain's Note:  The preceeding logs chronicle Operator Alec Hayes.  As of this writing, Operator Hayes is no more.

Operator Sams is still missing, presumed dead.  If he was not the unidentified party of the Palmer Incident, I assume he simply managed to run a litte farther before abduction by Nessie.

Given the unfortunate fate of these few, I highly discourage "civilian" only positions in our operation.  In the future, that duty may be filled by former Templars.  We've found that dedication to Payne is drastically increased in those who have faced the Nessie.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 08, 2011, 04:40:19 AM
Holy shit, Eater of Clowns. Nooooooooo!! Not cute and cuddly SAMS! NOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

Amazing stuff. DAMN YOU!  :horrormirth:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on April 08, 2011, 04:42:25 AM
That story arc was AMAZING, EoC.

You've really got a talent for this.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on April 08, 2011, 04:49:34 AM
EoC, next time you're in Prov, I'm buying you a beer.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: East Coast Hustle on April 08, 2011, 08:30:00 AM
Wow, that was fucking awesome. I totally did not see that end coming.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: LMNO on April 08, 2011, 01:24:51 PM
I'm amazed you all have managed to wrest a plot arc out of this.

EoC, Charley, Khara, Roger, and all the rest... MOTHERFUCKING STORY TIME.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on April 08, 2011, 01:59:33 PM
Thanks all.  Really glad you enjoyed them.   :D

My favorite part of the project is weaving all the little details together with the various contributors.  Since it isn't under any one person's control, it's the good kind of challenge to take those limitations and really try to make them work.

I'm actually gushing with geekery about the whole thing and could probably go on forever about how cool this is, so I'll stop and let this motherfucker keep rolling on.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: LMNO on April 08, 2011, 03:02:34 PM
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v711/Marburger/BillboardChart.jpg)














(Perhaps this needs some explaining... The idea was to show how whatever it is going on has captured the public's imagination, as can be seen in the Billboard Hot 100.  Obviously, if this was to be used, a much better shoop would be needed.)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on April 08, 2011, 03:21:33 PM
Explainey bit not needed, I got it.  Nice!
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on April 08, 2011, 04:26:47 PM
Cross posting for the hell of it:

(http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n595/Luna0219/Nessies.jpg)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Dysfunctional Cunt on April 08, 2011, 04:27:58 PM
I'm kind of running with my tangent, so this may be out of context a bit.



June 12, 1946

Dear Delia,

I arrived yesterday and got checked into the hotel as planned.  The trip so far has been very smooth.  I went to the hospital, but they had no information about my brother or his family.  According to them there were no survivors of the bombing that destroyed the farm and surrounding area.  I went by the cemetery as well but there are probably 300 unmarked graves and the priest's record keeping is questionable.

I'm meeting with the barrister in the morning to handle any paperwork.  You'll remember his letter said it was all a formality since Da left the farm to my brother and me both when he passed. After that I'm meeting with that Sergeant Wimmer who wrote to me about the farm when the military came in and took over last year.  I left flowers on my parent's grave when I was at the cemetery today.  I miss you and our beautiful daughter.  I'll update tomorrow when I have more.

June 14, 1946

My Darling Delia,

I couldn't write to you yesterday.  By the time I made it back to the hotel it was all I could do to stay awake.  The farm is completely gone.  I mean the land is there of course, but every building, tree and bush is gone.  The bombing in this area destroyed everything.  Every surrounding farm is empty of buildings as well.  

According to Sergeant Wimmer, the German's completely took out the entire area in one night of bombing.  There were no survivors.  Everyone I knew, everyone I grew up with, they are all gone.  I walked every inch of this farm I grew up on and can barely recognize it.

If we moved back here Delia, we'd have to rebuild everything from the ground up.  We'd even have to dig a new well.  Every well in the area imploded during the bombing.  

I'm going out again tomorrow to walk the land again.  I'm wondering Delia if this wasn't a crazy idea to move back and raise our kids here.  Fresh air and farm living aside, it will be a hard life for a few years.  

I'm going to send this, I really want to know how you feel about this.  Send me a telegram as soon as you get this and tell me if you want to do this.

All my love to you and our beautiful daughter.

Thomas

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TELEGRAM

Dear Thomas *stop* Got your letter today *stop* I think we should either sell land or save for our children *stop* I am expecting again *stop* Miss you *stop* Come home as soon as you can *stop* All my love Cordelia


TELEGRAM

Darling Cordelia *stop* Coming home right away *stop*  Have one last meeting with Sgt Wimmer at farm *stop*  Will see you in a week *stop*  You are wonderful *stop*  I love you *stop*  Thomas


TELEGRAM   

Major Hickland Bermuda Garrison *stop* they can tunnel from underground *stop*  Found remains of T Carmichal at family farm *stop*  Target eliminated *stop*  need to replace loss of 10 men *stop*  Sgt Wimmer

TELEGRAM

Sergeant Wimmer *stop*  sending men *stop*  salt water has not proven effective as deterrent *stop*  leaving for new location *stop*  will advise *stop*  writing widow in states *stop*  evacuate civilians from entire 20 mile area *stop*  landmine retrieval necessary for area *stop*  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

July 1, 1946

Her Majesty's Armed Forces
Bermuda Garrison
Major James Hickland

Dear Mrs. Thomas Carmichal:

It is with great sadness that I regret to inform you your husband Thomas Carmichal was killed on June 29, 1946.  He had been at his family's farm when it appears he stepped on a land mine that was left by the Germans during the war.  It is unfortunate, but we were forced to bury his remains immediately due to possible contamination.

As a result of this terrible accident, troops have been assigned to the entire area to retrieve any explosive devices to make this area safe for rehabitation.  We will inform you when your farm is habitable again.

Again, our sincerest condolences on your loss.

Very truly yours,

Major James Hickland
HMAF – Bermuda Garrison







Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 08, 2011, 11:10:54 PM
"Excuse me, Sir."

The voice was polite. Concerned. Urgent. But polite. I ignore it.

"You, there, Sir!"

Persistent. Still polite but irritation is creeping in.

"Hey there!"

Quickly escalating to anger and desperation. This could be a situation.

"Stop walking away from me, you cock-sucker. I know what you are and I'm trying to fucking help you!

Ah. There it is. The subject is confirmed a risk. Time to engage and assess.

"Man, what is your problem? I've been chasing you for a block and a half trying to get your attention. You may be dressed in regular clothes but I see how you move and how your eyes move. And I see that god damn shit on your wrist that ain't no watch. You're looking for those things that are taking us off the streets."

"You'll have to forgive me, I'm afraid I have no idea what you're talking about." Fuck. An observant one. Subject may actually have viable intel.

"Yeah, I figured you'd spout some shit like that. Rank and file, nothing to see here. I been in the service, not like yours, but service anyway. I know all about the cloak-and-dagger bullshit they feed you boys. You just remember, I may be expendable but so are you. If you want to keep your fucking head on your god damn starchy shoulders, listen up and pass this on to your superiors."

"Do you require some assistance? Some change? I think I have a fiver in my pocket." Judging by the increasing agitation, I believe the subject understands the parameters of this exchange and the likely outcome. And yet the subject persists.

"Keep your fucking money, punk. Listen. They are in the god damn pipes. There are varieties, now. Not just hurking monsters that gobble up grown men. Thin, whippy-like. Like anorexic squid. We saw one in an abandoned fountain and another come out of a fire hydrant. Complete creatures, not just pieces. They were useless on dry land, needed water to move around. But they're fast and there's some sort of secretion. It burns real good, if they dry out. If they don't just choke you to death and bathe in your goddamn blood. They've found a new way to spread, son. You pass that on."

Conviction, sincerity, and determined acceptance. The subject expects to be terminated. But we require more data and a secure location to extract it. "Sir, you sound pretty upset. Why don't you come with me and I'll buy you a cup of coffee?" Ah, surprise and trepidation. Hmm.

"Well I guess I came this far, I should go the whole way."

"Just so, Sir. Taxi!" Further analysis of subject and subject's data to commence.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: BabylonHoruv on April 08, 2011, 11:56:53 PM
Transcript on an interview with Max Masochism, the lead singer of Wholly Pain

So where did you get the idea for Nessie's song?

Well the building I live in's real old right?  And the basement is sunk deep.  The laundry is down there, and I heard this crazy sound whenever I was doing my laundry.  I thought it was the machines.  I took some microphones down there and tried to record them, but it was all wish and wash. 

I did my best to recreate it with a synth, but it just wasn't the same.  I was sad, cause it was just this beautiful haunting sound right?  But then, one night I heard what sounded like it, and it was coming from one of those grates that water drains down into the sewer from.

The first microphone I tried hanging down there disappeared, the sound on the tape was almost like something bit it off, but I managed to get one up higher and got that sound.  I had to mix it real carefully, try to get some of the water sounds and people walking out and all.

So why did you call it Nessie's song?

Well you know those Paynite folks?  They say there's monsters down in the sewers, they call them Nessies, say they have a holy mission to go down and fight them.

My mate joined up not too long back and he told me all sorts of bollocks about it all.  I haven't heard from him since he joined up proper and the song was sort of meant as tribute to him.  Enter into his fantasy as a sort of way of remembering him you know?

So you don't believe in the Nessies?

No no, not at all.  It's just a story like Springheel Jack or UFO's or what have you.  I wrote songs about those too actually, but they didn't seem to get as popular.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 09, 2011, 12:01:16 AM
I like it. :D Nicely done, Babs.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 09, 2011, 12:53:54 AM
Martha tucked her five-year-old son into his bright blue coat and put his shoes on the right feet before lacing them up. She smiled at her little darling as he grinned up at her, all dimples.

"Come along, James, it's market day. Mummy's taking you down to the park and then we'll go shopping. You'll be a good boy and stay with Mummy, won't you?"

" 'es Mumma!" James wriggled free of her hug and raced to the door, his little legs flying as his piercing giggles filled their apartment.

With a laugh, she chased after her little racer, grabbing her purse and coat off their hook as she passed. "Run faster, Jamesy! Mummy's right behind you!"

He beat her to the door and she scooped him up, covering him with kisses. Then she opened the door, locked it, and set out to enjoy the first truly gorgeous day of Spring.

.. .. .. .. ..

"Here we are, James! Mayflower Park. Stay close to Mummy until we get there, darling."

"Wanna look at the water, Mumma! Lookit the birdies!"

Martha shaded her eyes and noted with interest the column of gulls out over the water. "Pretty, aren't they, Jamesy?"

"Wanna lookit!" James laughed and took off running again, straight towards the open water away from the park and towards the docks.

"Jamesy! Wait for Mummy!"

She chuckled to herself and went after her boy. After such a long and dreary winter it was so nice to see him enthusiastic about being outside.

Abruptly the gulls changed direction and sped away, slicing through the air. James shrieked his delight, hopping up and down. Martha reached his side, still a safe distance from the water, and clapped her hands.

"Pretty birds, Mumma!"

"Aren't they, James?"

She caught his hand and turned back to the park. "Come along, James. Let's go to the park, now."

"Okay, Mumma!"

He trotted along beside her, happily singing a nonsense song about pretty birds. She smiled and wiped away a spatter of water on her cheek. Rain? No, she noted with relief. The sky was still clear. Spray from the quay? A glance over her shoulder and she stumbled.

"Careful, Mumma. Don't get a boo-boo." James said, hugging her leg.

"Jamesy, how about a race with Mummy? You and I will run for the park and whoever gets there first gets to pick what flavor of ice cream we have after our shopping is done. What do you say?"

"Okay Mumma!"

And James was off, his little legs flying as he raced for the park. His giggles filling the air.

"Run faster, Jamesy! Mummy's right behind you!"

ETA: Adjusted Jamesy's age to put him in school.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Don Coyote on April 09, 2011, 01:54:13 AM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 09, 2011, 12:53:54 AM
Martha tucked her three-year-old son into his bright blue coat and put his shoes on the right feet before lacing them up. She smiled at her little darling as he grinned up at her, all dimples.

"Come along, James, it's market day. Mummy's taking you down to the park and then we'll go shopping. You'll be a good boy and stay with Mummy, won't you?"

" 'es Mumma!" James wriggled free of her hug and raced to the door, his little legs flying as his piercing giggles filled their apartment.

With a laugh, she chased after her little racer, grabbing her purse and coat off their hook as she passed. "Run faster, Jamesy! Mummy's right behind you!"

He beat her to the door and she scooped him up, covering him with kisses. Then she opened the door, locked it, and set out to enjoy the first truly gorgeous day of Spring.

.. .. .. .. ..

"Here we are, James! Mayflower Park. Stay close to Mummy until we get there, darling."

"Wanna look at the water, Mumma! Lookit the birdies!"

Martha shaded her eyes and noted with interest the column of gulls out over the water. "Pretty, aren't they, Jamesy?"

"Wanna lookit!" James laughed and took off running again, straight towards the open water away from the park and towards the docks.

"Jamesy! Wait for Mummy!"

She chuckled to herself and went after her boy. After such a long and dreary winter it was so nice to see him enthusiastic about being outside.

Abruptly the gulls changed direction and sped away, slicing through the air. James shrieked his delight, hopping up and down. Martha reached his side, still a safe distance from the water, and clapped her hands.

"Pretty birds, Mumma!"

"Aren't they, James?"

She caught his hand and turned back to the park. "Come along, James. Let's go to the park, now."

"Okay, Mumma!"

He trotted along beside her, happily singing a nonsense song about pretty birds. She smiled and wiped away a spatter of water on her cheek. Rain? No, she noted with relief. The sky was still clear. Spray from the quay? A glance over her shoulder and she stumbled.

"Careful, Mumma. Don't get a boo-boo." James said, hugging her leg.

"Jamesy, how about a race with Mummy? You and I will run for the park and whoever gets there first gets to pick what flavor of ice cream we have after our shopping is done. What do you say?"

"Okay Mumma!"

And James was off, his little legs flying as he raced for the park. His giggles filling the air.

"Run faster, Jamesy! Mummy's right behind you!"
:x :x :x
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on April 09, 2011, 01:59:54 AM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 09, 2011, 12:53:54 AM
Martha tucked her three-year-old son into his bright blue coat and put his shoes on the right feet before lacing them up. She smiled at her little darling as he grinned up at her, all dimples.

"Come along, James, it's market day. Mummy's taking you down to the park and then we'll go shopping. You'll be a good boy and stay with Mummy, won't you?"

" 'es Mumma!" James wriggled free of her hug and raced to the door, his little legs flying as his piercing giggles filled their apartment.

With a laugh, she chased after her little racer, grabbing her purse and coat off their hook as she passed. "Run faster, Jamesy! Mummy's right behind you!"

He beat her to the door and she scooped him up, covering him with kisses. Then she opened the door, locked it, and set out to enjoy the first truly gorgeous day of Spring.

.. .. .. .. ..

"Here we are, James! Mayflower Park. Stay close to Mummy until we get there, darling."

"Wanna look at the water, Mumma! Lookit the birdies!"

Martha shaded her eyes and noted with interest the column of gulls out over the water. "Pretty, aren't they, Jamesy?"

"Wanna lookit!" James laughed and took off running again, straight towards the open water away from the park and towards the docks.

"Jamesy! Wait for Mummy!"

She chuckled to herself and went after her boy. After such a long and dreary winter it was so nice to see him enthusiastic about being outside.

Abruptly the gulls changed direction and sped away, slicing through the air. James shrieked his delight, hopping up and down. Martha reached his side, still a safe distance from the water, and clapped her hands.

"Pretty birds, Mumma!"

"Aren't they, James?"

She caught his hand and turned back to the park. "Come along, James. Let's go to the park, now."

"Okay, Mumma!"

He trotted along beside her, happily singing a nonsense song about pretty birds. She smiled and wiped away a spatter of water on her cheek. Rain? No, she noted with relief. The sky was still clear. Spray from the quay? A glance over her shoulder and she stumbled.

"Careful, Mumma. Don't get a boo-boo." James said, hugging her leg.

"Jamesy, how about a race with Mummy? You and I will run for the park and whoever gets there first gets to pick what flavor of ice cream we have after our shopping is done. What do you say?"

"Okay Mumma!"

And James was off, his little legs flying as he raced for the park. His giggles filling the air.

"Run faster, Jamesy! Mummy's right behind you!"

:horrormirth:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 09, 2011, 02:00:35 AM
Did it suck that bad? Should I delete it?
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Don Coyote on April 09, 2011, 02:01:14 AM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 09, 2011, 02:00:35 AM
Did it suck that bad? Should I delete it?
Those are expressions of horror.

We would tell you point blank if it sucked balls. You should know that by now.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on April 09, 2011, 02:01:14 AM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 09, 2011, 02:00:35 AM
Did it suck that bad? Should I delete it?
NO.

Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 09, 2011, 02:01:57 AM
Quote from: Susan on April 09, 2011, 02:01:14 AM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 09, 2011, 02:00:35 AM
Did it suck that bad? Should I delete it?
NO.



OKAY.  :oops:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Don Coyote on April 09, 2011, 02:06:10 AM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 09, 2011, 02:01:57 AM
Quote from: Susan on April 09, 2011, 02:01:14 AM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 09, 2011, 02:00:35 AM
Did it suck that bad? Should I delete it?
NO.



OKAY.  :oops:

Much better than my addition. :argh!:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on April 09, 2011, 02:21:05 AM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 09, 2011, 12:53:54 AM
Martha tucked her three-year-old son into his bright blue coat and put his shoes on the right feet before lacing them up. She smiled at her little darling as he grinned up at her, all dimples.

"Come along, James, it's market day. Mummy's taking you down to the park and then we'll go shopping. You'll be a good boy and stay with Mummy, won't you?"

" 'es Mumma!" James wriggled free of her hug and raced to the door, his little legs flying as his piercing giggles filled their apartment.

With a laugh, she chased after her little racer, grabbing her purse and coat off their hook as she passed. "Run faster, Jamesy! Mummy's right behind you!"

He beat her to the door and she scooped him up, covering him with kisses. Then she opened the door, locked it, and set out to enjoy the first truly gorgeous day of Spring.

.. .. .. .. ..

"Here we are, James! Mayflower Park. Stay close to Mummy until we get there, darling."

"Wanna look at the water, Mumma! Lookit the birdies!"

Martha shaded her eyes and noted with interest the column of gulls out over the water. "Pretty, aren't they, Jamesy?"

"Wanna lookit!" James laughed and took off running again, straight towards the open water away from the park and towards the docks.

"Jamesy! Wait for Mummy!"

She chuckled to herself and went after her boy. After such a long and dreary winter it was so nice to see him enthusiastic about being outside.

Abruptly the gulls changed direction and sped away, slicing through the air. James shrieked his delight, hopping up and down. Martha reached his side, still a safe distance from the water, and clapped her hands.

"Pretty birds, Mumma!"

"Aren't they, James?"

She caught his hand and turned back to the park. "Come along, James. Let's go to the park, now."

"Okay, Mumma!"

He trotted along beside her, happily singing a nonsense song about pretty birds. She smiled and wiped away a spatter of water on her cheek. Rain? No, she noted with relief. The sky was still clear. Spray from the quay? A glance over her shoulder and she stumbled.

"Careful, Mumma. Don't get a boo-boo." James said, hugging her leg.

"Jamesy, how about a race with Mummy? You and I will run for the park and whoever gets there first gets to pick what flavor of ice cream we have after our shopping is done. What do you say?"

"Okay Mumma!"

And James was off, his little legs flying as he raced for the park. His giggles filling the air.

"Run faster, Jamesy! Mummy's right behind you!"

I can't wait to draw this and I'm fucking off for a week  :x
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 09, 2011, 02:43:07 AM
"Inspector?"

The harried, florid man in question glanced up from his paperwork with a scowl. A new constable stood in the doorway, fidgeting with his cap and wearing a decidedly sheepish expression.

"Come in, come in Constable . . . Wilkins, is it?"

"Yes Sir, thank you, Sir." Wilkens stepped lively, crossing the office floor and perching almost daintily on one of the two uncomfortable chairs before the Inspector's overfull desk. "Sir, I don't mean to be a bother but the Sergeant said to bring this to you direct."

"What is it, lad? You aren't caught up in something unfortunate, are you? Been spending too much time with the working girls?"

Wilkens startled and stared. "No Sir! It's nothing like that at all. It's . . . it's about the 'special instance' we were told about at shift change last week. Any reports of strange noises or . . . sightings are to be handled as top priority."

The inspector put down his pen, got up and closed his office door. He paused to pull a bottle out of the filing cabinet behind Wilkens' chair before returning to his own.

"Go on, lad."

"It's my son, Thad. You remember his school mate's mum disappeared down by Mayflower Park not long ago."

"I remember. Nasty business. Poor tyke is living with his aunt and uncle in Cornwall, isn't he?"

"I believe you're right, Sir. At first Thad was in a fuss over that. Someone at school's mother is friends with little James's aunt, you know how these things go. Vicious rumors, far-fetched stories. Paranoia turning a simple mugging and slaying into something from the Twilight Zone. Well Thad got it into his head that there are monsters everywhere. We had him set straight but now he says there's something in the school. Several somethings. He thinks he's being followed home. Glowing eyes in the sewers, odd noises, pretty much everything we were told to watch for.

Thad says he can hear them talking when it rains. And Mrs. Wilkens took him to Mayflower Park. An attempt to face fears and all that. Well Thad insists he saw one of the creatures looking up out of the water at him. Took to such a screaming fit he had to be carried home and put to bed."

"I see. You did the right thing, Wilkens, bringing this to me. No matter what it seems like, silly or strange or cruel, we must always do our duty for the greater good."

The Inspector opened his bottle and poured two glasses of Scotch.

"Now you take a bit of this to brace yourself and go on about your day. Don't speak of this to anyone, we don't need more rumors, you understand. I'll take care of it from here."

"Yes Sir, thank you, Sir," Wilkens agreed, pouring the Scotch down his throat and jumping to his feet. "I admit I was fretting a bit over this. Thank you for your time, Sir."

"Not at all, Wilkens, not at all. Thank you, in fact." The Inspector smiled until Wilkens had departed, closing the door as he went out into the day. He waited for a count of ten and had two more glasses of Scotch. Then he put away the bottle and pulled a telephone number out of a locked desk drawer and dialed.

"It's me, Sir. Another report. That's ten this week and three today, alone. This one involves Mayflower Park and the school where that young boy, the one with the dead mother, attended. Yes Sir. A constable on my force has a boy there."

" . . . . I understand, Sir. You're right. No matter how silly, strange, or cruel, we must always do our duty. Yes Sir. I'll see to things on this end."
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on April 09, 2011, 03:23:00 AM
These are great, CPD.   :)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 09, 2011, 04:12:21 AM
Quote from: P3nT4gR4m on April 09, 2011, 02:21:05 AM
I can't wait to draw this and I'm fucking off for a week  :x

O gosh. That will be fucking cool to see.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 09, 2011, 04:14:40 AM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on April 09, 2011, 03:23:00 AM
These are great, CPD.   :)

Thanks, Eater of Clowns.

I kinda wanna swing the arc to where James and/or Constable Wilkins end up with the Paynites and Payne, fighting to save the school from the monsters AND the law enforcement agency . . . but I'm kinda reluctant to cross over into the Paynite arc - stepping on toes and all that.

ETA: I am seeing all sorts of posts on the last few pages of this thread that I did not notice before. Either everyone was posting at the same side or my connex is whack.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Don Coyote on April 09, 2011, 04:26:29 AM
Excerpt from personal data storage module 567000TXY

....long ago...

So long ago, I sold my eyes. I sold them so that I might See.

So long ago, I sold my name. I sold it so that I could Know myself and my Enemies.

So so long ago, I just was. I was just like them. I don't even know who they are anymore. All I know is the Enemy. The Enemy and the Fight. The glorious Combat.

So long ago, I searched, and then I Found. It all made sense.

I have slowly sold my eyes, my nose, my tongue, so many senses. Gone, so that I might truly Experience the glories of the Fight.

/////End Session//////
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on April 09, 2011, 04:32:13 AM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 09, 2011, 04:14:40 AM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on April 09, 2011, 03:23:00 AM
These are great, CPD.   :)

Thanks, Eater of Clowns.

I kinda wanna swing the arc to where James and/or Constable Wilkins end up with the Paynites and Payne, fighting to save the school from the monsters AND the law enforcement agency . . . but I'm kinda reluctant to cross over into the Paynite arc - stepping on toes and all that.

ETA: I am seeing all sorts of posts on the last few pages of this thread that I did not notice before. Either everyone was posting at the same side or my connex is whack.

You know, I never said Sams is dead.  And I haven't much thought about what to do with him above ground.   :wink:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 09, 2011, 04:37:58 AM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on April 09, 2011, 04:32:13 AM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 09, 2011, 04:14:40 AM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on April 09, 2011, 03:23:00 AM
These are great, CPD.   :)

Thanks, Eater of Clowns.

I kinda wanna swing the arc to where James and/or Constable Wilkins end up with the Paynites and Payne, fighting to save the school from the monsters AND the law enforcement agency . . . but I'm kinda reluctant to cross over into the Paynite arc - stepping on toes and all that.

ETA: I am seeing all sorts of posts on the last few pages of this thread that I did not notice before. Either everyone was posting at the same side or my connex is whack.

You know, I never said Sams is dead.  And I haven't much thought about what to do with him above ground.   :wink:

You wanna run with it or do you want me to?
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on April 09, 2011, 04:40:00 AM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 09, 2011, 04:37:58 AM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on April 09, 2011, 04:32:13 AM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 09, 2011, 04:14:40 AM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on April 09, 2011, 03:23:00 AM
These are great, CPD.   :)

Thanks, Eater of Clowns.

I kinda wanna swing the arc to where James and/or Constable Wilkins end up with the Paynites and Payne, fighting to save the school from the monsters AND the law enforcement agency . . . but I'm kinda reluctant to cross over into the Paynite arc - stepping on toes and all that.

ETA: I am seeing all sorts of posts on the last few pages of this thread that I did not notice before. Either everyone was posting at the same side or my connex is whack.

You know, I never said Sams is dead.  And I haven't much thought about what to do with him above ground.   :wink:

You wanna run with it or do you want me to?

By all means, if you have any ideas, go for it.   :)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 09, 2011, 05:30:09 AM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on April 09, 2011, 04:40:00 AM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 09, 2011, 04:37:58 AM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on April 09, 2011, 04:32:13 AM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 09, 2011, 04:14:40 AM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on April 09, 2011, 03:23:00 AM
These are great, CPD.   :)

Thanks, Eater of Clowns.

I kinda wanna swing the arc to where James and/or Constable Wilkins end up with the Paynites and Payne, fighting to save the school from the monsters AND the law enforcement agency . . . but I'm kinda reluctant to cross over into the Paynite arc - stepping on toes and all that.

ETA: I am seeing all sorts of posts on the last few pages of this thread that I did not notice before. Either everyone was posting at the same side or my connex is whack.

You know, I never said Sams is dead.  And I haven't much thought about what to do with him above ground.   :wink:

You wanna run with it or do you want me to?

By all means, if you have any ideas, go for it.   :)

Thanks kindly. :) My favorite idea right now involves a hooker.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 09, 2011, 05:34:16 AM
Quote from: Donald Coyote on April 09, 2011, 04:26:29 AM
Excerpt from personal data storage module 567000TXY

....long ago...

So long ago, I sold my eyes. I sold them so that I might See.

So long ago, I sold my name. I sold it so that I could Know myself and my Enemies.

So so long ago, I just was. I was just like them. I don't even know who they are anymore. All I know is the Enemy. The Enemy and the Fight. The glorious Combat.

So long ago, I searched, and then I Found. It all made sense.

I have slowly sold my eyes, my nose, my tongue, so many senses. Gone, so that I might truly Experience the glories of the Fight.

/////End Session//////

I think this would be a great opener to the whole shebang.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 09, 2011, 06:33:20 AM
Shareese Winters slipped out of the plushly appointed limo, blew a kiss to the man still within the shadowy depths, and closed the door. She watched as the limo drove away from the docks, leaving her alone with the splash of water and the smell of dead fish and shit.

When she was sure her earnest yet innocent 'friend' was gone; Shareese Winters, also known as Tish Ludlow, pulled out a cellphone and called her pimp.

"Hey Daddy. You were right. Payday. I'm taking the rest of the night off, I'll be back in the morning." She kept her voice halfway between a wheedle and a purr. "No, Daddy, I won't give it away for free or spend your money. I already dropped it at the 'bank'. He thought I was taking a powder. Yes, Daddy. Goodnight. Kiss-kiss."

She hung up the phone and shook her head. The man was an unmitigated boor but he did run interference with other hotshot thugs who thought they could run her life better than she did. But it didn't matter. The next eighteen hours were hers. And thanks to all those stupid rumors about 'monsters', the docks were the perfect place for some alone time. None of her regulars would look for her here and Daddy didn't have the brains to track her cellphone even if he thought of it.

Plunking her voluminous gold lamé bag on the ground, she quickly chucked her heels, wig, and jewelry into it. Gone were the luxurious black locks her patrons considered one of her best features. Sheep-shorn blond fuzz stuck out in various tufts. Shareese gave her scalp a brisk rub and scratch, humming under her breath as she slipped on sweat pants before slithering out of her slinky dress. She threw a battered t-shirt on and zipped the bag up. No longer a sleek and pampered Siamese, she looked more like a wiry wharf cat.

Her friends thought she was crazy, both the ones in the trade and out. Ditching a prestigious American college to jump the ocean and take up prostitution at the age of twenty-two was an idiot's move in anyone's book. But she considered it freedom. Bucking the norm. Following her own drummer.

Bouncing on her heels, she boxed with her shadow, ducking and dodging about just to enjoy the movement.

Definitely daft. A whore alone on a dark night in a dangerous territory. Either she had a death wish or she was just bored with living.

But she didn't care what the others thought. Didn't. She picked up her bag, looping it over one shoulder and across her chest and began jogging barefoot - another stupid move - along the waterfront towards Mayflower Park. The wind of her passage on her face was wonderful.

She felt so cocky and reckless that she did not notice she was being paced on either side. One monster jogging between her and the land, another swimming between her and open water.

The one in the water struck first but the one on land was faster.

. . .    . . .    . . .

GAH. Stopping to post this before my computer eats it. Will write the next section shortly. Or longly, whatever. This is the first part of what was going through my brain*, Eater of Clowns. Land monster would be your man Sams, if you don't mind. Or something else if you do.

Spoiler: The hooker dies in the third or fourth block of text.

*Except I keep getting all wordy, trying to turn it into a short story/novella type thing into something streamlined. Great for NaNoWriMo, shitty for short stuff.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on April 09, 2011, 07:04:48 AM
I love the idea of naive Sams getting mixed up with a hooker.  And it makes a bit of sick sense.  He's out.  Where the fuck does he even start?  This looks like as good a place as any.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 09, 2011, 07:44:31 AM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on April 09, 2011, 07:04:48 AM
I love the idea of naive Sams getting mixed up with a hooker.  And it makes a bit of sick sense.  He's out.  Where the fuck does he even start?  This looks like as good a place as any.

If you have suggestions or objections or whatever, as this thing evolves, let me know.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on April 09, 2011, 12:27:25 PM
CPD...  Hell, ANY of you, you delete anything from this thread, even if it get a resounding, "Nope, sucks, doesn't fit," I swear, I WILL fucking your shit. 

So far, nothing has sucked, and very little doesn't fit.  Yeah, some doesn't... but that's because we're working pretty blind, here.  We've got what's revealed here, and that isn't a lot, and we're making a lot of it up as we go... which is awesome.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 09, 2011, 06:30:59 PM
Quote from: Luna on April 09, 2011, 12:27:25 PM
CPD...  Hell, ANY of you, you delete anything from this thread, even if it get a resounding, "Nope, sucks, doesn't fit," I swear, I WILL fucking your shit. 

So far, nothing has sucked, and very little doesn't fit.  Yeah, some doesn't... but that's because we're working pretty blind, here.  We've got what's revealed here, and that isn't a lot, and we're making a lot of it up as we go... which is awesome.

Duly noted, ma'am.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on April 09, 2011, 07:42:45 PM
I think I have more, but right now I am nursing Terri after her spine surgery. Maybe in a day or two. Excellent job guys!
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Don Coyote on April 09, 2011, 07:52:50 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on April 09, 2011, 07:42:45 PM
I think I have more, but right now I am nursing Terri after her spine surgery. Maybe in a day or two. Excellent job guys!

Take care of Terri, and yourself.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 09, 2011, 08:58:17 PM
Quote from: Donald Coyote on April 09, 2011, 07:52:50 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on April 09, 2011, 07:42:45 PM
I think I have more, but right now I am nursing Terri after her spine surgery. Maybe in a day or two. Excellent job guys!

Take care of Terri, and yourself.

Ditto that. Hope she has a quick and clean recovery.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on April 10, 2011, 05:50:56 AM
(http://i476.photobucket.com/albums/rr126/TGRR/Apollo_Space_Suit1.jpg)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 10, 2011, 07:12:31 AM
Shareese screamed as she was struck in the side, pushed towards the water. She screamed again when the head of a huge beast slammed into the pavement where she'd been standing. The creature howled, its long sinuous neck lashing back and forth over her and the person tangled in her purse strap.

"Bugger!" A man's voice. A very scared man yelling in her ear.

The creature reared and struck. Shareese found herself rolled across the ground as the man fumbled a gun free of the tangle and fired at the beast. Explosions of light and sound left Shareese stunned in silence until a rain of burning ichor hit her face and the man collapsed.

A ululating shriek vibrated the marrow from her bones as the beast withdrew with a thunderous splash. But at least the resulting wave was enough to wash the scorching sticky mess away and carry the man's body off of hers.

She lay there, breathing in great ragged gasps. There was no way to rationalize this. This . . . whatever this was was wrong. Wrong. Monsters didn't exist, except as people. Cruel and stupid people. But this. This . . .

"Miss?" The half-drowned man coughed up a lung's worth of water and pulled himself into a sitting position.

She couldn't even see more than half a silhouette. All the lights were gone. Even the stars were gone. What. Had. Happened?

"Miss, are you still with me?" He crawled closer and patted her cheek, hesitantly. Far too gently for a man who'd just knocked her down, rolled her across half an acre and blown up . . .

" . . . A FUCKING MONSTER!" She shot up, grabbing his shirt and shaking him until his head rattled on his neck. "WHAT THE FUCKING FUCK WAS THAT!? WHO in GOD'S NAME are YOU? Why the FUCK AM I NOT DEAD?"

"Miss," the man placed his hands over hers and patted, just as he had her cheek. "Let me go, Miss, it's okay now. The Nessie is gone for now. But we should be on our way before any other interested parties show up."

"Not UNTIL I get some GOD FUCKING ANSWERS!" She was screaming and could not stop. Shareese realized she couldn't let go of his shirt. Her hands weren't answering her commands. She couldn't stop screaming. "FUCK. WHY ARE WE NOT DEAD? WHAT ARE YOU? Oh my god my god my god . . . "

Adrenaline gone, she collapsed in a sprawled across her rescuer's lap and sobbed like a child.

"Oh Miss, please don't cry. I never know what to do when a woman cries. It's all better now, see?" He stroked her hair and patted her shoulder. He sounded more scared, to her, than he had when that hellish nightmare had tried to eat them. "Miss? Get up now. We really do need to go."

"Why am I alive? People don't survive things like this," she said, refusing to budge.

"Some people survive at least twice, Miss. If they are very unlucky. You are alive because I used my last one-in-a-million shot pulling a stunt that will never ever work again so please, Miss. Move your bleeding ass before it comes back with friends."

"THERE ARE MORE?!"

Shareese was standing and pulling her rescuer to his feet before she finished the sentence. The stars were back but the streetlights were gone. Which explained the glass beneath her bare feet. Of all the fucking stupid things to do, she thought, jogging bare foot was at the top of the list right now. Right under playing dodge with impossible monsters.

"Where are we going?" She asked, following the tug of her rescuer's hand in hers away from the water.

"Away, Miss."

"Shareese. My name is Shareese."

"Sam. But my friends called me Sams."
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 10, 2011, 08:17:23 AM
The lights were out but Shareese didn't care. She hammered on the door as if her life depended on it. Which it probably did. Who the fuck knew? A window opened overhead and Shareese stepped back so Rita could see her.

"Cut out that racket, ya fuckin' crackhead, or I'll have the polis on you like fleas on a dog's ass!"

"I need the back room, Rita. Bit of a situation here."

"Shareese mother-fucking Winters. As I live and breathe. Careful there. Your man fetched up against the patio table is about to keel over. I'll be down in a wink." The window slammed shut.

Shareese released the breath she'd been holding and hobbled over to Sam, pulling his arm over her shoulder. He groaned and tried to stand on his own.

"Very manly. Quit that shit or I'll knock you unconscious to save myself the testosterone," she snapped, almost frothing with anger. The mood swings she was going through with this whole near-death discovery of nightmare monsters was beginning to piss her off.

"Sorry, Miss," Sam said weakly. He tried to smile but fell a little short. Though Shareese thought he'd have a lovely sheepish smile when he wasn't half drowned and one-third dead.

"Rita is a friend of mine. Real friend, not in-the-trade friend. This is her coffee shop. Primo shit if you like a beverage that doubles as paint stripper and weed killer," she said, attempting a kinder tone. He had saved her life, after all. "She sometimes lets us crash in the back half of the first floor. There's a tiny set of rooms, bed, bath and kitchenette that aren't part of the shop. She lives upstairs."

"Sounds like . . . a wonderful . . . woman." Sam replied, his breath hitching with pain.

"Very kind of you to say so, boyo," Rita said, opening the shop's door. She was a huge woman with a broad smiling face and her iron gray hair done up in fluffy pink curlers. Six feet tall and almost as wide, she had to turn sideways to get through the doorway. But she took Sam's other arm across her shoulders and almost carried him into the building, leaving Shareese to hobble along behind on her cut and bleeding feet.

Rita led them through the coffee shop, an immaculate kitchen, and several store rooms before squeezing her way into a tiny bed-and-living room. She got Sam onto the bed and gave Shareese an assessing glance. "You ought not to pick up boys in such bad shape, Shareese, dear. If you use them up in this condition they'll pass on before they can finish, let alone bring in repeat business."

"I feel like I should be blushing," Sam stated, holding a hand to his head. "What is she talking about?"

Rita let out a laugh like a foghorn flirting with seagulls. "He doesn't know?"

"Hadn't quite gotten around to that part. Started off with the whole saving my life bit and then the running away bit and we're just now getting to proper introductions beyond name exchange," Shareese said, sitting down in the room's only chair.

She gave Sam a smirk. "I'm a whore."

Sam blushed from the roots of his hair down to his ankles, at least, judging by the view through the tears in his pants.

Rita laughed again, bending over and slapping her knees until her whole body wobbled. "Ah, but he's a sweet piece of meat, Shareese. Keep this one if you can keep out of trouble. I'll fetch the first-aid kit and some food while the dear boy recovers himself," she said at last, wiping tears from her eyes.

"Thank you, Rita."

When she'd gone, Sam looked at Shareese. "Are you really a . . . er. You don't look like one." Then a look of horror crossed his face and he began babbling. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean. I don't . . . I've never. I'm still a . . . please don't be offended. Oh Lord . . ."

Shareese waited until he was done. "Yes I'm a whore. Relax."

"I've never talked to  . . . er . . . a woman like you before." He said, blushing again.

"I'd have never guessed, unless you hadn't started talking. You're in great shape, aside from the bruises and dents. And you're sweet as a puppy when you aren't firing a gun into a behemoth of whatever that was."

She fluttered her eyelashes at him. He looked like he was about to faint but Rita returned and saved him. Besides the promised medical supplies and food, Rita brought a sack of clothing, towels, and bedding.

"Ducky, I don't know what you've gotten into but there's a very blurry photo of you and your man here on the telly. Something about vandalizing the quay down by Mayflower Park."

"You're kidding. VANDALISM? It was a FUCKING - "

"Mistake. A very large and unfortunate mistake." Sam interrupted. Then he pulled out a charming smile. "Thank you so much for your help, Ma'am. I don't have any money on me at the moment, but if I can repay you at all, I will. You've been a genuine Saint."

Flustered and blushing, Rita said, "You're welcome boyo. Now I'll leave you two to get acquainted. I'll peek in on you in a few hours."

"Bless you, Ma'am. Bless you."

Rita giggled girlishly and left, fluffing her curlers.

"What the hell was that about?" Shareese demanded.

Sam hoisted himself up, retrieved their supplies and sat down at Shareese's feet. He spread a towel in his lap and dipped a pair of tweezers in some peroxide. Then he lifted her foot and began pulling bits of glass from the cuts.

Speechless, she watched him work. He finished one foot and lifted the other, adding a few larger pieces to the collection of tiny shards. It barely hurt at all, she noted.

"People are looking for us." He said at last. "Unless you are a very well connected . . . er . . . woman. It isn't because they miss your company. There's something going on here. I've gotten just a bit more paranoid as of late. And I'd rather not involve Rita in anything that may get her killed if I can avoid it."

"You're going to have to explain all this from the beginning, Sam, if you want me to understand any of this."

He looked at her. "The biggest part, you've seen for yourself. There are monsters. And at least two groups fighting them," he said grimly. "The Paynites, a secret religious sort of organization fighting from below, where the Nessies live. And . . . from what I understand, an above-ground group, government, I think. Very shady government. Very keen on not having witnesses or anyone to spread wild rumors that will ignite panic."

Shareese nodded, as if it made sense, and measured the distance between herself and the door. If he went batty, she could kick him in the face and run for it. This was insane. "Why were you at the quay?"

He finished up with her foot and dumped peroxide on both of them. She yiped and lept to her feet, falling onto the bed as the stinging ate her feet alive.

"Why were you? I thought you were . . . I don't know. One of us. I watched you. I thought you were there to fight the Nessies," he took the towel of glass to the sink and rinsed the bits down the drain. "But you weren't. You were just a woman who thought she knew better taking stupid risks." He ignored her scowl and her whimpers of pain.

He stared into the sink's drain, watching blood and glass swirl away. "And I . . . I was almost free of the whole mess. But we were attacked, below. It was over in a second. Sitting ducks. But instead of killing me outright, I was carried off, drug along the tunnels like a caveman's bride. Maybe they thought I was dead. I certainly felt that way. Then . . . we passed another body and there was a gun. I managed to grab it and I shot the beast. Only once. But I must have scared it because it dropped me. Right handy to an access to the surface so instead of going back, I went up. I went up."

Sam turned off the faucet and looked through the cupboards until he found two plates and two glasses. Then he made up the plates with fruit slices, cheese, day-old muffins, and cold cuts. He put one plate on the bed next to Shareese and one on the floor by the chair. He poured two cups of coffee from a thermos and gave her one before sitting in the chair. Picked up his plate, took a sip of coffee, ate a few bites . . . all like a man in a trance.

Shareese didn't move. Didn't breathe.

"I don't know why I went up. I'm supposed to be dead, too." Sam said, chewing his muffin. "But I went up. Didn't recognize the area. The light hurt my eyes. It isn't anywhere near so bright down below. You forget that there's a sun and a sky. You forget there are people who aren't Juiced and crazed. I sat on a bench and just watched the people. One old lady clucked her tongue at me and gave me twenty dollars."

He stopped and frowned. "You aren't eating."

Shareese snatched up some grapes and popped them into her mouth one at a time. Chewed. Smiled. Reached for a poppyseed muffin. Sam's eyes glazed over again.

"I went into a bar. Scrubbed myself with water from the sink, hand soap, and paper towels. Ordered food. Watched the telly. I saw the story about Mayflower Park and the other boy from the school . . . 'hysteria', they're calling it. But if I'm right, I have this horrible sick feeling in my gut, the other group in the shadows is going to 'sanitize' that entire school. If they don't want witnesses they'll do it while it's in session. The boy said he saw monsters at the school. And at the quay. I started at the quay, it's more open. Then there was you and now we are here." He looked at her, expectantly. A puppy waiting for a treat.

"You've had a very hard couple of days," Shareese said carefully. "It's very brave of you to save me. To want to save those kids. But how do you know you're right? What are you going to do?"

"I know. Everything is so much clearer up here. They've been doing it all along, don't you see? I thought it was the Paynites, but they wouldn't use the telly to chase us down. That's police right there. That's missing child, suspect wanted for questioning bullshit, that is. So. I'll think of something."

"We'll think of something."

"Excuse me?"

"We. Shut up and eat your food. We need to eat, bathe, and sleep. Then we'll come up with a plan to save the world."

Sam smiled. And ate.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on April 10, 2011, 11:58:28 AM
Nice, I like it!
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on April 10, 2011, 03:49:34 PM
After what I saw I figure it's time to start a diary. And drinking.

Better tell you about myself first I guess. Name is Donald and I live in a garden apartment. That's an apartment about half underground. Since I lost both of my legs well above the knees I don't go out much, but I can still see outside.

Something strange happened about a month ago, I call it the beginning, since before that I had no idea. A group of people were gathered around a storm drain when a couple of vans showed up. Some guys jumped out of the van and threw all of the people in, except for one that walked away earlier, and then the van took off. 

I think I know what they were doing there, I think they were listening. I've heard it too, a singing almost, kind of like those whales they show on the Telly on those documentary channels. It comes up from the drains.

Sometimes there is a horrible stench that comes up as well. I don't open the windows to let it out though, rather grim faced men in uniforms drag people away whenever they find anyone. I may be the last person living on this block for all I know. Good thing my caregiver had me stock up on a years supply of food and water. She was one of the ones the van took away.

Once something distinctly not human was sniffing (I think) from outside a ventilation vent, when it left I put a mirror in front of it, that seemed to fix it. At least it hasn't been back. The men in uniforms are always looking in the windows with flashlights. I fixed up a little garage of sorts, mirrors on three sides, with the opening away from the windows. I can roll my chair right in, they are looking for legs, not wheels. I don't know why I am hiding from them, but they seem pretty dangerous.

After dark everything gets louder. Sometimes I can hear screams, some human, others not. I sleep in my mirror garage every night now. I saw something one night...not sure what it was, but it looked in my apartment. I was afraid to move, so I sat perfectly still for about an hour. I am too afraid to play a radio or the telly anymore, I make no noise at all. Well, except for eating or using the loo, even then I have to be sure it's a certain time of day. Usually around noon things quieten down for about an hour. Some days not, so I go hungry and just hold it.

I never move anything in the room that has windows, so now a light coat of dust has settled over everything, helps to make the place look abandoned. If I could get my chair up the stairs I might try to leave, but that's not likely. Not being able to have a cigarette is the hardest part, but last time was just before I heard that sniffing around the ventilator.

I have been here alone for over a year now. Food and water are almost used up, even with careful rationing. The men never come around anymore, or I would call to them.  I grow weaker every day, I think there isn't much time left, so I started smoking again. The cigs are stale, but they taste so sweet after so long without them. I have two bottles of scotch left, so tonight I plan to get good and drunk. I don't know what's going on out in the world, but I hope things are going well, it's all the hope I have left.


Recording from surface squad.

"Sir, we have somebody in that apartment"

"Okay, by the numbers, let's go in. Williams, on point."

"Damn, how long has he been dead?"

"My guess is one day. How the hell did he last down here all this time?"

"He's got a diary of some kind, I'll grab it for OPs. Jesus, looks like he was in here over a year."

"Look at those mirrors, that must be why nobody, including the nessies ever found him."

"Leave the body, but grab those smokes, those things are hard to come by. Get that bottle of scotch too, damn, we'll have a good night tonight."

end recording
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 10, 2011, 05:42:53 PM
Wow, Charley. Fucking wow.  :horrormirth:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on April 10, 2011, 07:18:26 PM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 10, 2011, 05:42:53 PM
Wow, Charley. Fucking wow.  :horrormirth:

Right back at you.  :)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on April 10, 2011, 07:48:52 PM
Internal Memorandum

From:  Operations

To: Logistics

Re;

Take 2 of the 6 wheeled tunnel carts and convert them so they are capable of carrying 3 each 7' X 9' 2 way mirrors. Train 2 stealth team veterans to operate. Assemble 6 more stealth team members, all veterans that have survived at least 3 missions each. Train them to work between the carts in total silence regardless of what is happening. Absolute silence is critical.

The lead vehicle will require one mirror forward and one port and starboard, the trailing vehicle will require one mirror aft and one port and starboard.

Weaponry on the carts is not important, as the team will have the usual weapons. Make sure the vehicles themselves are 100% silent during operation.

Report back to this office when vehicles and team are ready. The team is not to be sent out on field assignments during training.

CODE NAME;

OPERATION NEST

Commander;

Commander Royce
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 10, 2011, 08:28:39 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on April 10, 2011, 07:48:52 PM
Internal Memorandum

From:  Operations

To: Logistics

Re;

Take 2 of the 6 wheeled tunnel carts and convert them so they are capable of carrying 3 each 7' X 9' 2 way mirrors. Train 2 stealth team veterans to operate. Assemble 6 more stealth team members, all veterans that have survived at least 3 missions each. Train them to work between the carts in total silence regardless of what is happening. Absolute silence is critical.

The lead vehicle will require one mirror forward and one port and starboard, the trailing vehicle will require one mirror aft and one port and starboard.

Weaponry on the carts is not important, as the team will have the usual weapons. Make sure the vehicles themselves are 100% silent during operation.

Report back to this office when vehicles and team are ready. The team is not to be sent out on field assignments during training.

CODE NAME;

OPERATION NEST

Commander;

Commander Royce

We're gonna open up a CAN OF WHOOP-ASS ON YOU NOW, you crazy Nessie-impersonating motherfuckers!  :mittens:

My little sugar-high kitty heart is filled with gleeful squee with where you're taking this. I love the mirror angle. Seriously, I have a plot-twist boner right now.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 10, 2011, 09:05:25 PM
Hissing static filled the tiny apartment. Even in the bathroom, where Shareese had locked herself, the only sound was the crackle and fizzing of white noise. She sat on the toilet and took a swig of warm beer. Mr. Sam Nessie-slayer Sams was in the bedroom/living area going all Frankenstein on a microwave, a ham radio, and a police scanner. Improvised intel, he'd said. And then his eyes had gone all glassy again.

They'd been hiding in the back of Rita's coffee shop for a day and a half. All the bumps and scrapes had turned into fabulous bruises. It had taken three showers each to get the gunk and debris fully washed away.

Shareese's pimp had left six ranting messages. She'd deleted them all and given Sam the phone. He'd made one call. She heard something about hay and running out of time. And then her fancy little cellphone had been hurled at the wall.

Up until then they'd had a great time chatting. Comparing stories. Eating Rita's delicious food and drinking the worst coffee in the universe. Now the guy with the most ridiculous name was channeling MacGyver and she was hiding in the bathroom with a warm beer.

The static cut off abruptly. Loud and clear, voices were coming through.

" . . . moving towards the school now. The building has two sub-basements, we're in luck, over."

"Roger that. Keep advancing. The repellant will lose effectiveness in less than thirty minutes. You have that long to complete Stage 1."

"Roger. Team Two has placed the charges. Wired to blow on command."

"The livestock is moving appropriately. What about the lambs?"

"Also go. All go for slaughter."

"Roger. Next check in, fifteen minutes."

Silence. Shareese sighed. No more beer. She adjusted her towel and left the bathroom. Sammy Sam McSams looked up, his face was a death mask. Ignoring the urge to flee, she sashayed over and stole a beer from the six pack sitting at his feet.

"That didn't sound like good news, Samuel Samoa MacSaymie."

He handed her a newspaper and took a swig of his own beer. The front page was a blazing headline and a picture of a school.

"Parents And Teachers Unite To Calm Children's Fears With a Faire." Shareese shook her head. "What a fucking stupid headline. What is wrong with reporters today? Where's the panache?"

"They couldn't very well put 'Military Black Ops Lures Lambs to the Slaughter' on the front page," Sams replied.

"Wait, this faire is what they were talking about on your radio? All those people are there today?"

Sams nodded. Shareese made it to the toilet before she threw up everything she'd eaten in the last week.

"It's what these guys are doing. Cleaning up the mess. No witnesses. No evidence. I thought the Paynites were on the wrong track but this . . . this is beyond fucked-up. Beyond barbaric. Hayes was so right he doesn't even know." Sams spat.

Shareese heaved into the toilet again.

When there was nothing left, she rinsed her mouth, brushed her teeth, and flushed. Thinking. Something had to be done, but what?

"What are we going to do?" She asked her reflection.

"What can we do?" Sams answered. Her reflection shrugged, offering nothing.

She turned away, looking at Sam. His eyes were bloodshot, hands clenched into fists. So tense. Ready for battle and already defeated.

"If we get there before they blow the whole thing fucking sky high, is there a way to save those people?"

"From the Nessies and these bastards?" Sams pondered. "If they're trying to get clear . . . before they blow everything to shit, they're probably using some sort of remote detonator. If we disabled it on the explosives' end, we'd have some time to do . . . something."

"Get the people out?"

"We'd need . . . something. I don't know."

"Can't we just hold everything hostage? Call in the media? Would they blow it up with the press looking on?"

Sams stared. "That is fucking insane."

Shareese paced, thoughts whirling. "We'd have to call them before we went in. Somehow get them there. Get the school on our side. How will we convince them? They need to be in place before these black-ops fucks know they're there. They can't block off the area just yet, it's too early in the morning. More people are still showing up for this faire, right?"

Sams checked the paper. "It starts at noon. It's ten am. That doesn't leave us much time to get things rolling."

Shareese ignored him and kept thinking.

He cleared his throat. "Really. Sha- . . Miss, this isn't a good idea. You could get hurt."

She stopped and dropped her towel, striking a pose. "Sugar, I am hardly a delicate and fragile flower. But I'll tell you what. Let's fuck for it. Last one to come gets to decide our course of action."

Sam's jaw dropped. But he looked a good long minute before blushing and covering his eyes.

"That's what I thought. This is serious. You need to grow a pair now or run. But I'm going in there, regardless," she said, scooping up the towel and throwing it at him. She pulled on some clothes Rita had brought while he sat under the towel.

"I'm not running," he muttered. "I'm fighting."

"Well then unless you have a better plan we need to fine tune this fucker and get a move on."

"All right then. Looks like we're having an adventure."
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Kai on April 10, 2011, 09:19:06 PM
I didn't volunteer for this particular dissertation project. My major advisor laid it out the day after I was accepted to the university.

I had always loved cryptozoology, ever since I was a little girl. Sure, a nerdy thing to enjoy, but my parents were both scientists delving into the unknown, my father a theoretical physicist and my mother an astrobiologist. They always encouraged scientific endevours, though I'm not sure they're too happy about my chosen field. While they were in the lab, I was outdoors turning over rocks and digging holes. I wanted to make discoveries, things that no other person had ever seen before, things that no one had /dreamed/ of before, and things we thought were forever lost to us. I grew up hearing about the rediscovery of the forest bison and the ivory billed woodpecker, the capture of the first Coelocanth. I remember the day a hiker released the first footage of the Himalayan Yeti (the North American Yeti wouldn't be captured on film till three years later). And I remember going to the aquarium and seeing the very first live captured Colossal Squid. All these amazing discoveries were being made around me, and I knew I wanted to make my own. Cryptozoology was becoming a real profession, a respected line of work.

I majored in zoology in undergrad, and after graduating at the top of my class I applied to work under Dr. <redacted> for my PhD. The reason, of course, is that Dr. <redacted> is the world expert on cryptos, hell, he's more responsible for the resurgence of interest than anyone. I'm sure you've heard of him.  All that money he received for verifying both the Yeti discoveries means he has plenty of dollars for graduate student assistantships.

Although, I'm not sure I realized what I was getting into when he said "Ever been to England?"

When he said he wanted me to investigate a rumor of "nessies" in Southhampton, I assumed he meant something like the creatures from Loch Ness, which were an ongoing investigation.

"No, not those nessies", he said. "I've already got a team working that project. This is something else, as big a find as the Yeti, maybe bigger. I want to give you this opportunity to make a name for yourself, working on something no one else has, just like you said in your cover letter." He smiled. "Though", he said, sitting at his desk and leaning forward, "this is not an easy dissertation project, nor a very safe one. Word has it that people are disappearing, homeless, street people. It reminds me of my master's project." That has been his jump to world fame, the discovery of the flying shrimp colonies in the Pacific Rim. They had been taking people from Indonesian fishing villages, attracted to the lights for food, and solving a century long mystery. He received an award for designing a repellent.

I hesitated for a moment, but I wanted this. I wanted to do this. "When can I get started?"

Which how I ended up standing in front of a sewer vent in Southhampton, holding hand scribbled directions to a monastery.


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

Links in to the scared biologist from earlier.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on April 10, 2011, 09:53:24 PM
It's like a tidal wave of awesome.

Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on April 10, 2011, 11:53:21 PM
Tell them, please, tell them.  They have to know.  They're not what we thought they are.  They're breeding, they're breeding so much faster than we thought they would.  Every generation is smarter, faster, and the conditioning faded out generations ago.  They'll attack anything that moves, except each other, except...  When they attack, if one of them hesitates, the others turn on it.  No mercy, no recognition, just fury.

Containment methods are failing, there's no stopping them.  Nothing works,
if they think they're being held back, they just send more, wave after wave.  I don't know how many nests there are, now, I think every generation is spawning at least one new queen who hives off to start a new one. 

The suits...  I think they're starting to see through the field.  They've started sniffing around when we try to observe them.  Markov...  We don't know if he slipped up, if he made noise, or they just...  SAW him.  He went in for a standard sneak and peek, and he just...  We didn't hear anything on the feed, not until the screaming started.  We don't know what went wrong... but we've installed a cutoff on the feed on our end.  Nobody will go in, now.

Request immediate recall of all remaining agents, and recommend a purge... if you can figure out how.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: East Coast Hustle on April 11, 2011, 12:19:17 AM
She waited in the water. This had turned out to be a fruitful hunting spot, and tonight's meal was approaching, on foot and alone. She allowed her quarry to pass the furthest point of the pond before she slunk out of the moon-kissed pool and began the final rundown.

Something was off.

There was another. And this one smelled familiar.

Hunger overtook caution, and she increased her speed and closed the distance on her prey in a matter of seconds.

The lethal strike, and then...

...nothing. She had missed her mark.

She never missed her mark.

howling in fury, she regained her stance and swung around to find the other had pushed her prey out of the way just before her jaws snapped shut. She made one feint towards the pair of them, hoping to force them in the direction she wanted them to go, but before she could pivot her world exploded in a flash of light and pain.

The other had interfered with her again. She would enjoy the sport of hunting this one down and dragging him back to the nest alive for the younglings to feed on, but not now. She would need a couple of days to recover from her injuries. Marking his scent in her mind, she slithered back to the pond in the park where the submerged tunnel to her nest beckoned.

She would do nothing but sleep and eat for a couple of days, but once she was back to full strength she would focus all of her efforts to find this prey animal that had the temerity to hunt her. She could afford no more interference with her regular hunts now that she was heavy with a brood of her own.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 11, 2011, 05:20:22 AM
Quote from: Rip City Hustle on April 11, 2011, 12:19:17 AM
She waited in the water. This had turned out to be a fruitful hunting spot, and tonight's meal was approaching, on foot and alone. She allowed her quarry to pass the furthest point of the pond before she slunk out of the moon-kissed pool and began the final rundown.

Something was off.

There was another. And this one smelled familiar.

Hunger overtook caution, and she increased her speed and closed the distance on her prey in a matter of seconds.

The lethal strike, and then...

...nothing. She had missed her mark.

She never missed her mark.

howling in fury, she regained her stance and swung around to find the other had pushed her prey out of the way just before her jaws snapped shut. She made one feint towards the pair of them, hoping to force them in the direction she wanted them to go, but before she could pivot her world exploded in a flash of light and pain.

The other had interfered with her again. She would enjoy the sport of hunting this one down and dragging him back to the nest alive for the younglings to feed on, but not now. She would need a couple of days to recover from her injuries. Marking his scent in her mind, she slithered back to the pond in the park where the submerged tunnel to her nest beckoned.

She would do nothing but sleep and eat for a couple of days, but once she was back to full strength she would focus all of her efforts to find this prey animal that had the temerity to hunt her. She could afford no more interference with her regular hunts now that she was heavy with a brood of her own.

:mittens: :mittens: :mittens:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on April 11, 2011, 04:11:55 PM
Internal Memorandum

From; Logistics

To; Operations, Commander Royce

RE; Operation Nest

The carts are now ready. Some delay was caused by the necessity of strengthening the suspension for the excessive weight.

The teams have been trained thoroughly with operation and systems. Silence was the primary topic as per your request. The team is fully rested and prepared for combat.

Although you had not requested it we devised a way to link the port and starboard mirrors from both carts together forming a nearly seamless fit. We have altered the cart beds in such a way that the entire team can remain between the carts while they are linked.

If you require further assistance please contact us immediately, as your operation is given 1A status from above.

Logistics
Captain Fuller
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Jenne on April 11, 2011, 04:26:46 PM
I will have to return to this thread to finish out my Roger storyline when I'm not swamped with work I've been away from for over a week.  I'm marking my time, though, so please be patient.  I feel I have at least one more and a wrap-up...depending on what I read through here and what inspires.  Got a lot of inspiring desert imagery from last week, as well as military-grade vehicle convoys I'll be ripping from as well.  Nice, monstrous, huge-ass vehicles.  And SAND GOGGLES.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on April 11, 2011, 05:22:50 PM
Ready Room recording

"Gentlemen, I am Commander Royce. I would first like to thank you all for volunteering." (muffled laughter)

"You all know by now that this is a secret project. What you don't know is we have developed weapons that will compliment future missions. On this first assignment you are to approach the enemy without engaging them."

(Muffled talking, presumed objections)

"At ease. You'll get your chance. We need to know if the mirrors will actually give us the advantage we think it will. If they do, then you will attack only nests and ignore lone individuals."

"Sir?"

"Yes?"

"What exactly is the advantage you hope to have?"

"Very good question. In a diary that was discovered it seems that mirrors confuse the nessies to the point that they think it is just another one of them. If we can prove this we can get right to a nest and destroy it down to the last inhabitant. Proving this is your first assignment. Make no mistake, this is dangerous as hell and silence is absolutely critical. If, however the plan fails and you are attacked then you will defend yourselves.

You are all supplied with new armor that is coated with 100% reflective surfaces, even your weapons are completely reflective. Nothing you are taking tonight is refurbished, it is quite literally brand new. Your suits are soundproof to permit communication between yourselves and command. Once you are approached by the enemy you are to remain perfectly still and let them look you over.

What we expect to happen is they will simply move on after a few seconds. You will attempt to make a minimum of three individual contacts, then return to base. We will be watching your headcam feeds and we will be monitoring the situation live at all times."

"Any further questions?"

(silence)

"Very well, you will proceed to Tunnel 13 immediately. No phase of this operation is to be discussed outside of a secure room or with anyone not on your team. God Speed."

(End recording)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on April 12, 2011, 04:55:19 PM
Command Centre A/V recording


"Command, we are proceeding down Tunnel 13. Radar confirms we are on an intersect with a nessie."

"Roger, remember, do not engage except in self defense. We have image from head cams. Radio silence is in effect."

"Copy that."

Video only

Nessie slowly approaches cart, ready but not aggressive. Team is under extreme stress, but remain motionless as the beast looks the mirrors over from front to back.

After 2 very long minutes the nessie makes what is almost a cooing sound and moves off down the tunnel. Command waits until radar screen is clear.

cheers and applause from command

"Damn."
"Son of a bitch"
"It fucking worked."

"Well done team, well done. Two more contacts and then you come home."

"Copy Command. It feels like I am standing in sweat in my suit."

(laughter)

"Copy, understandable. Hopefully it will get easier from here out. Steak for you guys tonight."

"We'll hold you to that Command. Alright, unlink the carts and move out team, two more to go."


Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 12, 2011, 07:42:40 PM
YES! Charley, these kick ass. :D Keep going, man!

Jeanne, looking forward to the continuation of your story-line.

We are so fucking awesome.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Dysfunctional Cunt on April 12, 2011, 07:45:27 PM
I think this thread is amazing. 

Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on April 12, 2011, 07:48:17 PM
Quote from: Khara on April 12, 2011, 07:45:27 PM
I think this thread is amazing. 



It makes me smile every time I see it come up as a new post.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Salty on April 12, 2011, 08:57:32 PM
Found by a private courier in a ruined and bloodsoaked woman's jacket near The Wall, an experimental defense structure. The name of the town has been lost with it's records and inhabitants.

Dear Fracture ,

   I hope this finds you well, if it finds you at all. I've been writing letters like crazy to everyone! Did you ever think we'd have to go back to using paper to talk to each other? Felix explained it to me and I suppose I understand. They've been steadily taking away most of our electronics for the last two months, and since they shut off everything but the heat and the lights (though, they say the light will be rationed soon enough) I suppose there's not much point in having them anyway. Still, I miss my phone.

   But at least we have The Wall now. Can you believe that's what they're calling it? Not very clever to me, though Felix always chuckles when he says it, the same way he does when I ask him about the scars. Two weeks ago the last partition went up and we were completely sealed off. We've got stores of food and water that will keep us alive, if you can call it that, for 5 years and The Wall is supposed to stay powered for 20. What we're going to do about...whatever those things are, I don't know. I ought to feel better that they can't get in now, ever since they showed up circling all the major exits I've been a wreck. All those bodies. The blood.

   And YOU! I have heard so many stories about you. Are they true? I'll bet that story about saving a group of kids is true. Did you really lose an arm though? But the part about having a giant hammer put in it's place can't be true. Did you really kill one of them by yourself? Did you really lead a group of troops when their commanding officer fell? You HAVE to tell me! I keep hearing things.

   Sometimes I go for walks near The Wall. I think I'm the only one that knows about the small gap that's underneath a collapsed beam near a parking garage. I saw one of them. Well, not really saw saw, you know. But I saw something just huge and it groaned just a bit. I ran so fast.

   And yet...I don't know, there's just nothing to DO here. And I'm fairly certain even with all the deaths and all the loss of access to resources and communication and us having to build a giant electric shield to cover the city...I don't think any one of us have actually seen one of them.

   I'm going to go again tomorrow I just want to see if I can see one of them. Besides, the only way I can get this letter to you is a fellow with more unbelievable stories than the one's about you. He calls himself Lies, which unsettles me. He bounces from town to town, seemingly unfazed by the dangers of such travel.

   So, I hope you're well. Tell me about all the things going on with you. And I hope to see you maybe once the convoys start. Gotta get supplies somewhere, right? Felix will be going, he's designing the new suits the boys are going to wear.


   Much Love,
      Bobbi.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on April 12, 2011, 11:07:22 PM
"You're at the pub and there's this girl," he started.  Lesson one of the class.  The briefing room his school.  A single Templar his student.  Onlookers readying for their excursion subtly strain to hear over the bustle of their routine.  "There are plenty of others around, and maybe on another day they'd be the ones on your mind.  But today it's this one girl, all the thoughts going through you shared by just about every man in there.  That's how the Nessies work."

The lone templar says nothing.  He listens to this, his new teacher.  In the corner, a chaplain watches the exchange.  Hearing the introduction, a few Templars scoff and shake their heads.  A few others glare at the ones who do.  It is not their lesson, and the instructor pays them no mind.

"It's a pheromone.  You don't notice it's there, but you feel its effect.  That girl in the bar is putting them off and the Nessie in the tunnel is doing the same.  Only instead of going for your prick, it gives you the fear enough to make you stupid.  One of the effects of the juice is to stop you noticing it."  He's not a big man, like some of them.  He's not a warrior like The Old Man, or even just a skilled nut like Tom.  He isn't a giant, or a mercenary.  He watches.

The ones who scoffed are listening again, but they're skeptical.  Pheromone or not, you felt the fear.

"That's one of the many little things that the juice kills.  With all of those dead, you can focus on the big things, which is necessary to stay alive when you're first coming down here," the teacher went on.  Out of the tunnels, the men talk.  There are some that they don't speak about, some whose stories were tragic ones.  Then there are some they speak about in awe and reverence.  Men like Samson.  Then there is this man, the teacher now, asked about from templar to templar in curiosity, sometimes in rumor and sometimes in fact.  He wears a watch set eight hours behind, they say.  It's because he's living on borrowed time, they say, cheating death not by a step ahead but by a corner behind.

"But you and I need the little things.  Giving the little things their due respect is what brings us here, and in time will bring others here as well," he says.  Then there are the rumors that he isn't cheating death, but chasing it.  That he's been swung upon by Nessies and lived without a scratch.  That he even stands and waits for their strike, hoping this will be the one that does it.

"Nessie is not as strong as is rumored.  They are fast, and they can destroy us even through the metal, but that isn't from sheer strength.  A Nessie strikes like a spring.  Before its appendages swing, it winds itself up.  In a matter of seconds, of course.  Every muscle in its body tenses, lends itself to the blow.  Like an expert fighter that uses his whole body to throw a punch."

The templars have stopped readying.  To the last, they sit and listen.  The classroom of one has become a tutorial to the lot.  Seeing this, the chaplain standing by moves the group out.  He knows what the man known a The Hessian is about to say.  To the average templar, it's dangerous knowledge.  It takes a special sort to use it effectively.  It takes the sort sitting before him now.

"You can see this in the templars who have survived.  The ones whose armor was merely cut, rather than their entire bodies.  The strike wasn't wound up, maybe done outside the creature's instinct, maybe interrupted by a blow, a jab to a boxer rather than a right hook.  Look at the page in front of you," he gestures to a single sheet given to his student.

"On that Nessie is a red dot, a sizable enough area to hit under normal circumstances, but it might as well be a pinhole when you're fighting.  That spot is where the spring coils up, where all the energy that will kill you is stored.  I don't know what rests there, maybe some kind of heart.  But that's the little thing that you need to know better than your girlfriend's clitoris," he says.  He leans in close to the student for the next part, near a whisper.

"And it's dead useless unless the spring is coiled.  So you stand before a Nessie and you wait.  You hold.  You watch.  You hold.  Just when the fucker is about to unite your skull with the servo suit, you hit that spot.  Only that spot," The Hessian stands back again, adopting his casual tone.

"All that stored up energy will release.  The pressure of the thing's blood will push your weapon back if you've still got it in there.  If not, it'll spray out not unlike a fire hose.  That's what I've taken to calling The Burst.  You don't need to be a genius to do it, nor a brute.  You need to be able to read the things on some level.  Now get yourself ready, you and I are heading out.  You'll watch me for a few kills and then we come back here to train your striking."
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Salty on April 12, 2011, 11:39:16 PM
From the notebook of Frank Schloss, Interim Council Director, found near ruins of The Wall.


3/13/15
We've begun adding a chemical compound that seem to have an adverse effect on the damned creatures. Finally! They've resisted nearly everything we've thrown at them. But this one is special. I made it in accordance with the journals of a chemist those recon gorrilas found on a scouting mission. That was a most curious incident which has been documented elsewhere. There was no trace of any person having been there beyond the notes themselves, which are quite thorough and contain viable testing data.

4/7/15
There has been no sightings of the creatures within any city fascilities. Watch Teams have been moved from the sewer lines and other known entry points to the edge of those lines where the creatures have stationed themselves. At first they disappeared altogether, we thought them gone for good, scared off by our sudden ability to defend in earnest. But when scouting parties failed to return, or returned in conditions that left me wondering if it had been better that they had not survived at all...we began mapping. They somehow found a way to cut us off from supply lines. At least they can't get in.

6/12/15
Feeling weak. Food supplies have shortened drastically. A Gathering Party just returned with enough food to last us some time. And with one-third of their members. I haven't yet had time to eat anything myself and a surly corporal in charge of rationing turned me right around when I politely inquired as to some scotch. I miss scotch, more than food currently.

They must be above ground now. Several sectors within the safe zones have been compromised, many more people have died, and these sleeping, eating, playing. They all thought they were safe. There's no way they could WALK. But the lines are safe, the compound. I don't get it.

9/2/15

We've begun work on our only viable defense strategy. A wall. More of a shield, really. I'm not sure how it works. But it's supposed to be impenetrable. A young man unknown to any of us from came to the council and before we could press him to answer any of our questions he began to outline his plan for the shield. He knew all of our strategic weak spots, our supply numbers. Some of us wormed a few questions in but we all toed the line desperate to protect ourselves.

11/1/15
Testing reveals the shield works! The creatures can not break through. We are saved. The full installation will be complete within 3 months!

5/3/16
Oh god. Oh dear god. The compound. It never affected them. It was ruse. A ploy! Don't you get it? THEY SET US UP! They gave us the means to trap ourselves. Six weeks after The Wall went up they burst in numbers through most of the main sewer and water lines. Everybody is dead. I'm alone in my office and I can hear the building around me being ripped apart. Oh god! Can they do that? None of this NONE OF THIS makes any sense. I've been saving something special for this possibility. I just hope it hurts less than they would. Guess I'll find out.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Salty on April 13, 2011, 12:08:45 AM
The first time I met Fracture she was kicking some poor bastard's face in. There was a group, of which I was one, watching and being very careful to not help anyone or seem like they COULD help anyone anywhere ever.

There were lot of broken bottles oozing some nasty gunk all over the ground and as she kept kicking this man he rolled around, desperate to get away, crushing the glass into his body. A broken sign that had been around his neck said "Ness-A-Way! Only 3 food rations per bottle!" After a while he started screaming and she seemed satisfied.

She walked passed me without a word and I followed. She no doubt knew who I was but said nothing to me in the hour it took to walk to the barracks until,

"There's a lot of ways people go about killing Nessies, protecting their loved one's from them, defending themselves." She was looking right at me and I began to wither. "Selling that shit isn't one of them. And I won't let people think that it is."

I don't know how other strike units were trained, there's all kinds of rumors you pick up. But I was trained by the best. Fracture only trained a single recruit at a time. When I asked her about it she just grunted and sprang at me with the business end of a spear. She always did that when I least expected it. Later I found this was the correct answer.

From what I understand she took down more of those fuckers than any of the other units combined, many times single-handed.

I'll also never forget the last time I saw her. That bright light. That oddly silent boom. All those Nessies.

Listen, get me another drink, ok?
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 13, 2011, 04:58:30 AM
My glee knows no bounds.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on April 14, 2011, 05:37:16 PM
Looks like things are winding down. I will wrap up the mirror thing in the next day or so.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on April 14, 2011, 06:20:23 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on April 14, 2011, 05:37:16 PM
Looks like things are winding down. I will wrap up the mirror thing in the next day or so.

Seems to come in waves, don't count it out, yet.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on April 14, 2011, 07:10:00 PM
Quote from: Luna on April 14, 2011, 06:20:23 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on April 14, 2011, 05:37:16 PM
Looks like things are winding down. I will wrap up the mirror thing in the next day or so.

Seems to come in waves, don't count it out, yet.

I know I'm not done.  It's just been a bear, these last two weeks.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on April 14, 2011, 07:13:01 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on April 14, 2011, 07:10:00 PM
Quote from: Luna on April 14, 2011, 06:20:23 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on April 14, 2011, 05:37:16 PM
Looks like things are winding down. I will wrap up the mirror thing in the next day or so.

Seems to come in waves, don't count it out, yet.

I know I'm not done.  It's just been a bear, these last two weeks.

I may have another bit or two to come, if I can find time to sit down and get it puked out onto paper.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Dysfunctional Cunt on April 14, 2011, 08:26:45 PM
I hope this isn't done.  I'm still enjoying reading everything!!!
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: LMNO on April 14, 2011, 08:36:29 PM
.......THIS IS A SPECIAL REPORT: GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS HAVE ANNOUNCED THE PRESENCE OF A METHANE LEAK IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.  ALL CIVILIANS HAVE BEEN ORDERED TO EVACUATE.  THE ANNOUNCEMENT COMES AFTER WEEKS OF COMPLAINTS TO LOCAL AUTHORITIES REGARDING AN 'UNUSUAL SMELL' IN AND AROUND THE AREA.  POLICE HAVE SPECULATED THAT THE LEAK MAY HAVE BEEN A DELIBERATE MOVE ON THE PART OF LOCAL CRIME GANG, DUBBED "THE NESSIES" BY CITIZENS AND CONSTABULATORY ALIKE.  OFFICERS IN PROTECTIVE CLOTHING HAVE BEEN SPOTTED COMBING THROUG H THE AREA, WHILE MILITARY FORCES HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED AROUND THE PERIMETER TO ENFORCE THE EVACUATION.  MORE NEWS AT 11:00.......
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 14, 2011, 08:43:32 PM
I'm in awe of this thread and all the kick-ass contributors. I still need to wind up my story arc. Meant to a few days ago. Trying to work out . . . actually, I think I just figured it out. Sweet.


Love the ticker, LMNO. It's a great idea. :D
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: LMNO on April 14, 2011, 08:46:28 PM
I'm not sure how my bits are fitting into the general arc here, but I figured they'd add a bit of civilian confusion and governmental misdirection.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on April 14, 2011, 08:52:03 PM
I'm sure I could keep going.  I'm not certain what to do with The Hessian, but then I wasn't certain what to do with Hayes and Sams either and those turned out okay.  For some reason in this project, I'm actually way less confident in prose than I am in dialogue.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 14, 2011, 08:53:46 PM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on April 14, 2011, 08:52:03 PM
I'm sure I could keep going.  I'm not certain what to do with The Hessian, but then I wasn't certain what to do with Hayes and Sams either and those turned out okay.  For some reason in this project, I'm actually way less confident in prose than I am in dialogue.

Re: the part I bolded - Ditto. Horror is not my native genre. Also, I hope I'm not fucking up Sams too much. :S
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Dysfunctional Cunt on April 14, 2011, 08:55:49 PM
Quote from: LMNO, PhD on April 14, 2011, 08:46:28 PM
I'm not sure how my bits are fitting into the general arc here, but I figured they'd add a bit of civilian confusion and governmental misdirection.

This is my problem, my tangent/arc, while I could continue to current time, just wasn't catching on.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 14, 2011, 08:57:11 PM
Quote from: Khara on April 14, 2011, 08:55:49 PM
Quote from: LMNO, PhD on April 14, 2011, 08:46:28 PM
I'm not sure how my bits are fitting into the general arc here, but I figured they'd add a bit of civilian confusion and governmental misdirection.

This is my problem, my tangent/arc, while I could continue to current time, just wasn't catching on.

More anyways!
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Don Coyote on April 16, 2011, 02:07:38 AM
Quote from: Khara on April 14, 2011, 08:55:49 PM
Quote from: LMNO, PhD on April 14, 2011, 08:46:28 PM
I'm not sure how my bits are fitting into the general arc here, but I figured they'd add a bit of civilian confusion and governmental misdirection.

This is my problem, my tangent/arc, while I could continue to current time, just wasn't catching on.

Everyone's bits don't have to fit chronologically together.



I've been enjoying this immensely.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 18, 2011, 02:39:24 AM
It had gone so well, to start with. The media had arrived just as they'd sashayed into the school fair posing as "Poor little Jamesy's" aunt and uncle. Of course the boy couldn't come, he was too distraught, but they felt it their duty as family to make an appearance. The whole thing had almost been ruined when Shareese recognized the principal as her limo-fetishist lover.

But it had made things so much easier to carry out. She had a reason to hunt him down and ruin his life now, aside from this whole Nessie business. One the media could snap on to and worry like terriers with rats. That would make things so much more interesting and get so much more attention.

If Sams didn't kill everyone from nerves, first. He'd disappeared into the school's basements after securing a master set of keys from the principal, who Shareese had taken to his office and explained everything to. The man didn't believe her, of course. But by the time she'd tired of listening to his ranting, Sams had disarmed every possible explody device and done a circuit of the school grounds as well, under the guise of 'checking for monsters, to ease the children's minds'.

The children, at least, appreciated his seriousness and thoroughness. The adults would appreciate it later, if they ever knew.

Soon after that, things had begun to go down hill. The media stormed in, sticking microphones in everyone's face and asking stupid questions. Armored vehicles had shown up and blocked every exit. She'd had to knock the principal unconscious and stuff him in the closet. Which would make saving his life a bit more difficult in the long run, but gave her piece of mind for the next few minutes.

The man knew how to babble.

She shimmied out of her dress and put on the wetsuit Sams had insisted Rita find, complete with hooded bit and footie bits. The Nessies were down there, quiet as mice, still as serpents in stupor. But he'd told her it felt queer. Like they knew something was up and were waiting for just the right moment to throw a spanner into the works.

Peachy.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Outside, in the secretary's cubicle, Sams was putting on his own wet suit and strapping a blade to every available surface. The media could write off the wetsuits as lunacy but he was pretty sure they'd have to do battle with the Nessies at some point, if only to prove their existence once the children were clear.

That had been something Shareese had balked at, but he was convinced it was the only way to save everyone. Too long they'd been hiding in the dark, working at the edges of public awareness. The first step to conquering a fear was facing it, naming it. And everyone - not just the Paynites and those weaseling bastards in government suits - needed to do it. To own the mess and help clean it up or the Nessies would win.

He checked all the seams of his suit and muttered under his breath. Familiar words he'd never had cause to recite before. They didn't fit any more properly than the wetsuit did, but it was close enough to strap some steel to his spine.

The first reported entered the office with her camera man. Others filled the corridor outside the offices. He smiled. The feeding frenzy was beginning.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

"Mr. Sams, could you please tell us what prompted this action on your part? Our tip said you were taking the entire school hostage but you have not done so. Was this all just a cruel prank?"

Shareese stepped out of the principal's office and joined Sams. A pretty blond reporter with a sparkling smile and mean eyes glared at her before smiling winsomely at Sam. Fuck that, she thought. And pulled out one of the guns Sam had also insisted Rita get for her. She aimed at the ceiling and fired off a shot.

Sams looked amused and a trifle exasperated. The reporter wet herself.

"No, it was NOT a fucking prank, you tasteless slag," Shareese said, putting her gun in the holster clipped to a belt full of little prickly things and little explodey things. Just like fucking Batman. "We want everyone to be aware. Take fucking notice, morons. This is for real."

"Exactly," Sams agreed, stepping back so they stood shoulder-to-shoulder. "We are deadly serious."

"W-what exactly do you want?" The camera-man asked the question since the reported was still whimpering and dripping on the floor.

"We want every network in here and giving us a live feed. For this generosity, we'll hold you all hostage instead of those wee helpless children out there."

"My God," another reporter said, "The tip was a trap. We've walked into a trap."

"Don't worry. We won't kill you unless we have to," Shareese said, giving them a hard smile. "Now you lot, up against the wall.'

She pointed to the far wall, well away from the door. And they went, dragging the weeping woman with them. She didn't even need the gun. In a way, Shareese found herself disappointed. She'd expected more of a fight.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

"What's our status? Are we ready to proceed?"

"Sir, the press has entered school grounds before we were in position, they are broadcasting live."

A man with too many years, too much rank, and very little sense swore and pounded his fist on a table with much theatrical flair. "Damn. What are they saying?"

"That two crazies are holding the school hostage and we're out here doing nothing."

"Damn and blast!" The man swore. "Blow them all up!"

A pause. A cough. A cellphone rang. It was handed to him by a startled young man. "It's the top, Sir."

"Damn," he muttered, taking the phone and waving the boy away. "Yes, yes. I'll fix it."

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The phone sitting on the secretary's desk rang. Shareese jumped, then snatched the receiver from the cradle with a scowl.

"What?" She demanded. Then she rolled her eyes. "Oh no. You'll evacuate the children and their parents first. Or we'll just kill them now to spare them what's going to happen next, you bloody morons. We keep the reporters. You get the children. What's wrong with you heartless bastards?"

Sams pointed to a camera-man and then Shareese. The camer-aman dutifully pointed his camera at Shareese who hit the speaker button.

"If you don't release the press, we'll blow up the entire building with all of you in it. We do not consort with terrorists." A pompous man's voice filled the room.

"Blow us up, then." Sams said, loud enough to be heard. "The pain we'll feel will be nothing to the Payne you'll feel."

"Don't play with us, boy, we're the military."

"And you're live. Now explain to the world why you don't care about the children. Could it be that they're witnesses to something you'd rather cover up?"

The man swore and the line went dead.

. . . . . . . . . .
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on April 19, 2011, 06:21:02 PM
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i312/P3nT4gR4m/seraphim-1.jpg)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on April 19, 2011, 06:23:37 PM
Oh, damn, I want a set of that...
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 19, 2011, 07:46:18 PM
Quote from: P3nT4gR4m on April 19, 2011, 06:21:02 PM
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i312/P3nT4gR4m/seraphim-1.jpg)

:mittens:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Jenne on April 21, 2011, 03:37:54 AM
Shit fuck yeah.

Ok, so I've sorta got my arc all covered.  I changed it up from what I was gonna do...because I have ROGER as my main character, and well, with him being gone and all, I just wanted to wait it out. 

I'm weird, I know.

Anyway, plan to work on this and get it cranked out so I can finish it up...
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on April 21, 2011, 06:14:29 PM
Anyone interested in finishing the mirror arc is welcome to it. I am busy taking care of Terri after her back surgery, PT and doctor appointments for myself and spring fever is kicking my ass.

Hawk,
Gone Fishin'
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on April 21, 2011, 06:15:57 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on April 21, 2011, 06:14:29 PM
Anyone interested in finishing the mirror arc is welcome to it. I am busy taking care of Terri after her back surgery, PT and doctor appointments for myself and spring fever is kicking my ass.

Hawk,
Gone Fishin'

Pity, I was looking forward to seeing where you were heading with it.  Hope all is well, and Terri's recovery is quick and as painless as possible.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on April 21, 2011, 06:23:47 PM
Quote from: Luna on April 21, 2011, 06:15:57 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on April 21, 2011, 06:14:29 PM
Anyone interested in finishing the mirror arc is welcome to it. I am busy taking care of Terri after her back surgery, PT and doctor appointments for myself and spring fever is kicking my ass.

Hawk,
Gone Fishin'

Pity, I was looking forward to seeing where you were heading with it.  Hope all is well, and Terri's recovery is quick and as painless as possible.

LOL, limited success, with the crew getting killed in a stampede by a nessie cut in half from pancake style lasers. Nest destroyed though, back-up crew activated.

Thanks for the well wishes, she is doing pretty good, they operated on L4-L5, most of her pain is gone already.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: East Coast Hustle on April 21, 2011, 07:17:01 PM
I've got 2 more episodes of the "Nessie POV" arc in me, but I need to wait for someone else to advance the Southampton storyline since I'm trying to dovetail mine in with that.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Dysfunctional Cunt on April 21, 2011, 07:31:16 PM
Mine is dead.  It was a wild tangent anyway.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: East Coast Hustle on April 21, 2011, 08:40:06 PM
Also, no matter how this all gets wrapped up, my last "Nessie POV" piece is going to set up the potential sequel.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on April 21, 2011, 08:45:31 PM
Quote from: Rip City Hustle on April 21, 2011, 07:17:01 PM
I've got 2 more episodes of the "Nessie POV" arc in me, but I need to wait for someone else to advance the Southampton storyline since I'm trying to dovetail mine in with that.

My opinion, for what it's worth, is that you should go on with it anyway.  If things fit, awesome, if not, Roger and whoever's helping edit all this can hit 'em with a hammer until they do.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: East Coast Hustle on April 21, 2011, 09:17:12 PM
Well, I've sort of enmeshed my nessie with Sams and the hooker. I want to wait to see how that plays out before I try to write it from the other side.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on April 21, 2011, 09:51:58 PM
I don't have a clear idea for what to do with The Hessian.  Sams I figure I could pick back up when CPD finishes up her storyline, though that again I'm not sure where to go.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on April 21, 2011, 09:54:57 PM
If you're hung up on the thread you've got, spin a new one.   :wink:  More, MORE!   :D
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 22, 2011, 05:21:43 AM
I'm getting there, sorry guys. Work has been a bitch and I keep injuring myself in new and interesting ways. There's one more segment, maybe two. Sams lives, the hooker dies. That much I have. I planned on writing the rest Saturday after I get off work. :D
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on April 22, 2011, 08:51:42 AM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 22, 2011, 05:21:43 AM
I'm getting there, sorry guys. Work has been a bitch and I keep injuring myself in new and interesting ways. There's one more segment, maybe two. Sams lives, the hooker dies. That much I have. I planned on writing the rest Saturday after I get off work. :D

You've roont the surprise now  :argh!:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: East Coast Hustle on April 22, 2011, 07:17:54 PM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 22, 2011, 05:21:43 AM
I'm getting there, sorry guys. Work has been a bitch and I keep injuring myself in new and interesting ways. There's one more segment, maybe two. Sams lives, the hooker dies. That much I have. I planned on writing the rest Saturday after I get off work. :D

Can I kill the hooker? Write it any way you want, but if the hooker gets killed by a nessie (or, alternately, gets killed by something else right as the nessie is about to get her), that would be aces.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on April 22, 2011, 10:07:05 PM
As a firm believer in break the hero, I think Sams should accidentally kill the hooker while trying to kill ECH's Nessie.   :lol:

EoC,
total bastard.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 23, 2011, 01:24:54 AM
Quote from: Rip City Hustle on April 22, 2011, 07:17:54 PM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 22, 2011, 05:21:43 AM
I'm getting there, sorry guys. Work has been a bitch and I keep injuring myself in new and interesting ways. There's one more segment, maybe two. Sams lives, the hooker dies. That much I have. I planned on writing the rest Saturday after I get off work. :D

Can I kill the hooker? Write it any way you want, but if the hooker gets killed by a nessie (or, alternately, gets killed by something else right as the nessie is about to get her), that would be aces.

The hooker dies via a Nessie. I like the Sams-kills-the-hooker angle but don't know if I possess sufficient amounts of bastardry to do it. We'll see what happens. :D
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on April 23, 2011, 03:58:44 AM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 23, 2011, 01:24:54 AM
Quote from: Rip City Hustle on April 22, 2011, 07:17:54 PM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 22, 2011, 05:21:43 AM
I'm getting there, sorry guys. Work has been a bitch and I keep injuring myself in new and interesting ways. There's one more segment, maybe two. Sams lives, the hooker dies. That much I have. I planned on writing the rest Saturday after I get off work. :D

Can I kill the hooker? Write it any way you want, but if the hooker gets killed by a nessie (or, alternately, gets killed by something else right as the nessie is about to get her), that would be aces.

The hooker dies via a Nessie. I like the Sams-kills-the-hooker angle but don't know if I possess sufficient amounts of bastardry to do it. We'll see what happens. :D

There's straight up wild mass guessing about your storyline.   :D
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on April 23, 2011, 06:15:03 AM
Five armored figures walk in a line down the sewer tunnels of Southampton, England.  Adorning each is a cheerful cartoon Lock Ness monster, complete with smile and kilt, of the sort found in the roadside rest areas leading to the attraction.  The first figure, the one in the lead, is the simplest.  The monster is green, its big watery eyes spared the marks of the large red X over the image.  The Hessian moves patiently, and with a nervousness that belies the deadly strike he's come to teach his followers.

Behind him the Loch Ness monster shares the same colorings, down to plaid of the kilt.  The exception is its eyes, which are scratched out in a scribbling angry hand.  Its bearer, a Hessian.  They are, all of them, The Hessian's students and they bear his name.  But they are a Hessian, and their leader is The Hessian.  In the rare times the other Templars question it, this is what they are told.  The eyeless monster moves like a panther.

Following, the third in the line, a deep red color for the drawing.  At times a thick coagulation and at others a flaking crust, the monster is made of blood.  Blood of Nessie or blood of man is unknown; blood is in no shortage here.  An air of nonchalance shows itself in the movement.

Second to last the Loch Ness monster is black on a painted white background.  It has no eyes or smile, its drawing is crude, and like the rest its X is bright red.  The look is almost that of a chess piece.  It gives little to the answer as to which side is winning the match.  The wearer walks as one with the man behind him, their movements practiced as they tread back to back in the narrow walkways, steady visors scanning their sides and rear.

Finally, a monster of what appears to be rust.  He is a mirror of the man before.  Back to back, eyes always scanning.  He feels the group halt without seeing it.  The first of The Hessian's students, the most apt to guard their secondary point of vulnerability.

They stop.  Each of them questions why, silently.  The move again.  Passing the spot they'll search for the reason behind their pause.  No reason will come from the scene, but it follows shortly with the song.  Nessie's song the sweet lullaby the concert the show the sorrowful and angry death bell of the sewers, the sultry voice behind smoke and golden liquor the mockery of beloved music for its, more than anything, foreignness.  And the Hessians know the pause was the fear.

Nessie came, fast violent shadows and death in four forms.

"They're attacking the center," said The Hessian, "take your targets."

The line broke, as always, while the fighters moved to their assailants.  They moved to wait for the blow that would kill them.  It did not come.  Another blow came instead.

"I'm down," the rusted one cried.

"Down," the eyeless monster.

"They're pushing us out, glancing us to get us out of the way!  Get back up, they're surrounding the others," The Hessian shouted.  He worked with the servos to haul the weighty metal from the slime and muck of the bottom, desperate to stand before the attacking creatures.  It made too much sense.

All four Nessies coiled at once.  The figure with the chess piece charged.  He threw himself with all the weight of the armor behind him at the nearest attacker.  While his weapon pierced its flesh, he bowled forward still, with the faintest hope his momentum might take him beyond the reach of the second set of limbs.

The figure of blood took his target.  His second Nessie struck home.

Three fallen Hessians joined the fight again, squaring off as they'd been trained.  The Burst came appropriately, this time, with surprise no longer against them.

Two of them tended to the wounded man, the one with the Loch Ness monster of black.  His suit was malfunctioning and he bled and he moved, weakly.

The Hessian stood above their fifth.  Behind the visor lay eyes no longer lit by the spark of curiosity that set this group, not above, but aside from their peers.  They were the eyes of a young man.  They were the eyes of two others before him that walked beside their leader in the sewers.  And before even them, they were the eyes of a young man whose foolishness was not to tread through the death wish tunnels, but merely to talk to the wrong friend.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 24, 2011, 01:14:16 AM
 :mittens: Eater of Clowns, that was awesome.

Now excuse me, it's time to kill a hooker.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 24, 2011, 03:32:36 AM
The would-be heroes, a hooker and a man with a mission, stood in the basement surrounded by a ring of reporters.

Sams used a heavy, metal bar that he'd found in the janitor's closet to hit a pipe that disappeared into the lower sub-basement. Unearthly howls and heart-rending wails echoed up from below them, shaking the floor and sprinkling dust down from the basement's ceiling. Cracks appeared in the walls. Someone in the ring around them whimpered.

Again and again the bar hit the pipes, taunting the monsters below them until the building rumbled on its foundation and the keening cries deafened the people who were slowly coming to terms with the fact that there really were things that went bump in the night - and would eat you while you wondered what it was.

"Enough! God, that's enough!" One of the reporters shouted angrily. Fear danced over his face as he stared at Shareese and Sams. "And you can prove this is a monster and not some prank?"

"We can," Shareese said with a sharp, leering smile at the man. She was scared too, but damned if she'd let them see it. "We're going to let them out."

The noise from below died as if a switch had turned off. As if the creatures had heard her and were eagerly listening for details. But that was impossible.

"Sweet Jesus," a woman murmured. "They heard you."

"Doubtful," Sams replied. "More likely they got tired of hearing themselves wail. Now listen. We're going to give you three minutes to get outside to safety so long as you promise to tape what happens once you're clear. Surely one of you wants the story of the century. The military has pulled back far enough not to be a threat while whoever is really in charge replaces the moron we talked to earlier. So we're going to take this opportunity to stir things up."

"Why?!" One of the reporters lunged, a short man with no hair and wild eyes. Foam speckled his lips as he jabbed his finger into Sams' chest to punctuate his words. "Why are you doing this? What gives you the right to panic an entire populace? What is WRONG with you?"

Sams put his hands on the man's shoulders and pushed, sending the man stumbling backwards. "We've been fighting these things for years. All while the populace had no idea. Homeless went missing. Children were slain. And the media made light of it. Covered it up. I'm partially responsible, I helped keep this secret. But people need to know. We are losing to these things, folks. They're bigger, faster, and I'm starting to think they're smarter than us. If humans want to survive, everyone needs to work together to beat these bastards."

"But - "

"No," Shareese said. "No more questions. You'll see for yourself first hand why we we're doing this if you have the balls to watch and the guts to report this. I'm going to escort you up out of the basement and to the front doors. Then I'm going to lock those doors, effectively sealing up the entire building. Every door and window has been locked. That won't hold these things for long, if at all. But it's full day outside and we think that will make them more wary. They aren't as fast on dry land, that will help too. But you still need to get to your vehicles, get set up, and start driving as soon as you see so much as a tentacle tapping in the window pane. Cover as much as you can then get out and spread the story. There is no negotiation here."

"Are you mad?" The bald man glared at her, panting heavily.

"We're all mad here," she quoted with a gentle tone. She gave them a moment to consider and then clapped her hands sharply, startling them and causing the monsters below to stir and slither against the stone beneath their feet.

The reporters raced for the stairs. Shareese gave Sams a small grimace and rolled her eyes, then followed the reporters up. She held the door for them, waved cheerily at the military men just visible a block or two away. Then she closed and locked the doors, secured them with a chain and returned to the basement. Do or die time, she thought.

. . . . . . . . . . . .

Sams tested the seal of the metal hatch between the basement and the sub-basement. As big as a man and probably inches thick, it wasn't meant to be hefted lightly. But he figured one good heave would do it, if he put enough muscle behind it. Too bad there weren't any servos to assist him. A jagged bit of metal bit into his finger and as he lifted it, blood dripped, disappearing into the crack between hatch and floor.

Swearing, he stuck his finger in his mouth and backed away. Nothing stirred below, so likely the blood hadn't made it through. Stupid mistake, though. He went over to a large duffle bag of supplies and began pulling out package after package of stink-bait. The plan was smear the bait over the wetsuit to disguise human scent, then release the hatch and crouch down behind it, in the little nook it would make when open and leaning against the wall. Once the Nessies were all out, jump down the hole, holding on to the ring on the bottom of the hatch lid, locking the Nessies in the basement. Then it was a short trip through clear tunnels to a surface access (judging by blueprints) and off to Rita's to rendezvous.

Shareese and Sams had left enough raw, bloody meat to lure the Nessies up into the school proper. And with one of them waiting on the ground floor to taunt the Nessies upwards, it was pretty certain that the reporters would get a hell of a show. Whoever played bait would run to the principal's office, lock the several doors between the hall and the office itself, then go out the window and across the lawn at an angle, out of the line of fire, should the military grow some balls and start shooting.

It was a good plan. A trifle sketchy, but not the worst idea they'd come up with.

Shareese came down the stairs and helped Sams finish unloading the stink bait.

They hadn't discussed who was taking which part of the plan, yet. He figured he'd let them out and she'd play bait. Bait was the safer job, if only because there was more distance between the lure and the monster. But he didn't want to say that. She'd take it as a challenge and then he'd spend the last few minutes of his life being bitched at about gender equality and male presumption. Shareese was weird that way, he was coming to find.

"Have you ever done anything crazy?" She asked, breaking the silence. "Not this kind of crazy. But, you know, normal crazy. Like challenge your friends to an orange eating contest and then spend the next day comparing notes on the damage you all did to your respective toilets?"

He looked at her, blinking in confusion. "I don't think so. Didn't have that many friends. The ones I did have tended to be . . . un-indulgent of that sort of foolishness."

"You're missing out. That sort of thing is a good test of character. Not serious life-or-death character but, you know. Normal mundane character. How you react to a challenge. What you'll put on the line to achieve a goal. How you feel about your bathroom smelling like oranges and your asshole stinging for a week."

He shook his head. "You're crazy, Shareese."

"Tish," she said.

"Excuse me?"

"My real name is Tish. Ludlow. From Riverton, Kansas."

Sams stood up and looked at her, crouching by the duffel bag. "Where did you come up with name Shareese?"

She stood too, and smiled nervously, wrapping her arms around herself. "B.T. Ever listen to his stuff?"

"Never heard of him."

"Ah, well, he's got this album. Movement in Still Life. One of the songs he goes on about 'blond English girls with ghetto names'. And the seven thunders uttered . . . 'Shareese'. I liked it so I took it."

Sams shook his head and held out a hand. "A pleasure to meet you, Ms. Ludlow."

She laughed and shook his hand. "The pleasure is mine, Mr. Sams."

"I had a song stuck in my head, now that you bring it up," he said, remembering to let go of her hand. "Ever heard of The Mighty Mighty Bosstones?"

Understanding lit her eyes. "I'm not a coward, I've just never been tested," she quoted.

"I'd like to think that if I was, I would pass," he continued.

"Look at the tested, and think there but for the grace go I might be a coward, I'm afraid of what I might find out," they said together.

Then they paused.

Contemplating those words.

Tish broke the silence first. "You aren't a coward, Sams. Neither am I. We're going to beat these things."

"You're right, of course," he said with a grin. He pointed at the stink bait. "Who's getting greased up and who's playing the real bait?"

"Fuck you for it," she retorted, as she had the last time they'd tried to decide something.

Sams held up a quarter. "Let's flip a coin instead."

She laughed and nodded. "Heads, you open the door and tails, you run like a bunny."

"I want to see the bunny!" A child's voice said excitedly.

Tish and Sams stared at each other, horrified. A child in the building.

The boy came down the basement stairs and looked at Tish accusingly. "You said a bad word."

"Kid, what are you doing here?" Sams demanded.

The boy shrank back a step. "I wanted to see the monsters, so I hid when the other kids were let out. James was my friend and I wanted to write him a letter. Telling him if the monsters were real or not. So he'd know. Grown-ups always lie to kids about important stuff," the kid babbled.

Tish knelt and smiled at the kid. "I'm sorry I said a bad word. What is your name?"

"Thad."

"Hello, Thad." Tish looked at Sams. "What are we going to do? Let him out before we do this?"

"NO!" Thad cried. Sams shook his head.

"There's no way to say whether or not he'd actually go clear. Instead of hiding again. You'll have to take him with you to the principal's office. We're almost out of time."

"Me? We haven't flipped the coin yet."

"Tish . . . I don't know what to do with the kid."

"Odds are you're going to have to pick him up and run. You've got more muscle than I do. And you're faster," Tish pointed out.

"Shit," Sams said.

"That's a bad word too," Thad said sulkily.

Sams stared at the kid. Then flipped the coin. Tails. He was running. There wasn't time to argue. His stomach filled with lead and his mouth flooded with bile.

"All right," he said. "Let's do this."

Tish opened the first package of stink bait and began smearing it into her wetsuit. Sams zipped up the duffel and handed it to Thad, who nearly fell under the weight.

"Come on, kid. You're going to see the monsters."

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

It took less than a minute to get Tish covered with the smelly bait and to get Thad up the stairs. Sams stood with the duffle strap draped across his chest and bouncing against the small of his back. He held Thad. It was the only way the boy could see and still give them room to run as soon as the door opened.

Tish looked at Sams. She gave him a thumbs up and then wrapped both hands around the ring. She kicked the deadbolt open and heaved backwards.

Nessies exploded out of the opening. Sams had a second to realize they'd gone silent when he'd split his blood. They'd been poised, coiled and ready to spring for the two minutes it took for them to talk, find Thad, and prepare. The Nessies had waited, as patient as cats with an unsuspecting mouse. And they'd sprang.

Tish didn't have time to crouch down. The hatch was slammed open, off its hinges and flattened against the wall. She was crushed into pink paste.

And Nessies moved so fast, they boiled up out of the sub-basement and shot straight for him. As if they'd known where he'd be. As if they were aiming directly FOR Sams.

Numb with shock, he couldn't hold on to Thad as the child wriggled and screamed. The boy wet himself and clipped Sams in the chin with an elbow. Then slipped from Sams' arms and fell into the basement. Two tentacles grasped either end of the boy and tugged. Thad pulled apart like a fried mozzarella stick, fresh from the fryer, his intestines hanging out of either part of his body like a moist, stringy bit of cheese.

Sams screamed, threw the duffle at the monsters, threw away his weapons and all their plans.

And ran, still screaming.

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

The reporters knew something was wrong when the figure fled the scene, running full tilt. Then the school building burst apart like an over-filled balloon. Brick and glass went flying. Horrid monsters writhed and moaned, their high-pitched voices shattering camera lenses and car windows.

Reporters and the military alike were mown down as the monsters spread out and began to hunt.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 24, 2011, 05:55:45 PM
And that finishes this story arc. My SOs think I need mental help.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on April 24, 2011, 05:57:20 PM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 24, 2011, 05:55:45 PM
And that finishes this story arc. My SOs think I need mental help.

It was certainly exciting.

The awful shriveled little soul in me is giddy about the fact that you thought you didn't have the bastardry to have Sams kill Shareese, but you're totally cool with tearing a child asunder.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 24, 2011, 06:00:53 PM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on April 24, 2011, 05:57:20 PM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 24, 2011, 05:55:45 PM
And that finishes this story arc. My SOs think I need mental help.

It was certainly exciting.

The awful shriveled little soul in me is giddy about the fact that you thought you didn't have the bastardry to have Sams kill Shareese, but you're totally cool with tearing a child asunder.

I wondered at that, myself. But I owed Pent for ruining his surprise, even though I said the hooker dies pages ago. I wonder how Thad's dad is going to take the fact his kid is Nessie-appetizer.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on April 24, 2011, 07:23:47 PM
Nice work guys.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Wyldkat on April 25, 2011, 06:19:40 AM
Wow....  just wow....
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 25, 2011, 09:10:20 PM
If anyone has ideas for edits or tweaks on my story arc, I am open to suggestions.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: East Coast Hustle on April 26, 2011, 02:08:35 AM
CPD, that was fucking dope! And it's funny...as soon as I read the part where Sams asks Shareese how she got her name, I knew what was coming. I knew it was gonna be the BT song. I've got out-of-town guests tonight but I'm going to try to finish up my story arc in a couple-three days.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 26, 2011, 02:10:05 AM
I am a sucker for B.T.

Looking forward to you arc!
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on April 26, 2011, 08:54:09 AM
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i312/P3nT4gR4m/control.jpg)

(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i312/P3nT4gR4m/tail.jpg)

(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i312/P3nT4gR4m/control2.jpg)

(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i312/P3nT4gR4m/nexusaerial1.jpg)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on April 26, 2011, 10:50:35 AM
Sweet, Pent...  That last one gives me shivers.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on April 26, 2011, 02:24:35 PM
Whoa.

Is that Hayes?

These continue to be quite excellent, Pent.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on April 26, 2011, 04:09:25 PM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on April 26, 2011, 02:24:35 PM
Whoa.

Is that Hayes?

These continue to be quite excellent, Pent.

Not what you had in mind?
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on April 26, 2011, 04:10:59 PM
Quote from: P3nT4gR4m on April 26, 2011, 04:09:25 PM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on April 26, 2011, 02:24:35 PM
Whoa.

Is that Hayes?

These continue to be quite excellent, Pent.

Not what you had in mind?

No, it's perfect, I just wanted to make sure.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on April 26, 2011, 04:12:49 PM
This is fucking awesome, Pent.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 26, 2011, 06:18:16 PM
Kick. ASS.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Dysfunctional Cunt on April 26, 2011, 06:42:16 PM
:mittens:  :mittens:  :mittens:  :mittens:  :mittens:  :mittens: 

Pent all of your art for this is absolutely amazing.  Some of it is scary as all get out.  I love it when it makes those little "someone is watching me" hairs stand up on the back of my neck!!!

Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on April 26, 2011, 06:44:02 PM
Damn. Nice stuff Pent.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on April 27, 2011, 09:00:48 AM
Thanks for ego stroking, guys, makes me feel like I might actually be able to pull this off! The last batch there were done at the weekend and my home internets are confiscated so I had to fly with no reference pics, hence Hayes shirt collar doesn't look anything like a shirt collar  :oops: The upside is, with characters at least, I think the faces will be easier to replicate over different panels because I'm having to make them up from shapes.

Can't fucking wait to get started on this!
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on April 27, 2011, 10:35:19 PM
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i312/P3nT4gR4m/profile.jpg)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on April 27, 2011, 11:09:46 PM
Quote from: P3nT4gR4m on April 27, 2011, 10:35:19 PM
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i312/P3nT4gR4m/profile.jpg)

Damn dude!!!

:mittens:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 29, 2011, 06:53:16 AM
This is my last Will and Testament. Written on a fucking takeaway napkin.

I know no one will never see it because no one comes down here anymore and the shit they make napkins out of decays pretty quick. It will get wet or dry and the lines I'm scribbling with this cheap-ass eyeliner pencil will fade or smear.

But it's this or run screaming into madness and the jaws of whatever the fuck THAT was.

Tiny, tiny scribbles on a napkin. My last god damn thread of sanity. FUCK. ME.

I got lost. Lost. Exploring the ruins. Who even does that anymore? No one even remembers what this place used to be called. I don't think I heard it at Uni. And they certainly don't talk about this place in little school.

This crumbling eyesore isn't even part of the city anymore. Nobody in the world has the faintest idea of where I'm at.

Stuck in a rusting train car inside the 'Tube'.

No one goes underground anymore, for any reason. Why did I run down when it started raining?

I was lost. It began to rain. That's how I got here.

And I heard a sort of singing . . . I guess. Wailing, maybe. I thought someone was living here. But I was wrong.

Something. The reason no one goes underground. Why we call miners 'zombies' - because they're the walking dead. Can't marry. Can't inherit. Can't live in the cities. Can't win the lotto. Can't vote. Because they're already dead.

Because they went underground.

I'm already dead. I'm underground.

But I don't want to die. I don't want to be dead.

Logically, I know it's been maybe four hours since I hopped over the tumbled-down fence and left the living world. The real world.

I thought it was pretty. The sprawl of jagged and time-worn-round structures jutting against the sky. The random bits of wildlife and Nature that have reclaimed the abandoned area. It seemed quiet. Serene. Almost holy.

But it's fucking cursed.

There are more of them now. I can hear the singing again. More voices. From multiple directions.

I am so scared. There's a scream pressing against the back of my teeth so hard I'm afraid it will shatter them.

Please, I don't want to die. I don't want to be eaten.

I don't want to be out of napkin.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on April 29, 2011, 11:50:26 AM
Damn...
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on April 30, 2011, 03:36:16 AM
You asked my opinion.

We've seen this same phenomenon over and over, in several civilizations. This new iteration of the 'Nessie' mythos is nothing more than a cry for help from a small section of the populace. And this section of the populace will, upon inspection, turn out to be entirely comprised of the impoverished, uneducated, and ill-bred.

Time and time again these unfortunate souls have refused to improve their lot and do what it takes to conform to societal norms. And this current furor is nothing more than an attempt to garner sympathy, money, and a free ride.

Encouraging and enabling this outcry with any sort of attention is deplorable at best and making cruel sport of the unmotivated denizens of our society.

I urge you to ban this topic from all forms of media where possible and ignore it utterly otherwise. Dedicating air time and man hours to the pandering of ineptitude is ludicrous, irresponsible, and wasteful.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on May 02, 2011, 08:10:36 PM
From a recording located at weapons development;

"What have you got for me?"

"Payne! Welcome to WD. I think you will like what we came up with. These 4 inch pancakes are designed to work with the mirror squad. They will slide perfectly under the side mirrors. Once activated a rod telescopes up. The rods are actually a super high intensity laser designed to slice the bastards."

"What is the effective range of these lasers?"

"100 feet Sir. Ideally the mirror carts will block the nest entrance, slide the weapons out, activate them and then retreat back out of the entrance. Since the lasers have a 50 degree back and forth radius they should cover at least 95% of the nest."

"Excellent. Let's get the mirror squad training with these. You have one week before we go live."

"Yes sir."
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on May 02, 2011, 09:10:34 PM
recording from OPs

"Mirror Team ready"

Mop-up Team 1 ready."

Mop-up Team 2 ready."

"Confirmed all teams ready. Move out. mop-up teams remember to stay 100 feet behind the mirrors. No noise everybody."

"Roger, moving now."

"Jesus, we have committed 56 warriors to this mission. This better work."
"I know, we have never sent this many in at once before."

"Ops, Mirror team in position. Weapons deployed and activated. We are backing up ....HOLY SHIT! THEY ARE CHARGING! GET US THE HELL OUT...."

(sounds of some kind of conflict)


"Mirror team report"

"Mirror team, this is OPs, report."

"Mop-up teams, move in now!"

"Roger that."
"...hear singing..."
"must be hundreds"
"SHIT"

(mixed unidentified sounds, fighting, screams, singing)


"Ops, we are being over-run. We are trying to dis-engage and retreat."

"We estimate betw...."

"Sir, we have lost all of our headcam feeds, and it seems we have lost audio as well."

(5 minutes of dead silence)

"It's not the feeds we have lost son. Damn, better get Payne on the horn."

"Turn off that fucking recorder, NOW."

end recording
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on May 02, 2011, 09:12:07 PM
Damn.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on May 03, 2011, 05:18:24 AM
 :horrormirth:

I like you and loathe you right now, Charley.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on May 03, 2011, 03:25:24 PM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on May 03, 2011, 05:18:24 AM
:horrormirth:

I like you and loathe you right now, Charley.

My work here is done!  :D
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on May 03, 2011, 03:27:04 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on May 03, 2011, 03:25:24 PM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on May 03, 2011, 05:18:24 AM
:horrormirth:

I like you and loathe you right now, Charley.

My work here is done!  :D

Bullshit, keep writing! 

(http://i625.photobucket.com/albums/tt335/bjtilt/beggingpleasesmiley-1.gif)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on May 03, 2011, 05:33:01 PM
I've enjoyed this thread more than anything else we've done on PD, I think.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Payne on May 03, 2011, 05:49:43 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on May 03, 2011, 05:33:01 PM
I've enjoyed this thread more than anything else we've done on PD, I think.

The crazy momentum it built up almost instantly was awesome (in the next to most recent vernacular use of the word), and I think you really hit a weird nerve with everyone with it.

And of course I love it cause it's got my name all over it, and occasionally I do like to indulge my narcissitic side.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on May 03, 2011, 05:52:21 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on May 03, 2011, 05:33:01 PM
I've enjoyed this thread more than anything else we've done on PD, I think.

Same here.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on May 03, 2011, 05:59:51 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on May 03, 2011, 05:33:01 PM
I've enjoyed this thread more than anything else we've done on PD, I think.

I've loved this thing.   :lulz:  Y'all are awesome.

So...

/cracks knuckles

What's next?   :mrgreen:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on May 03, 2011, 06:02:10 PM
Quote from: Luna on May 03, 2011, 05:59:51 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on May 03, 2011, 05:33:01 PM
I've enjoyed this thread more than anything else we've done on PD, I think.

I've loved this thing.   :lulz:  Y'all are awesome.

So...

/cracks knuckles

What's next?   :mrgreen:

http://www.principiadiscordia.com/forum/index.php?topic=29003.0
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on May 03, 2011, 06:13:35 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on May 03, 2011, 05:33:01 PM
I've enjoyed this thread more than anything else we've done on PD, I think.

Same.  It resonates with and brought out the best of everyone.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on May 03, 2011, 07:11:33 PM
Is anything gonna happen with this stuff? Graphic novel or the like?
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on May 03, 2011, 07:12:54 PM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on May 03, 2011, 07:11:33 PM
Is anything gonna happen with this stuff? Graphic novel or the like?

I've started panelizing stuff for Pent, but there's a bit of a backlog of other stuff at the moment.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on May 03, 2011, 07:17:17 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on May 03, 2011, 07:12:54 PM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on May 03, 2011, 07:11:33 PM
Is anything gonna happen with this stuff? Graphic novel or the like?

I've started panelizing stuff for Pent, but there's a bit of a backlog of other stuff at the moment.

Gotcha. Thanks for the update.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on May 08, 2011, 02:54:29 AM
He creaked and clanked his way to the camp's edge. The metal holding his right leg together weighed him down, giving his gait an uneven stomp. If he'd been Below, the Nessies would have made him dinner by now, complete with metal toothpick. The idea was enough to cause a cold sweat and he sat down on a boulder by a stream before he could fall into the brisk-running waterway.

With one bum leg and one leg strapped to a bunch of metal, he'd never get back out on his own. And it was no way to train the kids how to survive if he ended up in a damn fool position that killed any chance of respect he had in their eyes.

Wearily, he rubbed the outer side of his bad leg, absently running fingertips over the raised edge of the saw-toothed round scar pressed into the side of his knee. The servos had gotten so hot, in that final battle. He'd been unlucky fifteen. His refurbished suit had smoked, then scorched, then burst into flames as it broke apart - in the middle of a mission. But he'd lived anyway. More or less.

The rustling along the trail behind him made him temporarily regret his survival. These kids would be the death of him. In a much less dignified and terrifying manner, but his death none-the-less.

"Come on over here, whelp," he said when the noise stopped a respectful distance away.

A reluctant grumble and trudging footsteps. One of his first years came into view, circling around in front of him to sit on a rock a few feet away. A rail-thin grubby girl with hair she'd probably cut herself, it was so short and choppy. Except for one thin, wire-wrapped ratty braid and a faded bit of braided yarn around one wrist, she was every bit identical to all the boys he'd brought along on this little retreat. And she was as dirty as the rest of them, from scrounging in the forest and climbing trees. Her tank top was torn and her shorts were tied at the waist and halfway down each leg with twine to keep them on. Her clunky boots were at least two-sizes too big, filled with grass and a knife in each one to make them fit.

He studied the petulant expression on her face. Payne help him if she started whining.

"I was being quiet," she said instead, crossing her arms and giving him a defiant scowl.

"Most certainly. As quiet as any elephant as ever I heard," he agreed, rubbing his knee again. "A little louder, some whooping and hollering, and you'd be as loud of those idiot boys you came up with."

She gaped, forgetting the tough act. "You aren't going to send me home? They said you were going to 'cuz I'm a girl."

He pointed a finger skyward and twirled it in a slow circle. "Whoop-d-do."

"So I can fight?"

"Girl, if you want to learn how to chase death in the Below, I won't stop you. Payne knows you wouldn't be the first female in the tunnels."

She nodded solemnly. "I heard the stories about Pixie. And Freeky. They were fierce."

"Yes they were."

"I'm not. Not yet." She gave him a sideways glance.

"Out with it."

"I heard another name. Of a woman who fought the Nessies. But no one will tell me any stories about her."

He raised an eyebrow, hiding the dread that filled his belly.

"Khara."

Rubbing his leg again, he sighed and settled into his seat on the rock. And he ignored the way the girl cringed when she said the name. He didn't wan to know where she'd heard it or why she didn't know the story that went with the name. "There's a reason for that, youngster. She didn't fight against the Nessies until the end."

The child's brow furrowed and she frowned at him. "I don't understand."

"Originally, Khara fought alongside the monsters."

She propelled herself off the rock and half into the stream before she caught herself. Swearing, she splashed out of the water and sat down again, taking off her boots to pour the water out. "That doesn't make any sense, old man. You're daft."

"If you think so then go back to camp and give a daft old man five minutes of peace."

"All right! Fine! Tell me the story," she grumbled, slamming her feet back into her boots and glaring at him.

"How gracious of you." He sighed and rearranged his seat-bones on the rock. "We don't know what brought Khara to the Below. All we know is that the Nessies . . . didn't listen to her, exactly, more like they watched and followed her lead if they thought what she was doing looked like fun. We don't know how the Nessies think so we don't know what the attraction was.

Our best guess, after we pieced Khara's story together, was that the monsters recognized a kindred spirit. Because Khara was full of rage and pain. Both things the Nessies understood. And she was out to inflict damage on whoever - we think the government - did her wrong. The Nessies understood that, too."

His listener stared in shock. "They didn't eat her on the spot? Didn't tear her to pieces?"

"Nope. The Paynites had several documented encounters with her. The first one came a few days after an experiment of theirs failed. A five man team was in the tunnels cleaning up a big mess and looking for information when they saw her stumbling towards them.  Her feet were bare. Her hair was wild and tangled. She had some sort of huge hook clutched in each hand. The Paynites told her to identify herself. She ignored them. Things got messy from there. All we got from the lone survivor was that first it was one crazy woman against five seasoned warriors. And then it was one crazy woman and a nest worth of Nessies against four suits filled with chum and one filled with a dying man.

He said her wailing screams were as terrible as the Nessies'. And that her hooks were dipped in something that burned when they ripped into him. Then he coughed up most of his internal organs and died. I saw the bits of footage we retrieved from the suits. It was savagery on a whole new level."

"But why?!" His student demanded, pounding the ground with a fist. "Why would anyone fight with the Nessies?"

He hesitated. "All we know is that she got separated from whoever she was traveling with. Her family, some friends - we don't know. We know everyone in her group made it out and to one of the temporary safe zones but she ended up in the Below. Back then we thought she was a suicider who just hadn't fallen over yet."

"How did you guys stop her? What made her switch sides?"

"Ah, kid. We didn't stop her. She tore us to pieces, on her own or with help from the monsters, in the next ten encounters. Every man that went up against her went down. And while she left some alive, she and her monster buddies didn't leave anyone capable of fighting ever again."

"So what stopped her?"

"Pixie went into the tunnels one day. On her own. Without armor. Everyone thought she was mad. Payne stayed on the juice from the time she left until well after she came back. Ready to tear the whole Below down without help. But he didn't have to worry. Pixie walked in alone and came out with a woman more Nessie than human. We don't know what happened or what Pixie said but that was the end of it.

For awhile after that Khara fought with us. She knew all the hot spots. Patterns. She understood more about the Nessies than any of us did. She wrote the first books about it. The ones you had to read, actually. With input from Pixie, Pain, and the Old Man. She didn't need armor or juice. Just her hooks."

"Then what happened?"

He shrugged. "She came up against Nessies she knew. See, she'd been helping us wipe out the competition for the nest Pixie had pulled her away from. We'd always wondered why she refused to engage sometimes but thought it was nerves. But no. She'd been using us. And the Nessies had been using her. It was the most horrifying realization I'd ever had when I saw the cunning in those alien eyes as they stared at her."

"You fought with Khara?!"

"That last time, yeah. My last battle and hers. The Nessies ignored the rest of us like we weren't even flies circling their shit. Khara took out one, maybe two. But then she was gone beneath a pile of monsters. Their howls were eerie and sinister and knowing. They had learned from her. I never went Below again. I wouldn't have, even if my suit hadn't blown up half-way through an attempt to rescue her."

"She was fierce, too."

"She was batshit loco. No man has ever fought for or with the Nessies. It took a woman to be that kind of twisted."

"But she was fierce. AND she understood the enemy."

"At too great a cost."

"I don't think so."

"That's because you're an idiot kid. Now get back to camp. I'll be along in a few minutes to start beating sense into you brats."
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on May 08, 2011, 05:56:14 AM
All I know is that I miss Sams.

(http://i476.photobucket.com/albums/rr126/TGRR/sams.gif)

:cry:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on May 08, 2011, 09:20:48 AM
RIP Sams.  :cry:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on May 08, 2011, 06:01:01 PM
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i312/P3nT4gR4m/DNT-1.jpg)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on May 08, 2011, 06:14:49 PM
You rock, Pent.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on May 08, 2011, 06:20:45 PM
Fuck yeah
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Triple Zero on May 08, 2011, 06:48:49 PM
I like how you named the image D/N/T :)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on May 08, 2011, 07:38:43 PM
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i312/P3nT4gR4m/Knuckles.jpg)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on May 08, 2011, 09:39:53 PM
Holy smokes, P3nt.  That is awesome. :eek: :horrormirth:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on May 08, 2011, 10:42:52 PM
Holy crap... 
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on May 10, 2011, 12:33:04 AM
The Hessian surveyed his diminished crew.  Even the other two healthy remaining fighters seemed less than themselves.  They wore their lack of wounds just as their comrade wore his freshly healing wounds.  The one with the chesspiece monster was alive, and for that they were all grateful, but he would never again fight in their number.  The Hessian invited him to the session because, like the rest of them, his body was merely one way his weaponized mind let free.

Their most recent excursion, several days gone now, they were lucky, he'd told them.  Recognized and outmaneuvered by the Nessies it was purely good fortune that stopped them all from dying.  As they hurried through the sewers half-dragging their downed men, they were even so lucky as to not encounter another enemy.  The Hessian kept his helmet on until the moment he lay in his bunk; anger and hatred and disappointment working their way across his features.  Others probably thought him half crazed that day, yet he'd rather they think that than know the doubt that plagued him.

Worst of their troubles was the mythology they failed to kill.  It was not the Nessies their attacks struck, it was the stories that surrounded them, that made them holy adversaries of the most brainwashed Paynites.  With failure, though, such tales only cemented themselves in the drug crazed vision of the Templars.

Four sat in the room.  The Hessian stood before them.  Behind him, in the corner where he was wont to observe, was the chaplain.

"Again we adapt," he started slowly.  "We're going to get rid of these little paintings, first.  Darling as they may be, they're another way for the Nessies to identify us.  I want them off of your armor by the end of the day."  The words were methodical, almost robotic.  He meant them to sound determined but they warped and twisted in his throat and came across, more than anything, as disheartened.

"We're going to randomize our positions.  I doubt very much there was a coincidence in Nessie attacking our greenest members.  Keeping them in the center isn't protecting them."  There was a finality to the statement common at the end of The Hessian's longest sessions.  Following it, silence, briefly, in a world of noise from the moving waters of the sewers to the raucous echoes of its inhabitants and even the songs of the Nessies.

"So what do you have for me?"  It was the question that he continuously hoped would be met with brilliance, something that would lead to the next crucial upper hand against the onslaught.

Four men held their breath, their leader staring at each other three in turn as though they concealed some bit of wisdom.  They did not.  The disappointment in the air was palpable when a voice, uncharacteristically meek, came from behind The Hessian.

"Mirrors," it said.

"What do you mean," he asked.

"One of our teams found a journal.  It documented that the Nessies appear to be confused by mirrors.  We're looking into their practical application," the chaplain revealed.  He rose and turned to leave.

"Wait.  How are you looking into it?"

"Mirrored armor is one possibility.  Mirror shields another," came the almost casual reply.  This time, he did go.

They watched him leave for a moment as though the weight of his words left a mark on the spot where they were spoken.  Finally, The Hessian addressed them again, "You may all go.  Think on this, and dig around to see if anyone will tell us more.  I want one use for the mirror suggestion from each of you at our next session.  And don't allow that to come in the way of your reflection on our general tactics.  Not you, Miller, you stay here."

"Yes?" Miller inquired.

"You were the first one I trained.  You've had the most experience Hessian or Templar out of any of us.  You're going to start having a bigger role in our foolish little family, starting now.  Scout around for recruits, start training within the week.  Three of them."

The younger man nodded and departed.  Blessedly, he didn't ask why three were needed to replace two.  The Hessian sat and, with a head in duress, thought.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on May 10, 2011, 01:08:38 AM
*awaits next installment*

Don't be long, the edge of this seat is uncomfortable as fuck.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: East Coast Hustle on May 10, 2011, 01:11:51 AM
Did the Sams storyline get wrapped up and I missed it somewhere in the thread?

Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on May 10, 2011, 01:12:48 AM
Quote from: Rip City Hustle on May 10, 2011, 01:11:51 AM
Did the Sams storyline get wrapped up and I missed it somewhere in the thread?



It didn't end well, from what I understand.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on May 10, 2011, 01:15:21 AM
I've been tempted to comb this thread and sort out the storylines... but I kinda like 'em all tangled up.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on May 10, 2011, 02:01:30 AM
My part in Sams' story ended. What EoC does with him now is anyone's guess. I don't think Sams is actually dead, yet. My earlier RIP may have been premature . . . or not.

Only EoC (and probably the Paynites) know.

MORE, EOC!
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on May 10, 2011, 04:30:20 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on May 10, 2011, 01:08:38 AM
*awaits next installment*

Don't be long, the edge of this seat is uncomfortable as fuck.

Ditto
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on May 10, 2011, 06:16:10 PM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on May 08, 2011, 02:54:29 AMHe said her wailing screams were as terrible as the Nessies'. And that her hooks were dipped in something that burned when they ripped into him.

(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i312/P3nT4gR4m/khara1.jpg)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on May 10, 2011, 06:17:34 PM
Quote from: P3nT4gR4m on May 10, 2011, 06:16:10 PM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on May 08, 2011, 02:54:29 AMHe said her wailing screams were as terrible as the Nessies'. And that her hooks were dipped in something that burned when they ripped into him.

(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i312/P3nT4gR4m/khara1.jpg)


I think I'm in love!
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Dysfunctional Cunt on May 10, 2011, 06:26:52 PM
jesus is that me?  OMG OMG OMG

:fap: :fap: :fap: :fap: :fap: :fap:

Can I have that?  I want that as my avatar, screensaver, on my fucking xmas cards, graduation announcements, grand kids birth announcements, the kid's wedding invitations.... 

Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on May 10, 2011, 06:33:36 PM
 :D Help yourself

(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i312/P3nT4gR4m/kharavi.jpg) (http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i312/P3nT4gR4m/kharavi2.jpg)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Dysfunctional Cunt on May 10, 2011, 06:38:07 PM
Quote from: P3nT4gR4m on May 10, 2011, 06:33:36 PM
:D Help yourself

(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i312/P3nT4gR4m/kharavi.jpg) (http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i312/P3nT4gR4m/kharavi2.jpg)

You are awesome!!!

I think I love you..... in a purely platonic way, not the heart ripping with mah hooks kind of way!!!

XOXOXOXOXOXO  :lulz:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on May 10, 2011, 06:38:45 PM
Poor Pent.  Always a bridesmaid, never a bride.   :cry:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on May 10, 2011, 06:42:23 PM
I always wondered - is it called "platonic" because Plato never got any pussy either?  :x
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on May 10, 2011, 06:44:21 PM
Quote from: P3nT4gR4m on May 10, 2011, 06:42:23 PM
I always wondered - is it called "platonic" because Plato never got any pussy either?  :x

Course not.  That's why he devolved into roleplaying nerd-dom, and spent all his life LARPing about some dude he made up called "Socrates".  He also HATED artists, because they got all the chicks.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on May 10, 2011, 07:01:18 PM
Jesus, Payne, I think I just wet myself...
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on May 10, 2011, 07:07:12 PM
That is fucking fantastic, P3nT. Holy shit. Holy shit. Good god damn.

Damn, Khara, yous a sexy bitch!

Please don't kill me.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on May 10, 2011, 07:08:20 PM
Quote from: Luna on May 10, 2011, 07:01:18 PM
Jesus, Payne, I think I just wet myself...

Finally. Pent made a woman wet!  :evil:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on May 10, 2011, 07:11:09 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on May 10, 2011, 07:08:20 PM
Quote from: Luna on May 10, 2011, 07:01:18 PM
Jesus, Payne, I think I just wet myself...

Finally. Pent made a woman wet!  :evil:

What can I say, I love the creative types.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on May 10, 2011, 07:21:00 PM
How awesome is this thread? CRAZY AWESOME.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Dysfunctional Cunt on May 10, 2011, 07:23:37 PM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on May 10, 2011, 07:21:00 PM
How awesome is this thread? CRAZY AWESOME.

I love the piece with me in it!  Are you sure I'm dead  :wink:  :lulz:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on May 10, 2011, 07:25:23 PM
Quote from: Khara on May 10, 2011, 07:23:37 PM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on May 10, 2011, 07:21:00 PM
How awesome is this thread? CRAZY AWESOME.

I love the piece with me in it!  Are you sure I'm dead  :wink:  :lulz:

No, actually. For all I know, the Nessies carried you off and made you their Queen. I'll think on it.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on May 10, 2011, 10:55:58 PM
"How do you like it here," the chaplain asked a former Hessian.  He was ambulatory again, a speedy enough recovery.  Jokingly he'd been calling himself Chesster.  The chaplain started calling him by his proper name after his injury.

"It's loud," Chas replied, "the helmet was so much quieter.  Or, I guess it just blocked the sound better.  Like when you're sitting around the flat and the refrigerator motor shuts off, you only notice how loud it was once its drone is gone.  Anyway it seems like a busy job."

"It is.  Operators keep this all running," The Hessian said simply.

He and the chaplain stood behind Chas' chair, all intent on the screen before them.  On it, five figures moved in a very familiar pattern.  Miller was quick in selecting his recruits, and quicker to show them the rudimentary skills.  Each of the five were armored identically now.

"Get in Miller's helmet," The Hessian said, "Tell him to get their movements less synchronized.  They don't need to be indistinguishable from each other, they need to be indistinguishable from the Templars."

Chas did this while the chaplain asked of the leader, "Are you asking too much?  This is their first foray and it isn't even a combat run."

"If I think they're conspicuous, Nessie will think they're conspicuous.  If Nessie thinks they're Hessians, they'll treat them as such.  I'd rather surprise the monsters than the other way around like..." he did not finish.

Like last time, all three men thought at once.  Like when their bloodied man fell and when Chas' remarkable instinct barely saved him from the same fate.  Like when they realized that their thinking man's outfit was only as good as its ability to stay a tremulous step ahead of the nightmares in the sewer.

"I'm curious, Hessian," the chaplain annunciated the title strangely, with a barest hint of an A in the beginning and pause before the end.  "You're referring to your outfit as 'them' instead of 'us' presently.  Does it have anything to do with our present environment?"

A glare shot its way to him.  After a moment, it was accompanied by, "When I'm with them, and note chaplain I'm saying 'when,' I'll refer to such an instance properly.  They will need to know how to function, though, should anything happen to me."

"Which is why you're training one more than our agreement allotted?"

"Our agreement allowed for a team of five.  As you can see, on that screen right there, a team of five is currently at work."

"What will become of the extra man when you're among them?"

"I imagine he'll be with the Templars.  I think you'll agree this lengthy period of inactivity is rather bad for us all.  If we keep reserves we'll be able to avoid it happening again.  So right now we train one reserve, and when he's finished we train another.  We train as many as are able to be trained in our way, actually, and we run more missions by rotating team members out to rest.  Chaplain."

"Did you intend to request the authorization to do this?"

"You'd prefer we not create more effective soldiers for you?"

"I'd prefer we didn't have a multitude of armed men whose loyalties are primarily to you and not to Payne, ready to answer whenever you see fit."

"You worry too much.  All I want is to kill Nessie, and the simple fact is that some people work better when they don't think thrusting a spear is some kind of religious ri – "

"Hessians have contact," Chas interrupted, "looks like, yes, it's one."

Its speed was, as always, disorienting.  Immediately it became clear which of the five were accustomed to Nessie without the emotional numbing of the Payne juice.  They froze.

"It's going to bowl past the veterans," Chas predicted.

"And with the others standing their shitting themselves it'll make quick work of them as well," The Hessian realized.

They watched as the creature flew straight down the sewer tunnel.  It would be upon the group in seconds now.  Miller's shouting at the recruits seemed to have little effect at first, the fear deafening them in the most important moment.  Then one figure in the rear regained its senses and adjusted itself to a fighting stance, ready at least for the inevitable.

The Nessie came upon an intersection right before the Hessians.  Without a pause, it bounded down the right tunnel, ignoring them completely.

"It'll be back," they could hear Miller say to his men.  "This time, do not stop to think.  When it's ready for the Burst it won't be wearing a sign and it won't be –"

A series of shouts stopped him.  Operations was flooded with the noise of men crying out and the softer, muffled sound of a Nessie's shriek.  The three observers stared with horror as Miller turned to see the commotion, putting his back to the intersection.  Even with his experience, he was too slow.  He faced a monster tensed to strike, and he without his weapon raised.

The whipcord limbs fell upon Miller.  And he stood.  As he watched the thing collapse, its strike now the limp falling of a lifeless monster, blood washed over a recruit in the rear.

In Operations they sighed as one.  Miller's voice came to them, congratulating and thanking the new Hessian, the one who'd been quickest to recover from the fear.  "We're moving back," it said, "I believe that'll be enough for today."

The Hessian nodded, still looking at the screen.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on May 10, 2011, 11:19:37 PM
A/V recording found in the rubble of substation 5

"How the hell did you get in here and who the hell are?"

He was a pretty sorry sight at first glance. There was a lot of gray in his long unkempt hair and beard. His clothes were rags, it was a wonder they didn't fall off. His stance was a slight crouch on the balls of his feet, a fighting stance. His weapons were all modern and spotless though.

"You're all fools. You think you are setting them up with those silly tactics. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA They are playing you, every one of you. You clowns act like they're animals. We know better, but you won't listen. No you won't."

"How the hell did you get in here?"

"Through the wall, we came through the wall, there. Hehehehehehehehe. You think you are safe in here, don't you? YOU AREN'T SAFE ANYWHERE!!! Ahahahahahahahahaha. We will watch them eat you for your foolishness."

"What are talking about, old man?"

"Old man? You may be right, we might be old, but we know things, yes we do. Hehehehehehehehe."

"What are you talking about?"

"You think they are just animals, fools. They aren't. They are smart, too smart for the likes of you. They will eat you, yes they will."

"If not animals then what the hell are they?"

"Smart, they are very smart. They sit and talk about you, you know. We hear them, we hear what they say. They are going to eat you. They know what you are planning, they do! Hehehehehehehehe. They will have full bellies tonight for sure!"

"Get this crazy fucker out of here, now."

"Hehehehehehe, maybe crazy at that, just may be. But we won't be eaten tonight, like you will. We were once just like you, now we know things, things you will never learn. They will lead you into their little trap. Hahahahahahahaha. Then they will eat you, all 100 of you. They know your plans."

"What is your name?"

"Name? ah, well they call me Nightshade. I had a man name once, let me see.....Tom, my name was Tom."

The room went dead quiet as the men all looked at one another at the mention of that name.

"Tom..where the hell did he go? Somebody find him, I have questions to ask."

"No sign of him anywhere, Sir."

"Shit, get OP's on the line now, this is over my head."




Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Dysfunctional Cunt on May 11, 2011, 12:03:42 AM
Damn!  :mittens:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: *GrumpButt* on May 11, 2011, 12:04:40 AM
Wow great stuff everyone!

Soo enjoying this thread :D
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on May 11, 2011, 12:38:43 AM
EoC!! Charley!! MORE!

The bombshells, they keep coming.

Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on May 11, 2011, 07:14:07 PM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on May 10, 2011, 07:25:23 PM
Quote from: Khara on May 10, 2011, 07:23:37 PM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on May 10, 2011, 07:21:00 PM
How awesome is this thread? CRAZY AWESOME.

I love the piece with me in it!  Are you sure I'm dead  :wink:  :lulz:

No, actually. For all I know, the Nessies carried you off and made you their Queen. I'll think on it.

If you want to link Khara up with Tom you can have the character.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on May 11, 2011, 07:47:38 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on May 11, 2011, 07:14:07 PM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on May 10, 2011, 07:25:23 PM
Quote from: Khara on May 10, 2011, 07:23:37 PM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on May 10, 2011, 07:21:00 PM
How awesome is this thread? CRAZY AWESOME.

I love the piece with me in it!  Are you sure I'm dead  :wink:  :lulz:

No, actually. For all I know, the Nessies carried you off and made you their Queen. I'll think on it.

If you want to link Khara up with Tom you can have the character.

That would be awesome. Any thoughts on how that would go? If Khara doesn't mind, you could write her into your arc. :)

I've got one more story that goes with the last one, halfway stuck in my head. After that I'm not sure what happens next.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on May 11, 2011, 07:56:38 PM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on May 11, 2011, 07:47:38 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on May 11, 2011, 07:14:07 PM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on May 10, 2011, 07:25:23 PM
Quote from: Khara on May 10, 2011, 07:23:37 PM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on May 10, 2011, 07:21:00 PM
How awesome is this thread? CRAZY AWESOME.

I love the piece with me in it!  Are you sure I'm dead  :wink:  :lulz:



No, actually. For all I know, the Nessies carried you off and made you their Queen. I'll think on it.

If you want to link Khara up with Tom you can have the character.

That would be awesome. Any thoughts on how that would go? If Khara doesn't mind, you could write her into your arc. :)

I've got one more story that goes with the last one, halfway stuck in my head. After that I'm not sure what happens next.

I suppose I could put some thought into how it would go. Right now I'm liking your writing better than mine, you take the arc.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on May 11, 2011, 08:05:34 PM
That's funny. I like yours more than mine. :P But okay. If you have any thoughts, shoot me a PM. And don't be surprised if you don't see anything for a few days. Work is problematic with the getting off of one job at 11pm and having to be at the other at 6am.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on May 11, 2011, 11:11:51 PM
"For many of you, this is your first actual excursion," The Hessian addressed the four of them, "and for the others it's the first in some time.  We're going to take our time.  You might all be old timers in the tunnels, but as a unit we're green.  First item:  mirrors.  What have we found out?"

One of the new Hessians spoke up first, "The Paynites have been using mirrors in combat to some effectiveness.  There are rumors about a bigger plan,"

"We've heard the rumors, we've seen the fighting.  Do the rumors have any credence, or at least any details?"

"A siege weapon, basically.  Made of mirrors, allowing access to the Nessie's, er...hive or what have you," another said uncertainly.

"You know what," The Hessian spat, "we proceed as normal.  There are enough uncertainties right now without us adding one that we aren't even sure about.  Best of luck to the Templars.  Miller."

"Yes?"

"What do the reserves look like?"

"Two trained and working with the Templars.  They'll be rotating with the main force and participating in the training exercises."

"That'll be fine.  All of you put on the skin.  I'll be waiting for you at the entrance."  The Hessian put on his helmet and strode off.

The remaining four looked at each other quizzically.  They'd always gone together, from the briefing room until their return.  It was hard to think of him as their leader.  Certainly he was in a position of authority, but such was a product of their surroundings more than of his demeanor.  He'd stated, even, that their independence was crucial, to allow for intellectual freedom encouraged in their group.

The Hessian entered a small room off the tunnel.  An armored figure waited for him there, holding a map.  He asked it, "Are you ready?"

It nodded.

"I'm using you to test them, and you, of course.  You'll be going ahead and waiting at this intersection here," he pointed at the figure's map.  "When I break off, it'll be you returning to the party.  Are you clear on that?"

It nodded again.

"Good.  It'll be safe up there.  Head out and wait for my arrival."

His replacement did as he was asked.  Such is the trust I've built in them, The Hessian reflected, his eyes downcast for a moment in that little room.  They'll be alright.  I'm not what keeps them together.  A few breaths calmed his nerves.  Those had been acting up since he made his decision, for the first time in a long while.  He never thought there would be much to leave, but now he imagined there was even less to return to.

Four armored Hessians made their way to his position.  "Miller," he called.

To his surprise, it was the third in the line which answered.  Good.  "Disregard.  Let's go."

Through tunnels more familiar now than their homes, the five Hessians moved.  Dread filled their leader's chest, a song more insidious than that of their enemy.  It wouldn't be long.

As he'd stated, their pace was excruciatingly slow.  It was deliberate, but whether it was proceeding with care or avoiding his next step, he could not tell.  When they arrived at the spot, he paused.  He signaled for them to wait, and he walked to the right.

Around another bend was the armored figure he'd met.  They faced one another.  Each of them nodded.  The figure swept past him to join the others.  The Hessian placed his hand on the figure's chest, stopping him.  For a while they were like this as The Hessian shook his head, looking in the other direction.  The recruit stepped back.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on May 11, 2011, 11:39:22 PM
When their fifth finally rejoined them, the Hessians continued along the path.  They would push forward, as always.  Sometimes they would notice that as hard as they fought, as dangerous as it became, their fight the next day would still be closer to home than it was the day before.  Today was one of those days.  Nessie's song began faintly, a lone singer, then another.

They tensed, almost as one, and began to move their backs to one another, ready for a rapid sweeping attack like the last time.  It was hard to tell with the echoes and the beating of their hearts how many Nessies were coming.  Or how close they were.  With all the nerves they mustered in their training, this part never became easier.

There were seven, when they finally charged around the corner.  Ready to strike at the first sign they might bowl past, the Hessians watched as monsters came.

"They're stopping the charge," Miller shouted, "ready for the strike, just like training."

A Nessie was before him.  It drew itself up.  Miller thrust his weapon forward at the precise right moment.  His attack was perfect.  Exactly how the Nessie was anticipating.  The strike did not land.

"They're feinti-" came a voice in their helmets amidst the rest of the noise.

Already a Hessian had fallen.  His target, wounded but not dead, joined the other two focusing on a single fighter.  Templar instincts kicked in as the remaining four realized their well controlled thrust would not work.  A Nessie went down as Miller threw himself about the chaos.

Another cry came out, blood lust or pain none could tell until a second Hessian was struck by the flailing, merciless limbs of the Nessies.  They could disguise their fake strike, but the real one still looked the same.  Each of the three standing managed to kill their attackers, evening their numbers.

The remaining three Nessies turned and fled, their exit as quick as their coming.  In the few seconds in peace, the team still living breathed and slumped.  They glanced at the two laying still, just briefly, before returning their eyes to the tunnels.

Nessie resumed her song.

*********

After a few turns through the sewers, he arrived at an alcove.  In it, a small pack.

He removed his helmet first.  Piece by piece the suit was dismantled like so many times before.  He piled it as neatly as possible.  They would be by soon enough to recover the equipment.  And by then, he thought, as he put on the last of the surface clothes that survived down in this world of filth.

He was swifter without the cumbersome servo-powered steel.  And more silent.  The walls were sweeping past at a speed their regular pace left him unaccustomed to.  There, ahead, lay another pack.  This one was beside a ladder, and beside the latter, a man.

"Chaplain," he said, unable to even pretend surprise.

"Hessian," said the chaplain.

"Not anymore," he told him, "there is none anymore.  There are The Hessians, but I suppose they'll have to call Miller something else.  Make sure they do.  I don't want myself confused with some punk like him.  Your armor is back a ways.  You shouldn't have trouble finding it.  Now if you'll excuse me."

"And if I don't?"

"You know, it never occurred to me."

"This isn't some little rule that you're bending this time," the chaplain told him.

"I've done all I can do.  The rest of them will keep it going.  You don't have any reason to keep me here."

"You're only a nuisance down here.  Up above I think you might be a real problem."

"Only a nuisance?  Now you're just insulting me," he grinned.

The chaplain stood there a moment, then held out his hand.  "Best of luck to you, Hayes."
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: East Coast Hustle on May 12, 2011, 12:41:09 AM
I have a question for you, EoC...


what the fuck are you doing working for a living, man? Some people have an extremely high aptitude for writing, but you've got a fucking talent.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on May 12, 2011, 12:56:36 AM
Quote from: Rip City Hustle on May 12, 2011, 12:41:09 AM
I have a question for you, EoC...


what the fuck are you doing working for a living, man? Some people have an extremely high aptitude for writing, but you've got a fucking talent.

:oops:

Thanks, ECH.  If it gives you any hint as to my life decisions, I am making this entirely up as I go along.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: East Coast Hustle on May 12, 2011, 02:09:59 AM
That's what I mean by the difference between talent (innate ability) and aptitude (learned skill). If you're this good off the top of your head, well...

ECH,
envious, but in a good way
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on May 12, 2011, 02:11:53 AM
Quote from: Rip City Hustle on May 12, 2011, 12:41:09 AM
I have a question for you, EoC...


what the fuck are you doing working for a living, man? Some people have an extremely high aptitude for writing, but you've got a fucking talent.

This.

EoC, you need to copy your stuff, put it in a word file, and repost in another thread.  I think you've got publishable material here.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Dysfunctional Cunt on May 12, 2011, 02:14:14 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on May 12, 2011, 02:11:53 AM
Quote from: Rip City Hustle on May 12, 2011, 12:41:09 AM
I have a question for you, EoC...


what the fuck are you doing working for a living, man? Some people have an extremely high aptitude for writing, but you've got a fucking talent.

This.

EoC, you need to copy your stuff, put it in a word file, and repost in another thread.  I think you've got publishable material here.

TITCM!
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on May 12, 2011, 02:37:07 AM
Agreed.  I see your name as a new post on this thread, and I read everything else... and save this for dessert.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on May 12, 2011, 02:53:59 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on May 12, 2011, 02:11:53 AM
Quote from: Rip City Hustle on May 12, 2011, 12:41:09 AM
I have a question for you, EoC...


what the fuck are you doing working for a living, man? Some people have an extremely high aptitude for writing, but you've got a fucking talent.

This.

EoC, you need to copy your stuff, put it in a word file, and repost in another thread.  I think you've got publishable material here.

I agree. I am also envious.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on May 12, 2011, 03:23:45 AM
Wow, coming from you all that really means a lot.  Thanks.

Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on May 12, 2011, 02:11:53 AM
Quote from: Rip City Hustle on May 12, 2011, 12:41:09 AM
I have a question for you, EoC...


what the fuck are you doing working for a living, man? Some people have an extremely high aptitude for writing, but you've got a fucking talent.

This.

EoC, you need to copy your stuff, put it in a word file, and repost in another thread.  I think you've got publishable material here.

Okay, sure.  I'm not sure I'm following, but is it alright if I keep contributing to this thread?  I'm really enjoying the collaborative aspect.  I'll toss my own collection from this one in Bring & Brag.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on May 12, 2011, 03:29:02 AM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on May 12, 2011, 03:23:45 AM
Wow, coming from you all that really means a lot.  Thanks.

Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on May 12, 2011, 02:11:53 AM
Quote from: Rip City Hustle on May 12, 2011, 12:41:09 AM
I have a question for you, EoC...


what the fuck are you doing working for a living, man? Some people have an extremely high aptitude for writing, but you've got a fucking talent.

This.

EoC, you need to copy your stuff, put it in a word file, and repost in another thread.  I think you've got publishable material here.

Okay, sure.  I'm not sure I'm following, but is it alright if I keep contributing to this thread?  I'm really enjoying the collaborative aspect.  I'll toss my own collection from this one in Bring & Brag.

If you do not, I will find you.   :argh!:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on May 12, 2011, 05:17:29 AM
Posted.  It takes up 39 pages of a file with a page break at the end of each entry, and it's over 11,000 words.  WHEN AND HOW DID THAT HAPPEN!?
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Don Coyote on May 12, 2011, 06:29:31 AM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on May 12, 2011, 05:17:29 AM
Posted.  It takes up 39 pages of a file with a page break at the end of each entry, and it's over 11,000 words.  WHEN AND HOW DID THAT HAPPEN!?

I will explain...in WOMP-O-VISION this weekend.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on May 12, 2011, 07:51:44 AM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on May 12, 2011, 05:17:29 AM
Posted.  It takes up 39 pages of a file with a page break at the end of each entry, and it's over 11,000 words.  WHEN AND HOW DID THAT HAPPEN!?

That is how awesome happens. Step by step until you pause, for whatever reason, and realize you're on top of the mountain instead of under it.

You really are gifted, dude.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on May 12, 2011, 10:51:57 AM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on May 12, 2011, 05:17:29 AM
Posted.  It takes up 39 pages of a file with a page break at the end of each entry, and it's over 11,000 words.  WHEN AND HOW DID THAT HAPPEN!?

Apparently, when this shit works, we CAN act as muses for each other.

Though I don't recall the artwork of any of the classic muses involving standing behind an author holding a barstool with which to crease said author's skull if he didn't produce... but I think that was probably just artistic license.  And marketing...  The boobies sold better.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: LMNO on May 12, 2011, 01:02:40 PM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on May 12, 2011, 05:17:29 AM
Posted.  It takes up 39 pages of a file with a page break at the end of each entry, and it's over 11,000 words.  WHEN AND HOW DID THAT HAPPEN!?

Tell me about it. The 30 Days of Eris thing started as a joke, and ended up at 31,000 words.


Incidentally Roger, I might have time to give you a call tonight about that.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on May 12, 2011, 11:14:05 PM
He sat on a little hill with his back against a poplar and tried to smell the ash on the breeze.  For once, in his many visits here, he hoped not to catch the scent.  Before he might have convinced himself that it was her, still on the wind and in a way with him.  This time, though, it would mean something else.  It would mean his country was burning.

So he sat on the grass in the patched sunlight and tried to think about what to think about.  There were the times he came here with her but he found them faded.  Gray, somehow, and not whole.  And he could not focus on a single memory.  All of them were tied together in the proper little image of his wife, zoning out his motor mouth and shrugging off his cynicism.  A bit of feeling came and he tried to seize it and let it wash over him but it escaped, so ethereal, taken by even the day's gentle wind like the fine ash years before.

The meager brightness proved too much through his sunglasses.  Adjustment to the overwhelming natural light of the world above was taking a long, painful time.  England, it seemed, was too sunny.  He closed his eyes to shield them and to force the memories to dance upon the lids.  He squeezed them tighter as though it would help and he slumped against the knobs and rough bark of the tree in frustration.

A memory, just one here, just a single day that wasn't presided over by the fragile, cold light of the hospital.  Even the bickering or the anger, the days when he swore it was over and hated himself for his inability to reconcile.  He'd feel that again if it meant he could feel anything.

Finally, one came.  He and his fiancé and a friend of theirs with whom he'd long since lost contact, strolling about and laughing about nothing in particular.  And there was even a song with it.  It was sung by a voice at once mocking and hateful and triumphant and sorrowful, conducted in the darkness of the Southampton sewers.

He rose, now, from his rest against the tree.  Walking away he did not take even a moment to look over the view from the hill or back at the spot itself.  Because he found what he was looking for, that memory, and even that had become tainted by the other woman.  His new love and reason for existence that consumes his past in his own mind just as it consumes his life in the present.

Her name is Nessie.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: LMNO on May 12, 2011, 11:17:11 PM
EoC, you just blew my fucking mind. 

I'm serious... I know it's a trope, but it works so fucking well.  And your prose really kicked into high gear.


Damn.  I have been so impressed by this entire story.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on May 12, 2011, 11:33:46 PM
Damn, man.

Your first beer's on me, tomorrow.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on May 13, 2011, 08:28:17 AM
Quote from: LMNO, PhD on May 12, 2011, 11:17:11 PM
EoC, you just blew my fucking mind. 

I'm serious... I know it's a trope, but it works so fucking well.  And your prose really kicked into high gear.


Damn.  I have been so impressed by this entire story.

I am too ashamed to write any further.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on May 13, 2011, 10:10:19 AM
Quote from: Charley Brown on May 13, 2011, 08:28:17 AM
Quote from: LMNO, PhD on May 12, 2011, 11:17:11 PM
EoC, you just blew my fucking mind. 

I'm serious... I know it's a trope, but it works so fucking well.  And your prose really kicked into high gear.


Damn.  I have been so impressed by this entire story.

I am too ashamed to write any further.

Charley, man, don't be like that. Your writing is awesome, too. You have done some really great stuff in this thread. Not to mention how you rocked your own thread with those stories about your life. There is more than one amazing talent at PD.com. :)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on May 13, 2011, 10:51:57 AM
Quote from: Charley Brown on May 13, 2011, 08:28:17 AM
Quote from: LMNO, PhD on May 12, 2011, 11:17:11 PM
EoC, you just blew my fucking mind.  

I'm serious... I know it's a trope, but it works so fucking well.  And your prose really kicked into high gear.


Damn.  I have been so impressed by this entire story.

I am too ashamed to write any further.

Whyfor?  I love your stuff, Charley!

Honestly, I don't think ANY of this (well, except Roger's original post) would be as awesome as it is without us all bouncing stuff off each other.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on May 14, 2011, 05:59:00 AM
First bit of Khara's story, takes place before the training camp story.


She sat on the damp, sticky sewer floor. The manhole cover, and the street it was set into, seemed as far away from her as the sky was from the street. Light trickled through the gaps between cover and street, putting her in a halo of wavering light. A bad spot, she knew. It ruined her vision for the dark and kept her from seeing what else was down here.

But she didn't want to leave the light, couldn't bear to part with this last piece of 'normal' life. This was a nightmare.

After helping her neighbors pack up their belongings, making sure everyone had at least a week of food, and bundling children too small to walk into stolen shopping carts - all so the other occupants of her neighborhood could move out quickly when the soldiers came and quarantined everything . . . she'd been abandoned.

Oh the rest of her family, even her pets, had gotten out. But when she'd gone back to fetch the family Bible for the little old lady in the flat above hers, they'd left her behind. She'd gotten to the exit point, breathless and sore, just in time to hear another neighbor tell the soldiers waiting impatiently that everyone was out. Everyone.

They'd filed out. Closed the gate. And then cut all the power to her part of the city.

She'd expected England to be different from America, maybe that was the problem. All the bullshit and heartache she'd left behind when she'd crossed the pond with her family had been replaced with a glowing sense of optimism and hope. She'd spent years being as helpful and cheerful as she could, giving whatever she had to give to help those around her - because she knew all about rough spots and hard knocks, didn't she?

And here was a particularly hard knock pounding right on her god damn front teeth with all the subtly of a jumbo jet.

She'd raced up to the gate, and slapped it, trying to get someone's attention. She'd screamed, or tried to, when the electrified fence had shocked her so hard it knocked her backwards and then unconscious.

Now she lived in a nightmare.

When she'd come to, she'd heard gunfire and rough laughter only a few feet away. A homeless man she'd known and helped keep fed and clothed begged for his life. But he was shot. One of the soldiers said it was a mercy. For England having one less mouth to feed and the old man for not having to feed the Nessies. She'd been next.

But an eerie drone rose up all round her, seeming to seep upwards from the ground until pebbles rattled across the street and all the abandoned buildings rumbled.

The soldiers had fled and she had lay there crying the street until dawn, too scared to move.

But the sun had risen. And the soldiers would come back to kill her. So she was hiding where they wouldn't go, where the noise had to have come from, whatever it was.

She was in limbo, she thought. Stuck, unable to move between a world that didn't want her and one that terrified her. Again.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on May 14, 2011, 05:35:52 PM
:mittens:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Dysfunctional Cunt on May 16, 2011, 05:31:20 PM
Damn.....   :cry:

:mittens:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on May 18, 2011, 07:40:14 PM
Alec Hayes looked into the glass he held.  It was smudged with fingerprints and ringed with head, and at the bottom waited one last swallow.  This was the point where things became contemplative.  It was always at the end of that second pint where the mundane became complex and his usual unnatural focus widened considerably.  He upended the glass and drank with the lazy slowness of a man who just wants to pass the time.

The pub was emptier these days.  It changed hands a few times during his stay in the cozy Inn of the Screeching Servo.  Follow the money.  That's what he'd told Sams way back, follow the money and you'll find out what the Paynites have for an angle.

The Paynites aren't the problem anymore though, are they?  Exactly what he knew would come to pass had come to pass.  They were losing steadily.  They were losing, actually, precisely slowly enough to not know they were losing and that they needed help.  It wasn't a matter of being overwhelmed.  Being overwhelmed once would be enough to spur even the most stubborn of the chaplains into taking action.  It was the case of the novice chess player.  He couldn't grasp the grander strategy employed, and so when he eliminated the odd rook that bishop waiting in the back became a lot more real than it had previously been.

Worse than that, they couldn't be blamed.  In fact, they were even doing well.  The servoheads called the Nessies monsters, aliens, demons and mutants.  Whatever they were, their mind was too foreign to comprehend.  Humanity, in comparison, was predictable.

As he sighed deeply and set the glass down, a call came from somewhere else in the pub, "The volume!  Hit the volume!"

Accordingly the noise in the little place shifted.  Quiet chatter gave way to the excited and professional voice of the reporter.

"We are unaware at this time of the names of the young man and woman who brought us here -" her sentence was cut off by a series of ear splitting clangs.

This was his cue.  Hayes set down a few notes for the drinks and rose to leave.  He couldn't think in this kind of racket.  With his hand on the door handle, he froze at what came next.

His blood froze and beer nearly came back up.  He felt naked and vulnerable in the presence of that sound, a hundred Nessies wailing, without his team or the protection of the powered armor.  The other patrons were unblinking with mouths agape.  It was not the fear they felt, but the mind shattering realization beyond even modern skepticism that this was something new and terrible.

There was yelling and frantic movement.  The cameraman and reporter were running, panting, through corridors.  The screen was blurs and rushed footsteps, several dozen pairs of them, all seeming to be journalists.  It changed from concrete to tile, from tile to gravel, and from gravel to grass where it stopped.  The camera refocused, finally, and steadied following the frantic escape, to focus on a school, almost serene in the darkness.

The reporter was speechless for a while.  Her well tailored appearance all that of a crazy woman now, hair wild and eyes wilder.

In the pub there was silence.  Hayes still stood with one hand on the door, breathing with the deliberate pace of someone who might forget to do it if they don't focus.  Hands on glasses were stiff and white knuckled and claw like and shaking.

The ensuing few minutes were like hours, even to them in their safe little corner drinking hole.  The reporter tried, haltingly, to say a few words, to explain the scene before her but she failed and she gave up and she looked around uncertainly at her colleagues, some rivals, and she never turned her gaze far from the dark, still school.  It was nearly serene.  Like a bomb awaiting some silent inner mechanism before becoming fire and agony.

Suddenly, echoes mingled as they escaped from the empty hallways.  A lone figure ran forth from the building, the devil on its heels.  The camera followed him and zoomed.

The pub saw a young man who would likely die.  Hayes saw a young man who already had.

"Sams!" he shouted.  The first sound in the place since they started watching.  He opened the door and left.  Behind him, a horde of the creatures he'd come to know as Nessie swept outward from a decimated building and threw themselves in their elated fury at the gathered crowd, and the camera died.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on May 18, 2011, 07:42:14 PM
Damn...
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on May 18, 2011, 09:28:51 PM
Quote from: Luna on May 18, 2011, 07:42:14 PM
Damn...
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on May 18, 2011, 09:41:40 PM
I just got wood. Serious wood! I drove a nail into it. Didn't feel a thing. Took 3 of us and a claw hammer to get it back out. It was THAT kind of wood!  :eek:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on May 18, 2011, 09:42:22 PM
RUN, SAMS, RUN!   :x
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on May 18, 2011, 09:43:47 PM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on May 18, 2011, 07:40:14 PM
Inn of the Screeching Servo

I nominate this for the name of the next Open Bar thread.   :p
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on May 18, 2011, 09:48:12 PM
Quote from: Luna on May 18, 2011, 09:43:47 PM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on May 18, 2011, 07:40:14 PM
Inn of the Screeching Servo

I nominate this for the name of the next Open Bar thread.   :p

ECH has vetoed naming the bar, on account of MW/TCC/EB&G.  I tend to agree with him.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on May 18, 2011, 09:55:29 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on May 18, 2011, 09:48:12 PM
Quote from: Luna on May 18, 2011, 09:43:47 PM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on May 18, 2011, 07:40:14 PM
Inn of the Screeching Servo

I nominate this for the name of the next Open Bar thread.   :p

ECH has vetoed naming the bar, on account of MW/TCC/EB&G.  I tend to agree with him.

Ah, well.

Awesome, EoC...  And I find the image of nessies nomming down on a Fox News commentator heartwarming.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on May 18, 2011, 10:06:16 PM
If Sams is dead, I'm going to fire chinchillas into traffic with a PVC cannon, in his honor.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on May 18, 2011, 10:08:31 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on May 18, 2011, 10:06:16 PM
If Sams is dead, I'm going to fire chinchillas into traffic with a PVC cannon, in his honor.

I was just going to have a drink or two in his honor this weekend.  Now it feels like not enough...
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on May 19, 2011, 05:55:33 AM
EoC, you took that scene and made it EPIC. Sweet fucking Christ. Marry me and have my babies.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on May 22, 2011, 05:17:24 AM
(http://i476.photobucket.com/albums/rr126/TGRR/southampton1.jpg)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Freeky on May 22, 2011, 05:24:33 AM
 :lulz:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Mesozoic Mister Nigel on May 22, 2011, 04:27:33 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on May 22, 2011, 05:17:24 AM
(http://i476.photobucket.com/albums/rr126/TGRR/southampton1.jpg)

I don't even know what's going on, but  :lulz:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on May 22, 2011, 09:26:58 PM
(http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2011/142/3/5/tunnel3_by_p3nt4gr4m-d3gyrxo.jpg)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on May 22, 2011, 10:10:58 PM
Quote from: P3nT4gR4m on May 22, 2011, 09:26:58 PM
(http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2011/142/3/5/tunnel3_by_p3nt4gr4m-d3gyrxo.jpg)

It's like you tapped into what I imagined it would look like.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on May 23, 2011, 06:53:49 PM
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i312/P3nT4gR4m/ofuk.jpg)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on May 23, 2011, 06:55:58 PM
Quote from: P3nT4gR4m on May 23, 2011, 06:53:49 PM
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i312/P3nT4gR4m/ofuk.jpg)

NICE.

This story wandered FAR afield from what I had originally imagined, but I wouldn't change a thing.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on May 23, 2011, 06:58:39 PM
Quote from: Nigel on May 22, 2011, 04:27:33 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on May 22, 2011, 05:17:24 AM
(http://i476.photobucket.com/albums/rr126/TGRR/southampton1.jpg)

I don't even know what's going on, but  :lulz:

Richter is such a badass Jihadist that he goes into the sewers with nothing more than a PLASTIC LADLE and a crazy, fractured grin.  The Nessies know him, oh, yes.  They know what he'll DO to them with that ladle, and what the horrible stains on his jeans are.  They know why he smiles.

So they go after the servoheads, because it's safer.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on May 23, 2011, 07:22:55 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on May 23, 2011, 06:55:58 PM
NICE.

This story wandered FAR afield from what I had originally imagined, but I wouldn't change a thing.

How did you originally see it going?

Great work, P3nt!
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on June 01, 2011, 07:49:48 AM
Video recording of a very old man

"The tunnels are quiet now. Oh, you can still hear water dripping, but there are no more screams, no more singing. You see, the day they came out of the school was the beginning of the end. Most of humanity was destroyed after that.

Oh, there were pockets of resistance, but when the Paynites went down there was little hope for the rest of us. Sure, we still have pockets of humans still living in isolation here and there.

Go to the city young man. The streets are all quiet. There are no people or even any nessies The machines of Industry are all quiet even. No person ever dares to walk alone, even now.

I can't remember the last time a nessie was even heard or seen. Some of us got away sure enough. Do you want to know how? I'll tell you. A kid showed us how, I mean the kid didn't mean to, but she did sure enough. I remember it like it was yesterday.

An entire area of the city had been destroyed, and by that I mean that no people were left. We were trying to make our way to safety and we came across a camper trailer. Inside it was a kid, couldn't of been more than 10 or so. The screen door was all that was between the kid and them.

Laying around on the ground we found about 10 dead nessies. Every one of them had tried to take the kid. Then we got to looking around and we found a miracle. See, during all the battles and the long fight we had used stuff that was all designed by the military to protect us.

This camper we found the kid in was all aluminum, even the screen door. It was like aluminum was pure poison to the damn beasts. It would melt their skin on contact.

We gathered up all the aluminum we could carry on several tractor trailer trucks and brought it all here. When we built we used it all on the perimeter defenses, including the floor. They just can't get through. Pretty amazing.

There are over a hundred of us here and we know of a few other colonies out there, doing the same thing. All building with aluminum exteriors.

The horrible part was when they ran out of people to eat they turned on each other. At first the sounds were terrible and they filled the air every night. Now there is no sound. Our hunting and gathering parties only go out during the daylight, protected by archers who have aluminum arrows.

We haven't seen hide nor hair of a beast in 5 years, but we just assume they are out there. There is no way to really communicate between survivor groups anymore. We only have fires and candles, electricity is a thing of the past.

We are careful and we are alive. When you leave here to visit the others, move only during daylight and move quickly. Peace be with you, return this way with news if you can.

Before you leave I should tell you about the stories. Stories of the tunnels. Now I don't believe them but many say they think they have seen two ghosts, a man with a woman. The woman doesn't have hands, but she does have these awful claw things instead. Now, I know it's crazy, but that's the story."
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on June 02, 2011, 03:25:18 PM
Bump. Are we done here?
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Dysfunctional Cunt on June 02, 2011, 03:28:28 PM
I think it's slowed down considerably, but I doubt if it will ever be truly done.  That was awesome!!
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on June 02, 2011, 03:29:40 PM
Whoa, thanks, I missed that last one somehow...

Awesome...
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on June 02, 2011, 06:30:18 PM
Here's what the boys think of anyone who doesn't keep posting ITT!
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i312/P3nT4gR4m/jc.jpg)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on June 02, 2011, 06:31:13 PM
 :lulz: :lulz: :lulz:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on June 02, 2011, 06:33:18 PM
I DO love this thread...
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on June 02, 2011, 06:33:38 PM
 :lulz:

I was just saying in the bar thread that we just had a monster sinkhole open up at work.  There's some ancient gavanized (?) pipe at the bottom, and a large hollow spot.

No singing, though.   :sad:

I think I'm gonna send the push cam down, and see if we've hit an old mine shaft.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on June 02, 2011, 06:58:22 PM
Love your latest, Charley.

I am not done. Have at least two more Khara stories and a Khara-Tom story that may end up really long.

Just swamped with life and so much stupid it makes me wanna kick someone.

Damn, TGRR. Whatever you do, don't wake them up.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on June 02, 2011, 07:03:04 PM
Take some aluminum with you, it's the only way to be safe.  :lulz:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Dysfunctional Cunt on June 02, 2011, 07:04:29 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on June 02, 2011, 07:03:04 PM
Take some aluminum with you, it's the only way to be safe.  :lulz:


:tinfoilhat:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on June 03, 2011, 08:09:30 PM
Would have stuck this in bring and brag but I figured it belonged in here cos I was thinking about life down in the sewers when I chopped it.
(http://rookery9.aviary.com.s3.amazonaws.com/8323000/8323439_c02d_625x1000.jpg)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on June 03, 2011, 08:09:51 PM
I WANT ONE!
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on June 03, 2011, 08:10:36 PM
I have a constitutional right to one of those.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on June 03, 2011, 08:10:53 PM
Quote from: Luna on June 03, 2011, 08:09:51 PM
I WANT ONE!

ME TOO!
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on June 03, 2011, 08:11:32 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on June 03, 2011, 08:10:36 PM
I have a constitutional right to one of those.

:lulz:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: LMNO on June 03, 2011, 08:15:13 PM
It widely known that Jefferson had one.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on June 03, 2011, 08:16:10 PM
I...

Fuck, yeah...

If I have any free time at all, this may have stirred something.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on June 03, 2011, 08:39:08 PM
This story is so freakin' epic. We are damn amazing.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on June 03, 2011, 08:41:24 PM
It also went WAY off the tracks, at least as far as the original concept is concerned.

:lulz:

But that's good.  I was thinking Tremors, and everyone wrote Day of the Dead style, and it turned out WAY better than what I had in mind.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on June 03, 2011, 08:42:16 PM
I love how it's still writhing around, trying to get out...  There's more, I can smell it.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on June 03, 2011, 08:46:23 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on June 03, 2011, 08:41:24 PM
It also went WAY off the tracks, at least as far as the original concept is concerned.

:lulz:

But that's good.  I was thinking Tremors, and everyone wrote Day of the Dead style, and it turned out WAY better than what I had in mind.

:lulz:

Tremors is still my favorite movie of all time.

What? I am easily entertained.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: LMNO on June 03, 2011, 08:49:48 PM
Someone is compliling all of this for future publication, right?
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on June 03, 2011, 09:14:48 PM
EoC has a thread for his stuff - which I hope he tries to get published.

Roger has added the rest to his list of stuff to panel-ize. P3nT is whipping out art-amazing-ness.

I'm still stewing on at least three stories. How "Khara found the Nessies", "How Khara got her hooks", and "When Tom Met Khara". :P
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on June 03, 2011, 09:18:35 PM
Quote from: LMNO, PhD on June 03, 2011, 08:49:48 PM
Someone is compliling all of this for future publication, right?

May God have mercy on them. We have jumped from beginning to end to middle so many times they have to be dizzy by now.  :lulz:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on June 03, 2011, 09:22:50 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on June 03, 2011, 09:18:35 PM
Quote from: LMNO, PhD on June 03, 2011, 08:49:48 PM
Someone is compliling all of this for future publication, right?

May God have mercy on them. We have jumped from beginning to end to middle so many times they have to be dizzy by now.  :lulz:

That's probably how we're going to run it.  And if stories conflict, well, so does actual history.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on June 03, 2011, 09:24:28 PM
Quote from: LMNO, PhD on June 03, 2011, 08:49:48 PM
Someone is compliling all of this for future publication, right?

I'm still patiently waiting for chapter 1 of teh script. For a given definition of patiently  :argh!:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on June 03, 2011, 09:25:39 PM
Quote from: P3nT4gR4m on June 03, 2011, 09:24:28 PM
Quote from: LMNO, PhD on June 03, 2011, 08:49:48 PM
Someone is compliling all of this for future publication, right?

I'm still patiently waiting for chapter 1 of teh script. For a given definition of patiently  :argh!:

Sorry, a bit busy at the moment. 

Also, Tales from Fat Ernie's is all yours, if you want it.  The other guy utterly flaked out.

I was thinking to use that as a training run, so to speak.  Do you still have chapter 1?
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on June 03, 2011, 09:29:39 PM
Just wanted to say that I would love-love-love to see the Nessie stuff in print. I support this endeavor 169% :D
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on June 03, 2011, 09:37:16 PM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on June 03, 2011, 09:29:39 PM
Just wanted to say that I would love-love-love to see the Nessie stuff in print. I support this endeavor 169% :D

That's been the plan since page 2 or 3 I think.  :)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on June 04, 2011, 01:46:27 AM
Quote from: Charley Brown on June 03, 2011, 09:37:16 PM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on June 03, 2011, 09:29:39 PM
Just wanted to say that I would love-love-love to see the Nessie stuff in print. I support this endeavor 169% :D

That's been the plan since page 2 or 3 I think.  :)

I think it has been, too. But I wanted to be clear! :D
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on June 04, 2011, 03:56:07 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on June 03, 2011, 09:25:39 PM
Quote from: P3nT4gR4m on June 03, 2011, 09:24:28 PM
Quote from: LMNO, PhD on June 03, 2011, 08:49:48 PM
Someone is compliling all of this for future publication, right?

I'm still patiently waiting for chapter 1 of teh script. For a given definition of patiently  :argh!:

Sorry, a bit busy at the moment. 

Also, Tales from Fat Ernie's is all yours, if you want it.  The other guy utterly flaked out.

I was thinking to use that as a training run, so to speak.  Do you still have chapter 1?
I'm on it!
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on June 04, 2011, 04:01:26 PM
Quote from: Luna on June 03, 2011, 08:16:10 PM
I...

Fuck, yeah...

If I have any free time at all, this may have stirred something.

Okay, folks, safety rule.  Do NOT comment about wanting or needing free time in this thread.  This was posted, what, two hours before I was told my services were no longer required at work...
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on June 05, 2011, 05:39:06 AM
Quote from: Luna on June 04, 2011, 04:01:26 PM
Quote from: Luna on June 03, 2011, 08:16:10 PM
I...

Fuck, yeah...

If I have any free time at all, this may have stirred something.

Okay, folks, safety rule.  Do NOT comment about wanting or needing free time in this thread.  This was posted, what, two hours before I was told my services were no longer required at work...

On the plus side, now you have plenty of time to write?

Hehe. Hehe. He. . . . ?
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on June 05, 2011, 12:17:08 PM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on June 05, 2011, 05:39:06 AM
Quote from: Luna on June 04, 2011, 04:01:26 PM
Quote from: Luna on June 03, 2011, 08:16:10 PM
I...

Fuck, yeah...

If I have any free time at all, this may have stirred something.

Okay, folks, safety rule.  Do NOT comment about wanting or needing free time in this thread.  This was posted, what, two hours before I was told my services were no longer required at work...

On the plus side, now you have plenty of time to write?

Hehe. Hehe. He. . . . ?

Sadly, no, now I have plenty of time to scour the state for a job...  When I need to tell them that I need two weeks off in the beginning of August.

Yes, it's Pennsic...  However, I am violently defensive of that particular vacation, as it is the only time I see my family.  Mom and my brother come out, with my sister in law and niece, and we take time to go visit the local family, both grandmothers and my uncle, along with whoever else is in the area.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on June 05, 2011, 08:52:50 PM
Quote from: Luna on June 05, 2011, 12:17:08 PM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on June 05, 2011, 05:39:06 AM
Quote from: Luna on June 04, 2011, 04:01:26 PM
Quote from: Luna on June 03, 2011, 08:16:10 PM
I...

Fuck, yeah...

If I have any free time at all, this may have stirred something.

Okay, folks, safety rule.  Do NOT comment about wanting or needing free time in this thread.  This was posted, what, two hours before I was told my services were no longer required at work...

On the plus side, now you have plenty of time to write?

Hehe. Hehe. He. . . . ?

Sadly, no, now I have plenty of time to scour the state for a job...  When I need to tell them that I need two weeks off in the beginning of August.

Yes, it's Pennsic...  However, I am violently defensive of that particular vacation, as it is the only time I see my family.  Mom and my brother come out, with my sister in law and niece, and we take time to go visit the local family, both grandmothers and my uncle, along with whoever else is in the area.

Good luck, Luna. :(
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on June 05, 2011, 09:57:40 PM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on June 05, 2011, 08:52:50 PM
Quote from: Luna on June 05, 2011, 12:17:08 PM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on June 05, 2011, 05:39:06 AM
Quote from: Luna on June 04, 2011, 04:01:26 PM
Quote from: Luna on June 03, 2011, 08:16:10 PM
I...

Fuck, yeah...

If I have any free time at all, this may have stirred something.

Okay, folks, safety rule.  Do NOT comment about wanting or needing free time in this thread.  This was posted, what, two hours before I was told my services were no longer required at work...

On the plus side, now you have plenty of time to write?

Hehe. Hehe. He. . . . ?

Sadly, no, now I have plenty of time to scour the state for a job...  When I need to tell them that I need two weeks off in the beginning of August.

Yes, it's Pennsic...  However, I am violently defensive of that particular vacation, as it is the only time I see my family.  Mom and my brother come out, with my sister in law and niece, and we take time to go visit the local family, both grandmothers and my uncle, along with whoever else is in the area.

Good luck, Luna. :(

Thanks...  I'll manage, one way or another.  Something WILL turn up.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on June 12, 2011, 06:54:59 AM
Hours or days or weeks later, she stood and took a single step before collapsing. Her legs had gone numb and she hadn't noticed.

Swearing to herself, she squinted and wiped muck from her scrapped palms on to her mucky clothes. And then realized she was no longer in her safe little haloed haven of light. She was in the dark. And the endless sing-song she'd almost forgotten about; almost accepted as a mandatory part of her new existence; was louder now. Closer than it had been.

She pulled herself upright and proceeded down the tunnel, her eyes gradually adjusting. And she did not look back to the circle of light and its promise of access to another life. There was only darkness, now. And keening melodies that swirled around her, tugging her onwards.

Miles passed slowly. Tingling in her legs turned to burning pin-pricks and then faded to nothing. For awhile she was only aware of the music, occasionally punctuated by her growling stomach and rasping breath from a parched throat. But she began to ache and shake. Mile after mile of damp, dirty tunnels passed unchanging.

Even the intersections looked the same. Until her foot slammed into something that would not yield and she fell into a pile of . . . metal?

Her face smacked into something, her slime-slick hands failing to stop her momentum. And nose to nose with her was a man, eyes glazed with death staring at her in shock.

She rolled, screaming or whimpering or laughing, and kicked the body as she did so. Her foot, the one previously injured by slamming into the metal-clad corpse, protested with streaks of agony as it connected. She howled, clutching her foot.

The echoing, wailing keen stopped. Silence fell so thick and fast that it smothered her. It crushed her and sapped the strength from her pounding heart until she couldn't hear that anymore either. But there was something, like a baby cry only more shrill and more despairing.

Pulling herself forward she encountered another corpse, this one conveniently lacking most of the punishing metal. She heaved the body to one side and beheld a horror, the size of an infant. Unable to count the flailing limbs or discern the head from tail, she crooned. It paused, one appendage tilting to the side to listen and study her. Its head was sleek and tiny slivers of iridescence must be its barely opened eyes.

An abandoned baby. Well, that she knew how to deal with. She arranged herself until she was sitting comfortably cross-legged and sang an old, familiar lullaby. She sang over and over again until the tiny creature relaxed and even cheeped. It pooled itself in her lap, warm as a furnace and slick like a fish. Its breathing evened and the twin slits of light disappeared. It slept.

Exhausted and pleased to have done something right, she leaned back against the wall (or maybe it was another corpse), and slept too.


She dreamed of many strange things. Words that were spoken in the hissing tongue of snakes and the rolling song of whales filled her head. And in her sleep she understood them. Ancient creatures debating with younger about the fate of a woman left alone in the tunnels. It was a tragic story, she thought, listening to them decide. Their history, the woman they talked about, what they planned. So much darkness.

The world was moving, sliding and gliding on an undulating wave of flesh the color of tar and smelling of earth, serpents, and the ocean. When the motion ceased her dreams changed. Instead of siren lullabies and gentle rocking, her family was going away - shrinking in the distance - and leaving her behind. Calling their good-byes and so-sorry-mommys as they waved and disappeared over the horizon.

Wailing, she woke. And once more found herself face-to-face with a pair of glazed eyes. Ink-dark, slime-slick skin framed the glowing gaze that seemed to measure, dissect, and memorize her every atom. Fear froze her into a statue and she forgot to breathe.

A sturdy nudge to her knee and another one when she didn't acknowledge the first had her looking down. The small creature she'd met earlier was butting its head against her leg. When it had her attention it looked up at her and chirped a few bars of the lullaby she'd sang to it. Then it once more pooled itself into her lap.

The black terror with glowing eyes watched everything. Then blinked and made a movement, part slither and part shudder. She guessed it to be some kind of shrug. It turned away, leaving her with the baby.

She reached a hand down to stroke the creature in her lap and smiled as it hiss-cooed and wiggled sinuously.

This wasn't where she'd fallen asleep, she noted, keeping her face turned to the creature in her lap. From what she could see through her lashes, this cavern was huge. Easily big enough to hold a large town or a small city. Every inch of floor seemed to be piled thick with the creatures. There were huge pools of faintly luminescent liquid releasing mineral-scented steam into the air. Squiggling bits of light writhed on the walls about halfway up the rock and giant stalactites dangled from the cavern roof. There were no stalagmites, however.

Where could she be that had limestone caves? Was the water in those pools drinkable? She was parched. And starving.

Before she could put her little friend to one side and examine the nearest pool, one of the monsters halfway between the big one and the baby slither-slipped-slunk over to her. It dropped something beside her, almost crushing her, and vanished into the morass of creatures.

She gathered up the baby and stood. Her foot throbbed distantly but it didn't seem important. The creature had brought her an entire refrigerator. And, she bundled the baby into one arm and touched the metal side of the stainless steel appliance, it was still cold.

Where? What? HOW?

She opened it and pulled out a can of soda, still perfectly chilled. Disbelieving, she popped the tab one-handed and took a sip.

If this was the beginnings of insanity, at least it came with beverages.




ETA: Spelling and grammar fixes.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on June 12, 2011, 10:24:39 AM
:mittens:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on June 12, 2011, 10:37:50 AM
Awesome, CPD!
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on June 12, 2011, 06:30:03 PM
Damn fine work CPD!  :mittens:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on June 12, 2011, 07:49:46 PM
Thanks, guys. :D Khara is getting her hooks, next.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on June 12, 2011, 08:42:50 PM
Khara is fast becoming one of my favourite characters. I'm a sucker for psychotic femme fatales  :fap:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on June 13, 2011, 05:36:13 AM
We need more Pixie and Freeky stories.

AND WHAT HAPPENS WITH HAYES AND SAMS, EoC ?!?!?!
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Dysfunctional Cunt on June 13, 2011, 02:40:44 PM
CPD That was AWESOME!!!

:mittens:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on June 13, 2011, 08:14:21 PM
Quote from: Khara on June 13, 2011, 02:40:44 PM
CPD That was AWESOME!!!

:mittens:

I am glad you approve, Khara.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on June 13, 2011, 08:49:33 PM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on June 13, 2011, 05:36:13 AM
We need more Pixie and Freeky stories.

AND WHAT HAPPENS WITH HAYES AND SAMS, EoC ?!?!?!

You will find out, I promise.  And props on the recent entry.  There's a strange mix of cute and horrific going on.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on June 18, 2011, 10:54:44 AM
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i312/P3nT4gR4m/khara2.jpg)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Placid Dingo on June 18, 2011, 01:44:12 PM
He introduces himself as Alan Smithee. He is a Paynite from the look of him; mostly the kind of harrowed stare, the lack of basic social skills. I offer a drink and he just shakes his head.

"You have something you want me to see" he says, flatly.

I take him downstairs to the room and pull open the door. It is dark for a moment. I pull the switch and a light flickers on. In the middle of the room, arms bound and pulled up to a hook on the roof, is The Kid. His shirt is off, revealing the maze of scar tissue that warps his muscular chest. He looks down, defeated, ignoring us.

"Kid," I say. "I want you to meet someone."

He remains silent. The Paynite stands quietly, unimpressed.

"This is my friend Alan Smithee. Alan, will you kindly tell Kid what your role is?"

"I'm waiting for the part where you're not wasting my time," he growls.

"Alan kills Nessies, Kid."

The Kid looks up and stares into Alan's eyes. Kid has one eye, one black socket, more scar tissue splayed around it.

"Big. Fuckin. Hero." he says, and lets his head drop down again.

I point to the scar tissue. "This is all from the Nessies."

The Kid mumbles.

Alan is growing impatient. "Kid, you got something to help me or not?"

The Kid stays silent.

"I don't know what you've been through. I can see they've hurt you, and you're still here, so I know whatever they've done must be hard to think about but..."

"It's just play!" The Kids yells suddenly, pulling his head up sharply. The room echoes, and is silent.

"They din't mean anyfing by it. They play ruff. They live ruff. I'm not made the same, so I got scratched up more. Dun't mean they're bad! Dun't mean you get run round killin' them like animals! Any time they scrap me up they fix me up. More I can say for the overground."

"They tore out your eye," I snap, baiting him, and he bites.

"That was Herra, and he was an asshole. And the others look after me, they scrap him up, let him know it warn't right. They tore his eye out too, just to make fair. You lot dun't know fair. You dun't know shit. I hope you get ate."

The Paynite is standing, staring, not quite willing to understand. I touch his arm gently and walk out. As he follows I close the door.

"He lived with them?"

"Yes"

"How long?"

"Not sure. Two years, maybe, so far as I can tell."

"He escaped?"

"He got separated in a fight. He was scouting for your teams, giving warning. Something about an explosion, he got separated. He was taken in to mental health for a while, before I obtained him."

"He knows them then. He knows their patterns."

"They're his family. They're the only living things that ever gave a fuck about him. He knows them better than any of us. He knows how they think. How they act. How to kill them. He's a gift. Me to you. It's getting pricey cooking for two."

"You think I can just ask him how to kill the only things he's ever loved?"

"I think maybe you could ask... persuasively."

We stand for a while, in a silence which tells us both that he understands.

"If you have a car, I can juice him up for long enough to be moved," I say.

He nods, hesitantly, and we begin to move upstairs, and from below us we can hear The Kid singing that terrible song.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on June 18, 2011, 07:15:48 PM
Quote from: P3nT4gR4m on June 18, 2011, 10:54:44 AM
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i312/P3nT4gR4m/khara2.jpg)

Holy shit, P3nT!  :fap: :fap: :fap: :fap: :fap:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on June 18, 2011, 07:19:41 PM
Quote from: Placid Dingo on June 18, 2011, 01:44:12 PM
He introduces himself as Alan Smithee. He is a Paynite from the look of him; mostly the kind of harrowed stare, the lack of basic social skills. I offer a drink and he just shakes his head.

"You have something you want me to see" he says, flatly.

I take him downstairs to the room and pull open the door. It is dark for a moment. I pull the switch and a light flickers on. In the middle of the room, arms bound and pulled up to a hook on the roof, is The Kid. His shirt is off, revealing the maze of scar tissue that warps his muscular chest. He looks down, defeated, ignoring us.

"Kid," I say. "I want you to meet someone."

He remains silent. The Paynite stands quietly, unimpressed.

"This is my friend Alan Smithee. Alan, will you kindly tell Kid what your role is?"

"I'm waiting for the part where you're not wasting my time," he growls.

"Alan kills Nessies, Kid."

The Kid looks up and stares into Alan's eyes. Kid has one eye, one black socket, more scar tissue splayed around it.

"Big. Fuckin. Hero." he says, and lets his head drop down again.

I point to the scar tissue. "This is all from the Nessies."

The Kid mumbles.

Alan is growing impatient. "Kid, you got something to help me or not?"

The Kid stays silent.

"I don't know what you've been through. I can see they've hurt you, and you're still here, so I know whatever they've done must be hard to think about but..."

"It's just play!" The Kids yells suddenly, pulling his head up sharply. The room echoes, and is silent.

"They din't mean anyfing by it. They play ruff. They live ruff. I'm not made the same, so I got scratched up more. Dun't mean they're bad! Dun't mean you get run round killin' them like animals! Any time they scrap me up they fix me up. More I can say for the overground."

"They tore out your eye," I snap, baiting him, and he bites.

"That was Herra, and he was an asshole. And the others look after me, they scrap him up, let him know it warn't right. They tore his eye out too, just to make fair. You lot dun't know fair. You dun't know shit. I hope you get ate."

The Paynite is standing, staring, not quite willing to understand. I touch his arm gently and walk out. As he follows I close the door.

"He lived with them?"

"Yes"

"How long?"

"Not sure. Two years, maybe, so far as I can tell."

"He escaped?"

"He got separated in a fight. He was scouting for your teams, giving warning. Something about an explosion, he got separated. He was taken in to mental health for a while, before I obtained him."

"He knows them then. He knows their patterns."

"They're his family. They're the only living things that ever gave a fuck about him. He knows them better than any of us. He knows how they think. How they act. How to kill them. He's a gift. Me to you. It's getting pricey cooking for two."

"You think I can just ask him how to kill the only things he's ever loved?"

"I think maybe you could ask... persuasively."

We stand for a while, in a silence which tells us both that he understands.

"If you have a car, I can juice him up for long enough to be moved," I say.

He nods, hesitantly, and we begin to move upstairs, and from below us we can hear The Kid singing that terrible song.


:mittens: This is awesome, Placid Dingo! I hope you have more where this came from. :D
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on June 18, 2011, 09:09:52 PM
She woke, as always, warm and content. The creatures around her shifted their positions, as she rose, swallowing the her-shaped hole with their glistening coils. Patting the largest of the beasts, and there for the one in charge, she extracted herself from the pile and meandered over to the fridge they'd moved to the coldest section of the cave.

One spot, the highest point of the cave on a cramped ledge, seemed perpetually icy. She was tempted to have them bring home fresh meat and they could store it here, in this frozen corner. If they did, then she could cook for them. It was one of the few things she missed, cooking for those she cared about. And music. And shoes. Soap, too.

But that was selfish self-indulgence. None of that was necessary here. The creatures sang wonderfully and serenaded her every night. It was hard to imagine trying to sleep without that lullaby being crooned throughout the cave. And shoes were unnecessary. Her feet had hardened up enough to handle the floors, without losing the necessary sensitivity to help guide her through the myriad of tunnels. And soap - well. That was the most unnecessary thing of all. The same pools that offered light scoured her clean every time she took a dip. It was like the stuff ate dirt and muck and turned it into luminescence. It left her skin tingling-fresh if she stayed in for five to ten minutes, but any longer than that and it felt like a sunburn or a road rash. And the water in those pools seemed to be thickening her hair. It was longer, more luxurious, denser. She was going to have to cut it, soon.

Humming to herself, she pulled a hamburger patty, two pieces of bread, and a few slices of cheese out of the fridge. Then picked up a skillet from a bookshelf she'd scavenged from the 'treasure piles' and now used for a pantry and storage. From there she wound her way around piles of sleeping creature to the hottest of the pools. A rock jutted up from the steaming, frothing water. It had once been a sharp spike but when she'd explained what she needed, the creatures had been happy to snap it off and ground down a smooth surface for her. So she sat down, then plopped the skillet on the ever-ready stove and threw in the hamburger and the cheese.

She winced as she caught the still unhealed abrasions on her palms against the cave floor. They hurt constantly and refused to heal. But it was a dull ache and there was so much to do that she just ignored the it. Her hands still worked fine, didn't they? So no need to make a fuss. Later, once the little ones were playing their games of chase-me and stalk-pounce, she'd have a rummage through the huge pile of things the adults brought back from their adventures and maybe find a first aid kit. Some antibiotic cream and a bit of gauze would fix things up proper.

This was her favorite time, just going to bed and just waking, when the caves were quiet except for the occasional sleepy croon and rustling of coils. The littles hadn't yet woken up. Adults hadn't slithered out of the cave to hunt or whatever it was they did all day. It was peaceful. Serene, even.

Her hamburger was done in minutes, the cheese nice and melty over it. She put it between the pieces of bread and ate it before it cooled. Ketchup. That's what she missed the most, she realized. And maybe soap.

The last bite of hamburger was barely chewed when a change came over the cave. A sheen rose on the creatures' scales and coils, their breathing became more rapid. All across the cave, slivers of green, gold, and red luminescence burst into being as eyes cracked open on a new day.

Between one moment and the next, they were awake. She snatched up her skillet and retreated to the fridge and pantry, keeping it casual. Once or twice she'd moved too quickly and the just awakened predators had swiped at her with sweeping limbs to send her tumbling into a wall or pool.

Very contrite, afterwards, the offending creature would stay with her all day and fetch her food or drink depending on what it knew to give her . . . but she preferred to avoid that altogether. Her little one got so upset when she was hurt.

And sure enough, here came her very own baby, hurtling across the cave floor like a toddling torpedo. She had the knack of it now and she caught him (she was sure it was a him) and swung him around, using his momentum to spin them instead of letting him barrel into her. That had been her first injury and she still had an occasional twinge in her back to remind her of it.

"Oof!" She said, as she did every morning. "You've grown two sizes while you slept!"

It seemed true. Yesterday her precious bundle had just fit in one arm. Today he was too long to be cradled such and required two hands. He trilled and nuzzled her chin and cheeks just like a loving kitten and she couldn't help but laugh. She nuzzled the top of his head and tickled his tum. Then rolled him out of her arms and sent him rolling-tumbling towards the other littles who were already in a tangle of writhing bodies, cheeping and chirping as they played.

She waved goodbye to the adults as they left the caves. A few lifted a tendril in farewell. Then she was alone with the littles and the nannies. It had become her morning ritual that once the adults were gone, she cleaned the cave. The adults tracked all manner of muck in and though they dipped themselves in the larger pools to clean themselves, no one cleaned the cave. So she spent several hours scraping muck from the sleeping areas into the pools, that briefly bubbled and frothed; then glowed all the brighter.

From there she went off into the adjoining cave that housed all the loot the creatures brought home. But there in the small corridor between the two caves lay a first-aid kit in a pristine white metal box. There were no marks to indicate where it came from, and no glisten-y marks on the metal that indicated it had been carried by a creature. Her hackles were up but she couldn't tell why.

"Psst! Psst!"

She jumped as if she'd been struck. Quick as a shadow, she entered the sleeping cave, standing just inside the opening.

"Psst! Ove here!" The voice, hoarse and gritty, came from inside the creatures' treasure cave. "Come on, girl, get out of there!"

She didn't even pause to consider, she let out a keening beansidhe wail that echoed off the caverns for miles in every direction. Alerting the children, alerting the adults, calling them all to battle.

"Payne's arse, girl, you're mad!" The man shrieked, glaring as he ran past, faster than any man looking so ancient could have. "At least use the kit!" He yelled, disappearing down the tunnels.

Dutifully, she picked it up. For evidence, she told herself, as the adults came howling home. She explained, using much gesticulation and pointing, what had happened. The creatures sniffed the first-aid kit, then the caves, and then tore off down the tunnels howling-wailing with bloodlust that reverberated in her bones.

She returned to the cave, at the far end where the littles were penned into a smaller circle of stone. She had just sentenced a man to die, for what? The audacity of bringing her medical supplies? For trying to talk to her? She shook her head. He was a fool, stealing too close to the littles, her little. No doubt he'd had sinister intentions.

Concluding that, she dropped the first-aid kit into the hottest pool, and began the singing-croon that would calm the littles. It didn't do to upset the children.



Note: Other half of this later. It was supposed to be one long piece. BF wouldn't shut up while I tried to write and now I have to get ready for work. I guess how 'Khara Met Tom' comes before 'Khara gets her Hooks'.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on June 19, 2011, 11:33:52 AM
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i312/P3nT4gR4m/TK.jpg)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Placid Dingo on June 19, 2011, 11:38:28 AM
Quote from: P3nT4gR4m on June 19, 2011, 11:33:52 AM
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i312/P3nT4gR4m/TK.jpg)

P3nt! Awesome!

Also Alan Smithee is intended as a pseudonym (it's actually what Japanese directors use to distance themselves from bad movies) so of anyone thinks a particular character would fit into a morally challenging arc, let me know.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Dysfunctional Cunt on June 19, 2011, 04:24:30 PM
jesus Pnt that picture is HOT!!!  I love it!!!  CPD I love this first part. Can't wait to see how it finishes. 

:mittens: to everyone this stuff is still going strong and is amazing!!
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on June 19, 2011, 05:51:24 PM
I find myself holding my breath in anticipation of the next story or picture. Incredible job, all of you.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on June 19, 2011, 06:52:54 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on June 19, 2011, 05:51:24 PM
I find myself holding my breath pressing buttons on my keyboard in anticipation of the next story or picture. Incredible job, all of you.

You're one of the writers, damnit!  :argh!:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on June 19, 2011, 07:02:21 PM
Quote from: P3nT4gR4m on June 19, 2011, 06:52:54 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on June 19, 2011, 05:51:24 PM
I find myself holding my breath pressing buttons on my keyboard in anticipation of the next story or picture. Incredible job, all of you.

You're one of the writers, damnit!  :argh!:

:lulz:

There may be one or two more left in me, not sure right now.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Salty on June 19, 2011, 07:36:17 PM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on June 13, 2011, 05:36:13 AM
We need more Pixie and Freeky stories.

AND WHAT HAPPENS WITH HAYES AND SAMS, EoC ?!?!?!

You mean the Fracture thing? I think I have some more to go on there, but it's more or less completely uninvolved with the other stories here, just the basic concepts.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on June 19, 2011, 07:43:26 PM
Quote from: Alty on June 19, 2011, 07:36:17 PM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on June 13, 2011, 05:36:13 AM
We need more Pixie and Freeky stories.

AND WHAT HAPPENS WITH HAYES AND SAMS, EoC ?!?!?!

You mean the Fracture thing? I think I have some more to go on there, but it's more or less completely uninvolved with the other stories here, just the basic concepts.

Less chatter, more Fracture!
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Salty on June 19, 2011, 07:46:43 PM
 :lol: All right. I'll get something out tonight.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on June 19, 2011, 07:55:38 PM
Hello Boys!
(http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2011/170/6/1/playtime_by_p3nt4gr4m-d3jc5kz.jpg)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on June 19, 2011, 08:05:58 PM
Sweet merciful fuck, P3nT. I can't tell if she's happy to see us or happy to have found dinner so early in the day.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on June 19, 2011, 08:07:25 PM
Ladies and Gentlemen of this thread, I submit to you that Nessies are not as impossible an occurrence as we may think. Look at this bastard: http://www.jamesedwardhughes.com/4/post/2010/05/ocean-wildlife-the-long-nosed-chimera.html (http://www.jamesedwardhughes.com/4/post/2010/05/ocean-wildlife-the-long-nosed-chimera.html)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on June 19, 2011, 09:08:42 PM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on June 19, 2011, 08:05:58 PM
Sweet merciful fuck, P3nT. I can't tell if she's happy to see us or happy to have found dinner so early in the day.

I think its the dinner-one ...

(http://th04.deviantart.net/fs70/PRE/i/2011/170/d/6/here_i_come_by_p3nt4gr4m-d3jcdz6.jpg) (http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2011/170/c/f/here_i_come_by_p3nt4gr4m-d3jcdz6.jpg)
(click for extreme bigness)

(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i312/P3nT4gR4m/HereICome-WIP.jpg)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Dysfunctional Cunt on June 20, 2011, 03:22:42 AM
Pnt those are fucking AMAZING!! You my friend have a serious talent there!! :mittens:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on June 20, 2011, 04:44:11 AM
We need a fap-mittens icon.

P3nT, you are amazing.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Salty on June 20, 2011, 05:24:01 AM
ASK AND YE SHALL RECEIVE! Mecca lecca hi, mecca hiney ho! Here it is.

:mittens::1fap:






EDIT: For clarity.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on June 20, 2011, 05:45:09 AM
Quote from: Alty on June 20, 2011, 05:24:01 AM
ASK AND YE SHALL RECEIVE! Mecca lecca hi, mecca hiney ho! Here it is.

:mittens::1fap:






EDIT: For clarity.

Nice, Alty. Now . . . where is the FRACTURE?
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Salty on June 20, 2011, 07:36:49 AM
Here it is:

Sister Fracture's Last Stand 1 of 3

"Where in the fuck is Lies?" Isaac said.

"He said he'd be here, man. He'll be here." We were both crouched low behind a wall that surrounded the city. The last city. Another fucking regiment had just past us and Isaac was starting to lose his nerve. Which was bad. Isaac had a god damned overabundance of nerve and enough steel to keep it going though the worst combat situations I had ever seen. He saved my life, if not countless times, certainly more often than not. If he was losing it what chance did I stand?

"Yeah and his word is two tons of shit. You oughtta know that, man." Isaac shifted his pack and checked his weapon.

"He may be a lot things-"

Isaac snorted.

"-but he's never let me down before. Shit, man, I've been through the shit with him before. For real. When the shit gets real hot that fucker is on it, no question."

"Whatever. He's gonna get us killed. I would much rather get killed by someone I like, you know?"

"Yeah," I said. "I know."

And of course my mind immediately went to her. To Fracture. I had seen her do it before, take someone out. James was one of ours. A Nessie had let something loose in one of their tunnels and it hadn't quite killed James, just the parts of him that actually made him, well, James. And it had done something to his skin.

She had killed him as soon as we saw that he was, for all intents and purposes, gone. And...I had never seen her as anything like kind until that moment, but right before she snapped his neck cleanly Fracture held that poor bastard in her arms like a mother. Like the most devoted mother you had ever seen.

"Hey FUCKSTICK." Issac was shouting in my ear, above that the high whine of incoming. "Time to go."

We grabbed our shit and ran along the wall. They had found us. They must have known about the whole plan. FUCK. HOW?

The low spot in the wall was right where we were told, and it was about there I began to regret trusting a man called "Lies" myself. I didn't mention anything to Isaac. He was keeping pace ahead of me and carrying the serious weapons, I didn't think he wanted to hear about my change of heart.

We approached it with caution, peered over the top and saw...no one. The square was clear, just like Lies had promised it would be. He also promised he would take us there, but something about beggars and choosers flitted by my mind for only a second before Isaac and I were running at speed to the other side.

The square was lit up like Christmas and it was a damned stupid place to get into the city. It was also the only way. It was the main entry way for the pigfuckers who commanded the troops who were spread throughout the country (and I suppose the rest of the world too, but that was their problem, not mine). Dignitaries, I guess you could call them. Generals, maybe. I just hoped to meet one, and maybe have about an hour to myself with them.

Expecting to get cut down by snipers the entire way we to the far end where I giant wooden door hung slightly ajar. We ran inside and I fell into Isaac who had tried to avoid a large bag which had been set inside. We landed on the ground right next to the bag, attached to one of the flaps was a card with the letters LYS SRY.

"Motherfucker, looks like he bailed" I said.

Isaac gave me a look.

I grabbed the bag and we moved.


***

In the upper levels there was little security. They never expected anyone to get this far, and I wasn't confident that we actually had. There had to be something else waiting ahead. Of course, there was something waiting for us. Somethings. No mistake about that. But until then, if there was a then, we still had a fight on our hands.

Sure enough as we ran along I began to notice that not only were there no guards or soldiers, there weren't ANY people at ALL. That wasn't right.

Even when most people, the piles of bodies that had some time ago turned to ash, had no awareness of the Nessies existence and those lone few who fought them could take comfort in knowing we could eventually unite as people and fight one common enemy. However, this comfort grew cold fast.

At first it was only a few rogue bands. Freaks. Nessie worshipers. The kind of people that were always willing to give their minds, bodies and souls over to whoever seemed like a fair bet. Then, brothers. Cousins. Mother and fathers. Children. Fucking children. You could never tell a person by looking at them that they were going to turn, and we lost twice as many in family members and loved ones of those who turned.

Those that were left alive, those whose bodies could survive, all lived in this city. I had been told that they carried on in a sick, repulsive resemblance of what life was like before the attacks worsened. A corroded horror-show of the things we had lost. You could hardly blame them. Hardly.

"Ah...I'm all turned around. Damn." Isaac was holding the map ahead of me and even though we passed this far unharmed he was even more on edge. Finding the bag like that had unsettled him. Me too.

"It's OK, man." I gave him some water and took the map.

I pointed and we kept on for some time.

"We're close," I said picking up my pace. "It's just h-"

Strung up, torso flayed, his swollen face cut into a horrible grimace, Lies swung in front of the door we needed to enter. My gut fell deeper into my body and the truth of our situation stuck me with full force. Then I heard a chuckle.

Behind us, following for who knows how long, the wall maybe, was an assortment of fucking zombies.

No one knew what it was the Nessies did that made people like this. The number one commonality they shared, however, was well known.

"Looky, looky," their rotund leader who looked like he had his fill of intruders. I looked back at Lies' corpse and saw, sure enough, pieces were missing. Isaac must have noticed it to because he chose that moment to start dry heaving.

I fell down and tried to make some kind of peace. I had done what I could, I made it this far. Isaac lifted his gun and lost his hand for it. I could have told him. Had, in fact, told him. Zombies didn't wait until you took aim before they took theirs.

With Isaac in shock next to me, and a small (but round) hoard of freaks surrounded us, I closed my eyes wishing i had brought a gun for myself. But Fracture always told me, "If you have to bring a gun you're DOING IT WRONG." and then the spear jab that would cut a little too close.

"You look a look scared." one of them said, one with foul breath. "That's good. Adrenaline, I like me the taste of adghkllle-"

I looked up and the tip of that spear hung above my eyes, dripping.

Someone started to yell but it was too late. She was a blur around them, fire red and black, swirling, slicing, heaving, kicking. So much kicking. When the last of them was down she went from body to body and kicked their faces unrecognizable with those boots. I will never forget those boots and I'm not the only one.

I stood up, brought Isaac to his feet, and let Fracture do her business. I had learned when to let her alone.

After she as done she walked past us, cut Lies down with one smooth arc of her spear, kicked open the door and said, "Move. Now."




Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Placid Dingo on June 20, 2011, 02:45:09 PM
Because I have difficulty remembering/following what happens, and because of the intersecting mythologies, it would be good if a few people could help me play with this (http://www.blackironprison.com/index.php?title=Nessies): It should help to keep some kind of consistency.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on June 20, 2011, 03:02:20 PM
Quote from: Alty on June 20, 2011, 07:36:49 AM
Here it is:

Sister Fracture's Last Stand 1 of 3

"Where in the fuck is Lies?" Isaac said.

"He said he'd be here, man. He'll be here." We were both crouched low behind a wall that surrounded the city. The last city. Another fucking regiment had just past us and Isaac was starting to lose his nerve. Which was bad. Isaac had a god damned overabundance of nerve and enough steel to keep it going though the worst combat situations I had ever seen. He saved my life, if not countless times, certainly more often than not. If he was losing it what chance did I stand?

"Yeah and his word is two tons of shit. You oughtta know that, man." Isaac shifted his pack and checked his weapon.

"He may be a lot things-"

Isaac snorted.

"-but he's never let me down before. Shit, man, I've been through the shit with him before. For real. When the shit gets real hot that fucker is on it, no question."

"Whatever. He's gonna get us killed. I would much rather get killed by someone I like, you know?"

"Yeah," I said. "I know."

And of course my mind immediately went to her. To Fracture. I had seen her do it before, take someone out. James was one of ours. A Nessie had let something loose in one of their tunnels and it hadn't quite killed James, just the parts of him that actually made him, well, James. And it had done something to his skin.

She had killed him as soon as we saw that he was, for all intents and purposes, gone. And...I had never seen her as anything like kind until that moment, but right before she snapped his neck cleanly Fracture held that poor bastard in her arms like a mother. Like the most devoted mother you had ever seen.

"Hey FUCKSTICK." Issac was shouting in my ear, above that the high whine of incoming. "Time to go."

We grabbed out shit and ran along the wall. They had found us. They must have known about the whole plan. FUCK. HOW?

The low spot in the wall was right where we were told, and it was about there I began to regret trusting a man called "Lies" myself. I didn't mention anything to Isaac. He was keeping pace ahead of me and carrying the serious weapons, I didn't think he wanted to hear about my change of heart.

We approached it with caution, peered over the top and saw...no one. The square was clear, just like Lies had promised it would be. He also promised he would take us there, but something about beggars and choosers flitted by my mind for only a second before Isaac and I were running at speed to the other side.

The square was lit up like Christmas and it was a damned stupid place to get into the city. It was also the only way. It was the main entry way for the pigfuckers who commanded the troops who were spread throughout the country (and I suppose the rest of the world too, but that was their problem, not mine). Dignitaries, I guess you could call them. Generals, maybe. I just hoped to meet one, and maybe have about an hour to myself with them.

Expecting to get cut down by snipers the entire way we to the far end where I giant wooden door hung slightly ajar. We ran inside and I fell into Isaac who had tried to avoid a large bag which had been set inside. We landed on the ground right next to the bag, attached to one of the flaps was a card with the letters LYS SRY.

"Motherfucker, looks like he bailed" I said.

Isaac gave me a look.

I grabbed the bag and we moved.


***

In the upper levels there was little security. They never expected anyone to get this far, and I wasn't confident that we actually had. There had to be something else waiting ahead. Of course, there was something waiting for us. Somethings. No mistake about that. But until then, if there was a then, we still had a fight on our hands.

Sure enough as we ran along I began to notice that not only were there no guards or soldiers, there weren't ANY people at ALL. That wasn't right.

After the first attacks, when the Nessie's came at us directly (which we learned was only a scare tactic, which worked very, very well), we felt the comfort of knowing we could unite as people and fight one common enemy. However, this comfort grew cold fast.

At first it was only a few rogue bands. Freaks. Nessie worshipers. The kind of people that were always willing to give their minds, bodies and souls over to whoever seemed like a fair bet. Then, brothers. Cousins. Mother and fathers. Children. Fucking children. You could never tell a person by looking at them that they were going to turn, and we lost twice as many in family members and loved ones of those who turned.

They all lived in this city. I had been told that they carried on in a sick, repulsive resemblance of what life was like before the attacks. A corroded horror-show of the things we had lost. You could hardly blame them. Hardly.

"Ah...I'm all turned around. Damn." Isaac was holding the map ahead of me and even though we passed this far unharmed he was even more on edge. Finding the bag like that had unsettled him. Me too.

"It's OK, man." I gave him some water and took the map.

I pointed and we kept on for some time.

"We're close," I said picking up my pace. "It's just around this-"

Strung up, flayed, his face cut into a horrible grimace and swollen, Lies hanged in front of the door. Our door. My gut fell deeper into my body and the truth of our situation stuck me with full force. Then I heard a chuckle.

Behind us, following for who knows how long, the wall maybe, was an assortment of Zombies.

No one knew what it was the Nessies did that made people like this. The number one commonality they shared, however, was well known.

"Looky, looky," their rotund leader who looked like he had his fill of intruders. I looked back at Lies' corpse and saw, sure enough, pieces were missing. Isaac must have noticed it to because he chose that moment to start dry heaving. You didn't battle Nessies on a full stomach.

I fell down and tried to make peace with my end. Isaac lifted his gun and lost his hand for it. I could have told him. Had, in fact, told him. Zombies didn't wait until you could aim before they took theirs.

With Isaac in shock next to me, and a small (but round) hoard of freaks surrounded us, I closed my eyes wishing i had brought a gun for myself. But Fracture always told me, "If you have to bring a gun you're DOING IT WRONG." and then the spear jab that would cut a little too close.

"You look a look scared." one of them said, one with foul breath. "That's good. Adrenaline, I like me the taste of adghkllle-"

I looked up and the tip of that spear hung above my eyes, dripping.

Someone started to yell but it was too late. She was a blur around them, fire red and black, swirling, slicing, heaving, kicking. So much kicking. When the last of them was down she went from body to body and kicked their faces unrecognizable with those boots. I will never forget those boots and I'm not the only one.

I stood up, brought Isaac to his feet, and let Fracture do her business. I had learned when to let her alone.

After she as done she walked past us, cut Lies down with one smooth arc of her spear, kicked open the door and said, "Move. Now."







I will wait until I see how far you go with the freaks, I had a dream about a decent story line involving them.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on June 20, 2011, 06:46:15 PM
Kick-ass, Alty!  :lulz: and  :horrormirth: and poor Lies! :(
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on June 20, 2011, 08:28:31 PM
Quote from: P3nT4gR4m on June 19, 2011, 07:55:38 PM
Hello Boys!
(http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2011/170/6/1/playtime_by_p3nt4gr4m-d3jc5kz.jpg)


That smile is causing bad things to happen in my nether regions.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on June 20, 2011, 09:42:36 PM
I'm writing this down as a reminder to myself.  The next several weeks promise to be hellish.  They'll be infuriating, with dead ends, and they'll be unpredictable and, worse, people will probably be involved.  Actual people, not Paynites, who are at least reliable even if I don't trust them.

I have to find this kid before he dies.  If he's not dead already.  His hopes didn't look too high with those Nessies chasing after him.  Oh, and his hopes didn't look too high with the government and just about everybody else seeing his face all fucked up on the tele.  Wonder what happened in that building.  I'll have to ask him when I meet him.

When I meet him.  I've never done this sort of thing before, but how hard could it be?  There cannot be a lot of Sam Sams running around.  If anyone else is after him, well, they'll be dealing with Nessie.  They'll be hearing her song for the first time, they'll watch her slither and consume.  Nessie is old news to me now.  I know her well enough that she won't be a problem.  Keep an eye out and a sharp stick handy.  They know the Hessian.  They don't know me.

Bloody hell I ramble even when I'm writing.  Right, I'm writing this down as a reminder.  I'm writing this down as encouragement, and well, because it's important:

Do not underestimate Sams.

You did it when you were an Operator.  Your wife hadn't been long scattered and all of a sudden people were disappearing and your world was blown open by monsters and you met this, well, just this naïve kid.  Only he wasn't that.  Actually, he was that, he is precisely a naïve kid.  But he's not just anything.  And you underestimated him while he played his hand better than you ever could.  Maybe he didn't mean to, but you were made to look just as much a fool as the Paynites he escaped from when he finally got out of the tunnels.

Clearly the media and the government underestimated him.  They were both there when he introduced them to his old mates from the sewers.

And he keeps outdoing us all.  Somehow, be it luck or savvy or trickery, I don't know.  He's surviving, albeit in a manner few would envy.  So again:

Do not underestimate Sams.

That is all.  Go find him.  And burn this page except for the bit about your partner, you dolt.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on June 20, 2011, 11:28:34 PM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on June 20, 2011, 09:42:36 PM
I'm writing this down as a reminder to myself.  The next several weeks promise to be hellish.  They'll be infuriating, with dead ends, and they'll be unpredictable and, worse, people will probably be involved.  Actual people, not Paynites, who are at least reliable even if I don't trust them.

I have to find this kid before he dies.  If he's not dead already.  His hopes didn't look too high with those Nessies chasing after him.  Oh, and his hopes didn't look too high with the government and just about everybody else seeing his face all fucked up on the tele.  Wonder what happened in that building.  I'll have to ask him when I meet him.

When I meet him.  I've never done this sort of thing before, but how hard could it be?  There cannot be a lot of Sam Sams running around.  If anyone else is after him, well, they'll be dealing with Nessie.  They'll be hearing her song for the first time, they'll watch her slither and consume.  Nessie is old news to me now.  I know her well enough that she won't be a problem.  Keep an eye out and a sharp stick handy.  They know the Hessian.  They don't know me.

Bloody hell I ramble even when I'm writing.  Right, I'm writing this down as a reminder.  I'm writing this down as encouragement, and well, because it's important:

Do not underestimate Sams.

You did it when you were an Operator.  Your wife hadn't been long scattered and all of a sudden people were disappearing and your world was blown open by monsters and you met this, well, just this naïve kid.  Only he wasn't that.  Actually, he was that, he is precisely a naïve kid.  But he's not just anything.  And you underestimated him while he played his hand better than you ever could.  Maybe he didn't mean to, but you were made to look just as much a fool as the Paynites he escaped from when he finally got out of the tunnels.

Clearly the media and the government underestimated him.  They were both there when he introduced them to his old mates from the sewers.

And he keeps outdoing us all.  Somehow, be it luck or savvy or trickery, I don't know.  He's surviving, albeit in a manner few would envy.  So again:

Do not underestimate Sams.

That is all.  Go find him.  And burn this page except for the bit about your partner, you dolt.


Sams and Hayes live once more!!  :fap:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Dysfunctional Cunt on June 21, 2011, 02:22:21 PM
EXCELLENT!!!  :mittens:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on June 22, 2011, 08:41:01 AM
click for big
(http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2011/173/7/1/nessie_profile_by_p3nt4gr4m-d3jn16c.jpg) (http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2011/173/f/6/nessie_profile_by_p3nt4gr4m-d3jn16c.jpg)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on June 22, 2011, 10:29:58 AM
Holy FUCK!  I haven't even had coffee yet...

If anybody wants me, I'll be in a little ball in the corner, holding my old heavy list shield.    (It is, for the record, aluminum...)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Doktor Howl on June 22, 2011, 10:45:22 PM
(http://i.picasion.com/pic42/5f171bccfb2c27c560bf474265ad20a9.gif)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on June 22, 2011, 11:20:12 PM
Quote from: Doktor Howl on June 22, 2011, 10:45:22 PM
(http://i.picasion.com/pic42/5f171bccfb2c27c560bf474265ad20a9.gif)

:spittake:

Fuck, this is was a brand new keyboard...
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Don Coyote on June 23, 2011, 01:41:09 AM
Quote from: Doktor Howl on June 22, 2011, 10:45:22 PM
(http://i.picasion.com/pic42/5f171bccfb2c27c560bf474265ad20a9.gif)

THE FUCK IS THIS SHIT?????

You sir, owe me a new computer and lungs. :lulz:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Doktor Howl on June 23, 2011, 01:45:24 AM
Quote from: Canis latrans securis on June 23, 2011, 01:41:09 AM
Quote from: Doktor Howl on June 22, 2011, 10:45:22 PM
(http://i.picasion.com/pic42/5f171bccfb2c27c560bf474265ad20a9.gif)

THE FUCK IS THIS SHIT?????

You sir, owe me a new computer and lungs. :lulz:

EN GARDE!
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on June 24, 2011, 05:06:06 AM
No one knows where they came from.

There are theories, of course. Laboratory experiments gone wrong. Hidden species of dinosaur that somehow survived. A combination of nuclear radiation and genetic damage from too much chemicals in the ocean. The natural evolution of a predator that can take down man.

And it is taking us down one person, one town, one continent at a time. England has gone dark. Australia is entirely silent. Japan sent several rather disturbing messages that cut off in mid-transmission. North America's missing persons file has quintupled in size. Even China has been hit hard, though our proof is the sudden fixation they have on problems within their own borders.

The United States government thought it was some kind of elaborate hoax. Then they saw the footage from the school in England and suddenly things got worse. As if being exposed to the public in one country upped the ante and dropped the secrecy in every other country.

Now I'm being sent across the ocean with money and weapons to find someone in England who can help us. If anyone is left to find.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on July 04, 2011, 08:17:48 PM
I'm away for one lousey week and you bastards have almoast let the Nessie thread fall off the bottom of page 2.  :argh!:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on July 04, 2011, 08:49:25 PM
I only figured out how Khara gets the hooks yesterday. I haven't had time to write it up yet! SORRY!
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on July 04, 2011, 09:08:44 PM
Quote from: P3nT4gR4m on July 04, 2011, 08:17:48 PM
I'm away for one lousey week and you bastards have almoast let the Nessie thread fall off the bottom of page 2.  :argh!:

Let that be a lesson to you then.  :D
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Doktor Howl on July 13, 2011, 05:25:55 PM
Day 1

Yeah, so Payne & Pix asked me to come help.  Some booze-addled crap about beasties in the sewers...Of course I thought they were nuts, but I'd never been to Southampton, and thought I'd go just for the hell of it.

Then I saw the monastery basement, the suits, the Payne Juice, the whole thing...And the bodies they'd recovered after their last trip in.

So, anyway, Payne asked me to take a look around, maybe make some suggestions.  I don't think he meant to actually go in the sewer, but I had to see this sort of shit for myself.  I was never the kind of guy that could listen to anyone else.

I grabbed my kit bag, and headed down to the hatch.  Some woman - a kid, really - was down there, said "Hold up, and I'll measure you for a suit".

I pointed at the ragged remains of a couple of what looked like spacesuits, and remarked that theses suits hadn't helped the guys who were wearing them.

"That's better than nothing.", she replied.

"I'll take my chances."

"No!  We have regulations, here!  Nobody - NOBODY - goes out without a suit."

"I'm not part of your weird little army, kid.  Payne asked me to look around, I'm doing it my way."

"I gotta check that with control."

"You do that."

She ran off, and I started unpacking my kit bag.  Boots, duster, Bisleys, 12 gauge coach gun, flashlight, a half a dozen MREs, and a couple of two quart canteens, a few boxes of shells, 3 socks of RDX...Wait, wait...Oh, yeah, here they are.  Cheap fucking cigars.  Don't leave home without 'em.

Methane?  What's that?

I heard the girl returning, yelling something, as I closed the hatch behind me.

to be continued
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Jenne on July 13, 2011, 05:30:22 PM
Oh I totally dropped the ball on finishing my part of this--sorry, Rog.  But dang, you did awesome up there!

There's so much to catch up on ITT, I had a hard time settling where to put my narrative.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Doktor Howl on July 13, 2011, 05:53:25 PM
Day 2

Okay, in America, we build our sewers in nice, straight lines.  You can't really get lost...And even if you did, you'd just go up through a manhole cover.  Apparently here, they have Goddamn grates welded over the drains.

I'd been wandering for what seemed like a week, but by my cheap old wind-up Timex, it had only been about 15 hours.  All the tunnels looked the same...And so did the boot prints in front of me.  Son of a bitch, I'd been wandering in circles.

Still no sign of these "nessies", either.  According to Payne, they're thick as flies down here, but I hadn't seen any sign of them.  Just tunnel after tunnel, with nothing more dangerous than rats.

I decided to take one of the small feeder tunnels, to see if I could find a maintenance hatch, or something.  About 30 feet down the tunnel, I saw it...A human figure, mostly buried in the ooze that covered the floor of the passage.

Coming up on it, I found one of the suits, torn to pieces, with bits of someone inside.  The stench was awful.  I also found tracks...The suited guy crawling, and some weird, three-toed prints that looked like the world's biggest ostrich had chased him down.

The guy had a sword of some kind, which I took, along with a sack with some more rations.  I checked my scatter gun, and continued on.

About a quarter mile later, I emerged into a large room, some kind of pumping station.  There was a mezzanine above, with stairs leading up.  Hoping for an exit, I headed up the stairs...

...And behind me, someone started to sing.  It sounded like Anna Nalick singing in some foreign language.  It was beautiful.

I spun around and fired both barrels.  Something shrieked, and fell back down the stairs, making a loud racket.  A very loud racket.  It looked like...Well, you've heard the descriptions.  This one wasn't as big as I'd heard, must have been a young one.

I decided that discretion was the better part of valor, and ran up the stairs.  Up on the mezzanine, there was what looked like the remains of a sanitation crew sort of scattered all over the place, and yet another tunnel heading out of the pumping station.  There were also more tracks.  Lots of tracks. 

Jesus H Christ, what had I gotten myself into?

To be continued.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Dysfunctional Cunt on July 13, 2011, 06:23:25 PM
:mittens:

RAH!!!
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Doktor Howl on July 13, 2011, 06:30:50 PM
Day 2, later

It was a massacre.

I'd been resting up on some pipes, on a causeway overlooking another pumping station, when I woke to some weird whining noises.  Looking over the side, I saw 6 people in those suits, shining flashlights around.  They were armed like they were in the middle ages...Pole arms, swords, that sort of thing.

If they were talking, they were using radio, because none of them made a sound above the whining of the servo joints in their armor.  One of their lights hit me, and the guy holding it pointed.  The rest looked up, the leader (I presume), opening his faceplate.

"Is that you, Dok?  We've been looking for you since yesterday."

I was just opening my mouth to reply, when they were hit from behind - from the tunnel they'd come out of - by a wave of  nessies.  I grabbed my shotgun and rolled into a firing position...

...But it was hopeless.  In seconds, they were all dead.  They'd killed a few of the beasts, but not nearly enough.  The beasties spent a few minutes tossing the bodies around, then wandered back out of the room.

How had they missed me?  I had made noise getting into position, and I was exposed from the chest up, not 30 feet away from them.

I waited an hour or so, then climbed down and picked over the bodies.  There was plenty of food, and - thank God - water...But no surviving radios.  Every part of the suits were smashed, the wiring dug out, and what was inside the suits?  Best not to dwell on that.

I suppose I could have tried back-tracking them, but that's the direction those critters went, so I left the room through the opposite tunnel.

And then my flashlight died.  

Cursing, I felt my way down the tunnel, which opened into another chamber, the size of which I couldn't quite make out.  There was some light coming in from above, from what looked like another grating, but it must have been night time.

In fact, it was night time, because far above me, the moon came out from the clouds, illuminating the room, and the dozens of nessies not one hundred feet from me.

Oh, shit.

To be continued
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on July 13, 2011, 06:32:06 PM
I saw this at the top of the "recent updates" list and got a warm fuzzy.

I found new content, and squee'd like a fifteen year old fangirl at a Justin Bieber concert.

I shall refrain from discussing the condition of my underpance.

:mittens:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Doktor Howl on July 13, 2011, 06:39:56 PM
Quote from: Luna on July 13, 2011, 06:32:06 PM
I saw this at the top of the "recent updates" list and got a warm fuzzy.

I found new content, and squee'd like a fifteen year old fangirl at a Justin Bieber concert.

I shall refrain from discussing the condition of my underpance.

:mittens:

I just figured out what the nessies are, where they come from, and why they're always one step ahead of the Paynites...AND how to link all the stories together without any contradiction.

Figure I'll do 3 chapters a day for a few days, you know, take the time to do it right.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on July 13, 2011, 06:46:58 PM
This is awesome.   :D
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Doktor Howl on July 13, 2011, 07:22:55 PM
Day 2, still later

You know, when times get really tough, I think back to the timeless wisdom handed down to me by my mother..."Wear your galoshes", or "If you keeping making faces, your face will stick like that", or "Don't tip-toe through rooms full of prehistoric nightmares".

My sainted mother has always been right about these sorts of things, but I never could listen.  Thinking about it kept making me want to giggle, and I really didn't want to giggle just then.

For some reason, the nessies were utterly ignoring me, as I tip-toed around the edge of the room.  I came within ten feet of one of them, and it stirred a bit.  I scrunched against the wall, and continued on.

An hour or so later, I remembered how to breathe.  And I was puzzled.  I mean, I'm not complaining, but why the hell were the nessies ignoring me, when they massed up against those weird fucking Paynites in their armor?
In their armor...

But hadn't they been grabbing homeless or solitary people off the streets?  They sure as hell weren't wearing armor.  Let's see, I'd been attacked once...When one got close to me.  Not as close as the one in that room, though.  What the hell?

Okay, let's review.  They could only see or sense me when I was close, but they'd go hundreds of yards to get someone in a suit.  They hunted above ground, near the sewers, but only picked off stragglers, usually drunks who couldn't move fast, or people coming out of clubs, etc.

The bums might have been easy.  They're just lying there in an alley, just waiting for a nessie to trip right over them.  The others...What was different between them and I?  No anatomical differences, obviously.  

Okay, stop.  Tie it into the armor.  What were the clubbers carrying or wearing that would attract the nessies?

Oh, yeah.  Cell phones.  The suits have radios.

The fucking nessies are attracted by radio.  Or maybe any kind of electronics.  It wasn't just electricity...They didn't fuck with the pumps in the pumping rooms, and they weren't attracted by the feeble field given off by the flashlight I carried.  This explains why all their countermeasures kept failing, why the beasties always seemed to be a step ahead.

Obviously, I had to get this information to Payne.  Equally obviously, I was still lost as hell down in these fucking sewers.   And we still didn't know where the damn things came from.  And, fuck.  By the light from my cigar, I could see that the stairs ahead of me headed down.  Again.

To be continued.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Doktor Howl on July 13, 2011, 08:56:39 PM
Day 3

I was, I suspected, very far underground.  Nigel would have been making hipster jokes, if she could have seen me.  I must have made a pretty sight, too...My boots, duster, and hat were dripping with mud, and probably worse things.  I myself was grimy to the point where I wanted to take a bath in penicillin.

I couldn't see a damn thing, obviously...I'd been operating by feel alone, ever since my cigar started glowing a little blue.  Hopefully, there wasn't enough methane to be poisonous, but I sure as hell wasn't going to take a chance with a flame of any kind.

Feeling along the wall, I felt what appeared to be engravings of some kind.  I traced them out..."Kaerlud".  Wait.  Wasn't that supposedly the original name of London?  Just how far had I come?  More to the point, just how fucking far below ground was I?

Then I found the collapsed wall.  Apparently, a portion of the wall had collapsed, exposing a void behind it.  This led, through time consuming exploration by hand, to a much rougher course of brick, in a low-ceilinged ramp.  Down and down we go.

A short while later, I could see light ahead of me.  Not honest sunlight, but a blue glow of some kind.  A moment later, I walked into a room large enough to stand up straight in, which had a passageway leading out the other side, sloping - again - down.

The room was lit by a lamp on a stone table, that was giving off a light blue glow.  At the table, on a stone throne-looking arrangement, sat a desiccated corpse in modern clothes, with a large book in front of him.  All around the table, human bones were scattered. 

One of the skulls had a Roman helmet on it, another partial skeleton was wearing rags of what might be (I'm no expert) Tudor clothing, another clothes that looked like they might have been from the turn of the last century.  All of the bones were in positions that looked as if they had each been pushed off the chair in turn by their successors, who then eventually died and were themselves pushed off by the next occupant, decades or centuries later.

The room felt weird, almost like experiencing a low-frequency vibration from heavy machinery or something similar.  It was faintly nauseating. 

One of the reasons I have lived as long as I have - despite bad habits and the weirdest luck in the world - is that I tend to stop and think when I encounter something weird.  I don't pretend it's not there, but I do tend to look before I leap.  I was really curious about that book, but I was also cognizant of the fact that everyone else who sat down at that table seemed (from the condition of the seated body) to have starved to death.

I don't care how good a book is, I'm not dying down here. 

As I thought about this, I heard footsteps approaching from the corridor opposite the one I'd come in.  I readied my shotgun, but kept it aimed at the floor...Those sounded like human footfalls.

A minute later, a younger-looking man staggered into the room in armor that appeared to be out of power. I noted, with a bit of shock, that I could see through him.  He squinted at me through the weird light (I apparently was translucent to him, too), and said, sensibly, "Who the fuck are YOU?  The ghost of John Wayne?"

I laughed, and replied, "Naw, the name's Dok.  I'm here on account of Payne, but I'm lost as hell.  Who're you?"

"They call me Sams", the man replied, "Just what in the hell IS this place?"

To be continued




(and thanks for permission to use the character, EOC)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Jenne on July 13, 2011, 09:24:01 PM
Ah...love the suspense!
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Richter on July 14, 2011, 02:37:44 AM
 :mrgreen:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Richter on July 14, 2011, 03:08:52 AM
I think I've finally seen something different.

About a month back I was walking out of the train station to my car.  I'd been on the late shift.  The cocksuckers on the early trains had taken all the parking near the tracks.  So I was walking down through the station and under the bridge, past the cheapest bar in town, and that fucking hip hop club.  Damn idiot place with too many people and too many shootings. 

Kind of the weekly prostration before god.  Walk myself past the dens of the drunk and the den of sin at their most virulent hours, valley of death and all.  Fuck, life trying to force me into idiots again.  Not that I usually have any trouble. Tall enough and balanced enough that a sensible thief will leave me be.  A drunk bum, or a half - cocked homey - g aren't sensible though.

Still, I cruised past the crowds fronting both.  Sliding through, silent as the Marie Celeste.  Luck's holding so far.

I get to the lot, rows of painted lines under an overpass, half lit orange by failing lights.  Plenty of shadowy corners.  Now, light SEEMS like a charm, a defense.  It isn't, just gives away your position to anyone not in it.  I ignore the need to cling to it, and let myself move smoothly through the shadow, my eyes growing accustomed to the dark. 

Yes, I am paranoid, thank you.  It's a game I play with myself.  Let the nerves run only on pragmatic channels, rather than shaking me apart.  Who am I fooling?  There's no shitheads waiting here.  The predators, even the weak feeders, will cling closer to the herds.

Then I see a figure, hunched against one of the supports.  No chance to slip away unseen I keep going on steady and deliberate.

"Hey mate, got a light?"

Fuck, crossing the light to me, I'm more visible than he is.  I shake my head.  A heavy clang nearby, a street grate, I don't let myself get distracted. 

He moves in, I settle back a step balancing my weight. 

To do what?  Fucked if I know, the nerves just kicked up high.  That hand move, a knife?

Then something strikes in, like a snake.  Grabs the shadowed figure, engulfing his whole head, dragging him back like the weight of a body is nothing, into the shadow, out of the semicircle of illumination.

Did I see that?  MY feet and hands work mechanically as I turn and go, back to my car, starting the engine. 

"Nothing", I recite to myself, like a mantra. 

"Nothing."

Two deep breaths, lock the doors, and I pull out.  Punch on the radio to the local college station, the merry beat of a Belle and Sebastian track driving off the shock.  Some things you just have to let go, not wonder bout too hard.

I pass back through the lot, and even that collapses.  A heavy drain grate, tossed aside haphazard across the parking lot, a glint of steel next to it.

Two points, luminous in my headlights like cat eyes.  Then they're gone.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on July 14, 2011, 03:38:27 AM
Not for the first time in his life, Sams stole.  All the stories he'd heard from people about nicking a pack of gum he'd never had.  No, he knew he was stealing.  Again, it was from the Paynites.  They wouldn't mind.  Ever since things went a bit awry up above there's been a lack of bodies to fill these lovely suits of armor.  He didn't power it up; didn't want anyone back in his old Operations noticing a rogue suit walking about.

It had been a very long walk.  Even with all the running for his life he'd been up to lately, this armor was heavy.  Better a tin of meat than a squishy bit of it when it comes to Nessies, though.  He gave up on the map not long after he realized that the neat little lines on the page bore little resemblance to the winding, dark alleys of this underground world.  Hopefully if he ended up lost he'd be able to at least use it to find an exit.

Why were there so many?  They poured out of that school too readily.  We made sure of it, making all that noise, but they had an army it seemed.  That wasn't just some response to disturbance.  Either that school was directly over a nest, or they were massing there intentionally.  What better way to find out than a stroll through the sewers?  It wasn't exactly any safer in Southampton proper any longer.

A great number of dead faces and horrors from the night swam across his eyes in his exhaustion.  He even saw a light.  He followed it because, well, heading toward an imaginary light made as much sense as any of the other aimless turns he'd taken in the sewers.  It was blue and never grew past faint as he neared what appeared to be a sizable room.

Slowly, in case this was the nest, and as quietly as he could manage in all this metal, he crept forward.  In it were corpses, and a book, and a lamp, and a book, and a man.

The man was pointing a shotgun near his feet.  He wore a long coat and the lamp on the table behind him seemed to, no, did make him brighter.  He was ethereal.

Sams' knees shook in exhaustion and fear.  He made ready to run but realized, quickly, he'd never get far.  The apparition was measuring him up.  Sams' eyes flickered over to the big, ancient, beautiful book again, then going back to the translucent man standing before him.

"Who the fuck are YOU?  The ghost of John Wayne?"
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on July 14, 2011, 03:52:32 AM
:mittens:

I am all kinds of happy to see this rolling again.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on July 15, 2011, 06:22:20 AM
This makes my day a lot less shitty. Must get rolling on the Khara bits.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on July 15, 2011, 11:36:44 AM
Side note, and moment of "huhWHAT" this morning.

Read a review of the Winnie the Pooh movie this morning.  Last paragraph:

QuoteThe version of the feature I saw was preceded by a very charming short called "The Legend of Nessie,"

I haven't had enough coffee for that shit, yet.  Images of Kanga, being torn apart and devoured...
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Doktor Howl on July 15, 2011, 01:47:12 PM
Not done with this, just very busy right now.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on July 15, 2011, 01:50:10 PM
Quote from: Doktor Howl on July 15, 2011, 01:47:12 PM
Not done with this, just very busy right now.

Worth waiting for.  If I get too impatient, I will remind myself that I could write more, too.   :wink:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Dysfunctional Cunt on July 15, 2011, 02:35:14 PM
I cannot wait to see this all put together!  It is going to be amazing!!!

Everyone has done such an awesome job!

:mittens: :mittens: :mittens: :mittens: :mittens: :mittens:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Jenne on July 16, 2011, 03:56:20 PM
Quote from: Luna on July 15, 2011, 01:50:10 PM
Quote from: Doktor Howl on July 15, 2011, 01:47:12 PM
Not done with this, just very busy right now.

Worth waiting for.  If I get too impatient, I will remind myself that I could write more, too.   :wink:

I HEAR THAT!  I'm so happy Rog is taking this up!
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on July 17, 2011, 05:46:44 PM
(http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2011/198/9/0/ambush_by_p3nt4gr4m-d3yejdi.jpg)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on July 17, 2011, 06:35:57 PM
Aw, sweet...
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on July 17, 2011, 06:41:16 PM
P3nt, <3

:mittens: :sheep: :mittens: :sheep: :mittens: :sheep:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Doktor Howl on July 18, 2011, 01:54:01 PM
I'll be finishing the story at night during my stay in Louisiana.  I should have internet access, so I'll post it as I complete it.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Dysfunctional Cunt on July 18, 2011, 02:16:07 PM
Quote from: P3nT4gR4m on July 17, 2011, 05:46:44 PM
(http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2011/198/9/0/ambush_by_p3nt4gr4m-d3yejdi.jpg)

VERY NICE!!!

:mittens: :mittens: :mittens:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: BabylonHoruv on July 18, 2011, 02:48:14 PM
Quote from: Doktor Howl on July 18, 2011, 01:54:01 PM
I'll be finishing the story at night during my stay in Louisiana.  I should have internet access, so I'll post it as I complete it.

heh, my wife is leaving Louisiana today.  i guess the state isn't quite big enoguh for the both of ya so she had to make room.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on July 19, 2011, 08:53:23 AM
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5183JBS8QEL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on July 19, 2011, 10:25:26 AM
Quote from: P3nT4gR4m on July 19, 2011, 08:53:23 AM
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5183JBS8QEL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)

:x
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Payne on July 19, 2011, 07:37:40 PM
Quote from: P3nT4gR4m on July 19, 2011, 08:53:23 AM
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5183JBS8QEL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)

Your most horrific work yet.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Placid Dingo on July 20, 2011, 02:09:34 PM
SO MUCH INFO

But I've put together pretty much every important event, place or person in Nessies up to halfway through the fifth page.

NESSIES INTERNAL WIKI (http://www.blackironprison.com/index.php?title=Nessies)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: BabylonHoruv on July 20, 2011, 02:20:19 PM
Quote from: Placid Dingo on July 20, 2011, 02:09:34 PM
SO MUCH INFO

But I've put together pretty much every important event, place or person in Nessies up to halfway through the fifth page.

NESSIES INTERNAL WIKI (http://www.blackironprison.com/index.php?title=Nessies)

nicely done.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on July 20, 2011, 05:17:04 PM
Quote from: Placid Dingo on July 20, 2011, 02:09:34 PM
SO MUCH INFO

But I've put together pretty much every important event, place or person in Nessies up to halfway through the fifth page.

NESSIES INTERNAL WIKI (http://www.blackironprison.com/index.php?title=Nessies)

Damn, Dingo.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Mesozoic Mister Nigel on July 20, 2011, 05:54:34 PM
Awesome!
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Mesozoic Mister Nigel on July 20, 2011, 05:57:56 PM
I have a confession. I have not read ANY of this. The reason is that I came back to the forum and was in a pretty shell-shocked place when it all started up, and I said to myself "There is no way I can appreciate this right now, I will save it for when I'm more mentally competent" and then it got HUGE. So I have been treating it like a movie I'd like to see... avoiding spoilers as much as I can. But I would love to see it compiled into a book at some point... it's beautiful and I think it would make an amazing collection of shorts!
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on July 20, 2011, 07:31:11 PM
Quote from: Placid Dingo on July 20, 2011, 02:09:34 PM
SO MUCH INFO

But I've put together pretty much every important event, place or person in Nessies up to halfway through the fifth page.

NESSIES INTERNAL WIKI (http://www.blackironprison.com/index.php?title=Nessies)

This is awesome, Dingo.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on July 20, 2011, 08:49:33 PM
Quote from: Luna on July 20, 2011, 07:31:11 PM
Quote from: Placid Dingo on July 20, 2011, 02:09:34 PM
SO MUCH INFO

But I've put together pretty much every important event, place or person in Nessies up to halfway through the fifth page.

NESSIES INTERNAL WIKI (http://www.blackironprison.com/index.php?title=Nessies)

This is awesome, Dingo.

Fuck, yeah! Keep up the good work. If you happened to include some of my illustrations my ego would become a thing of awesome, unprecedented scale and grandeur!
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Placid Dingo on July 21, 2011, 08:26:24 AM
Quote from: P3nT4gR4m on July 20, 2011, 08:49:33 PM
Quote from: Luna on July 20, 2011, 07:31:11 PM
Quote from: Placid Dingo on July 20, 2011, 02:09:34 PM
SO MUCH INFO

But I've put together pretty much every important event, place or person in Nessies up to halfway through the fifth page.

NESSIES INTERNAL WIKI (http://www.blackironprison.com/index.php?title=Nessies)

This is awesome, Dingo.

Fuck, yeah! Keep up the good work. If you happened to include some of my illustrations my ego would become a thing of awesome, unprecedented scale and grandeur!

I might need someone with better wiki-Fu to help there.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Jenne on July 21, 2011, 08:49:57 PM
Quote from: Placid Dingo on July 20, 2011, 02:09:34 PM
SO MUCH INFO

But I've put together pretty much every important event, place or person in Nessies up to halfway through the fifth page.

NESSIES INTERNAL WIKI (http://www.blackironprison.com/index.php?title=Nessies)

HOLEE SHIT.  So much awesome.  :mittens:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Placid Dingo on July 24, 2011, 02:44:19 PM
Quote"Brother, wouldn't you know it?  I think one of those camelbacks is about to blow.  Jimmy set it down and I heard a click.  You know what happens after you hear them clicks."

"Goddammit.  What happened to Stan?  Wasn't he going to check all that shit for us?  You remember Eddie told us the damned things were booby-trapped by the government in the first place."

"Yeah, well, guess he missed one."

"Fuck."

"Yeah."

What's a Camelback?
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Placid Dingo on July 24, 2011, 03:46:02 PM
Quote"We are doing what we can.  The juice isn't working anymore, the supplies are fairly limited.  We need the formula."

http://www.principiadiscordia.com/forum/index.php?topic=28761.msg1023685#msg1023685

IS this the Payne Juice, or something used to kill Nessies?
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Jenne on July 25, 2011, 05:35:10 AM
Quote from: Placid Dingo on July 24, 2011, 02:44:19 PM
Quote“Brother, wouldn’t you know it?  I think one of those camelbacks is about to blow.  Jimmy set it down and I heard a click.  You know what happens after you hear them clicks.”

“Goddammit.  What happened to Stan?  Wasn’t he going to check all that shit for us?  You remember Eddie told us the damned things were booby-trapped by the government in the first place.”

“Yeah, well, guess he missed one.”

“Fuck.”

“Yeah.”

What's a Camelback?

Is a water pack you wear on your back when you're biking or hiking, is a backpack with drinking hose.

Like so:

(http://www.camelbak.com/Sports-Recreation/Packs/~/media/CamelBak/Sports%20Recreation/Packs/Images/2011%20Charge%20450/White/S11_Charge360_LimPun.ashx?mh=575&mw=441)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Jenne on July 25, 2011, 05:37:15 AM
Quote from: Placid Dingo on July 24, 2011, 03:46:02 PM
Quote“We are doing what we can.  The juice isn’t working anymore, the supplies are fairly limited.  We need the formula.”

http://www.principiadiscordia.com/forum/index.php?topic=28761.msg1023685#msg1023685

IS this the Payne Juice, or something used to kill Nessies?

Payne Juice.  They wanted to formulate something to make the whole operation move faster, stronger, etc.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Placid Dingo on July 25, 2011, 06:44:27 AM
Cool. I though so with the packs but wasnt sure. The gas isn't the juice though is it? They're different things.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Jenne on July 25, 2011, 03:38:44 PM
Quote from: Placid Dingo on July 25, 2011, 06:44:27 AM
Cool. I though so with the packs but wasnt sure. The gas isn't the juice though is it? They're different things.

This is where you lose ME.  :lulz:  The minutiae between the arcs is part of the reason why I stopped my portion--it was getting complicated.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Placid Dingo on July 26, 2011, 08:19:07 AM
Righto. They want the formulae for the gas; I know gas is slang for speed so I wasn't sure, since there are weapons needed in sewers using gas. I'll record it as Payne juice.

Also, getting some cool ideas.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on July 26, 2011, 10:36:38 PM
Everyone has the story that turns them into The Bard when they start telling it.  Picturing events many years past that seem so recent, using words they barely know but fit so perfectly.  Hayes has a few of these, recounting them after a long night at the pub while his wife rolled her eyes and his mates leaned in closer to hear it again.

His favorite one was the whole fish he found in a frozen puddle one day.  He and two other friends decided it would be the perfect decoration for the boot of their co-worker's car, the latch of which was conveniently failing at its trusted duty.  Problem was how fast the thing was actually stuck.  On a busy Southampton day they took turns attempting to free it, kicking and digging, tossing road salt and only just barely resisting the urge to piss on the thing.  In the yelling and screams of pain as they repeatedly stubbed their toes on such a rock solid fish, a constable came by, gazed upon the scene with wonder and alarm, and went along his way.  In the process, its left eye caved in.  Eventually they pulled it free and, wrapping it in discarded newspaper, walked with this now dented and disfigured fish the several blocks to put it in their mate's boot.  It was three weeks before he found the thing, and that in the middle of a date with a woman who, several years later, would become his wife.

Even Hayes' mother had one of these stories.  Of course it was rather embarrassing for Alec throughout his life as she recounted in vivid detail his fourth birthday as he bit a clown they'd brought along to surprise him.

If the woman sitting before him now had such an event, and given her line of work he was sure she would, the one he wanted to know about was clearly not one of them.  Elaina Huntman stopped reporting entirely after the day at the school.  Hayes knew she saw her cameraman taken down by a Nessie that seemed to single him out with a bizarre, animalistic purpose in the way that they do.

"I'm looking for a young man," Hayes said to her, sitting near her by the window of a dusty little room.  He'd been let in by her flatmate, though Huntman herself was expecting him.  To hear the flatmate tell, though, she'd been accepting requests to meet from all sorts lately only to leave them largely on their own when she was face to face.

It took some maneuvering to find the place.  He recognized the name from the television but it wasn't so easy to extract an address.  Finally he claimed to be seeking her out for insurance purposes and only had a telephone number she hadn't been answering.  Even then her former workplace was loathe to give it up.

Huntman looked through him for a while, and with her bright blue eyes he could almost feel the gaze pass directly into his chest.  It was chilling like the song of the Nessies and he shuddered.  "What's that to do with me," she finally asked.

"He goes by Sams.  Probably wouldn't have told you any more information because he didn't want his name on that little bar on the bottom of the screen saying Sam Sams of Southampton.  You know him."

"Yes," was all she said, and she looked out the window again.

How did he come to be in that building?  Did he contact you directly or through somebody else?  What was his plan that went so terribly wrong?  All questions that he couldn't bear to ask yet another person that was so visibly unable to answer them.
"Can you tell me where he is?"

"Dead," she said simply.

"You saw him die?"

"No, but he was right in front of them.  Didn't look fast enough to outrun them either, and I saw plenty who were die anyway," she turned back to look through him again.  "Who are you anyway?"

"What do you mean?  I'm just looking for a friend."

"Yes, I know.  Everyone else wants to know about those things, though.  Nobody knows what they are, but you just seem," she paused, "so comfortable with the idea of them."

"I suppose I am," Hayes said quietly, "I suppose they're a rather important part of my life and have been for some time."  At this she finally looked him in the eyes.  "They're a part of yours now too, you know.  And far more others than I'd care to know."

"And this Sams?  What does he have to do with it?  I assume he's known about them as long as you have?"

"I don't know," Hayes said honestly.  "Have nothing better to do than look up old mates I suppose.  I get the feeling he's important in all of this, somehow.  Far more so than I am, anyway, as if he's a step ahead and doesn't even know it."

"He's a step ahead into the grave, that's for sure," she said.

"Bullocks!"  Hayes raged.  "You aren't the only one that's lost a friend, or family, or what have you to these things – Nessies, by the way, since I'm on a first name basis.  The things I've seen them do would make the school look like a Sunday stroll."  He moved closer to her and said quietly, "If you're a bloody journalist instead of a pretty face on the telly and you want to actually understand a single thing, pick up a little notepad and write this down:  Paynites.  Underline it twice, and if you decide you'd rather sit here and look out your window then roll it up tightly and shove it up your arse."

He turned brusquely to leave before she grabbed his wrist, "Wait.  Rita.  Woman's name is Rita, she runs a coffee shop in the city, can't remember the name.  I was in the area on an assignment and she set up my meeting with Sams and a girl named Shareese.  Before you ask, maybe you're right about your friend making it but I know the girl didn't."

Hayes breathed deeply and with a look of pity on the woman, told her, "thank you."

"And Mr. Hayes.  I wouldn't be much of a journalist if I needed a note pad to write down one word.  So you may as well take that rolled up slip and shove it up your own arse," she told him with the barest of smiles.  It was the first emotion of any kind he'd seen from her since he arrived and just then it was the prettiest thing in the world.

"Well alright," he told her with an enthusiasm not entirely common in those recently told to place a foreign object in their rear.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Doktor Howl on July 27, 2011, 03:01:52 PM
Day 4

Sams and I had finally gotten some good sleep, taking turns standing guard with the shotgun.  By my watch, we had both slept at least 10 hours total, and we were getting low on food.  We decided to make a break for the surface, and I gave Sams the shotgun to carry...I'd just have to rely on the Bisleys.

At least we had a light source...Or so I thought.  When I went to grab the lantern, my hand passed right through it.

"What the hell?"

Sams just stood there, thinking.  Then he reached out and closed the book, and the room was plunged into darkness.

"Hey!"

The lantern reappeared.  Sams had, it seemed, reopened the book.

"Dok, I think the lantern is an artifact of the book.  It's not real."

"Wait.  This ancient book has a built in reading light?"

"It's not so much that...I could still see by the lantern, but you disappeared."

Okay, this was weird.  I took the book in my left hand, holding it open, and pulled a Bisley with my right.

We left the way I had come, and carefully moved out into the main tunnel.  We decided to postpone any discussion until we had either found food and a hidey hole, or until we got back to the monastery.

It seems that in my previous blundering around in the dark, I had missed several side passages, including one that led sharply upward.  We took that passage, and found ourselves in another pumping station. 

Standing in the pumping station was a squad of Templars, and Payne, recognizable only because he had his helmet off.  He had been speaking to the troops, and looked at me and Sams with surprise.

"Sams, what are you doing here?", he asked.

"I've been lost in the tunnels for days", Sams replied, "I only just yesterday bumped into this guy.  His name is Dok."

"I know who Dok is.  We've been looking for him for days...But you're in the control center.  I talked to you not ten minutes ago."

To be continued.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Doktor Howl on July 27, 2011, 04:07:17 PM
Day 4, Later

It had taken a while to convince Payne and the Templars to power down all their equipment.  I was eventually able to make my point, and we all moved through the tunnels for several hours, by the light of the weird book/lantern.

Words cannot express the relief I felt when the monastery hatched clanged shut behind us, and was quickly dogged shut by the ready room crew.

I took a 2 hour shower, and then went to the study, which was the closest thing the monastery had to a conference room.  Sams met me there, and we started speculating about the book, the lantern, and the nessies in general.

A few minutes later, Payne walked in, alongside Pixie and...Sams.  A far more solid Sams.  This weirded me out, not because of the doppleganger thing, but because I was kind of used to seeing through Sams.

Sams - both of them - were far more impressed.  They couldn't stop eyeballing each other, and the solid Sams kept muttering to himself about how his mama warned him this would happen one day.

Payne spoke first.

"So, what the hell do you have there?"

I described the surroundings we found it in, then I said "I think it's safe to read if there's someone there to make sure you don't starve to death."

"I'll do it", my Sams replied, "I don't think I belong here, anyway."

"But if it kills you, what happens to ME?", this from the other Sams, "Will I just pop out of existence or something?"

"I don't think so, Sams", I said, "I don't think you two are in the same universe.  At least not entirely."

My Sams muttered something about being stupid, and then just grabbed the book and looked at the open page.  As he did so, he looked a bit more solid.  He also went slack-faced, and drooled down his front.

Then he spoke.

"It's some kind of computer interface.  It probes our minds for input, which is why we all have that weird low-frequency feel to it.  It makes itself look like whatever we would expect to see...I mean, it makes us see what we'd expect to see."

"Can you do anything with it?", Payne asked.

"I think so.  It's very much like the information systems we use, except that it operates based on what you're thinking.  There's even an old login buffer.  Check this out...Previous logins...Moses, Samuel, John of Patmos, Casca, Patrick, John Dee, Aleister Crowley..."

"Jesus", I replied.

"No, he's not in here."

"Never mind.  Can you DO anything with it?"

"Yeah, I think so.  I'm logged in now.  Leave me be for a minute, I think I've found something interesting."

At that moment, the alarm in the control room went off.  Some guy came on the intercom.

"Hayes here.  The nessies are going bugfuck down in the tunnels.  And they're all headed directly this way.  Hundreds and hundreds of them."

To be continued
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Jenne on July 27, 2011, 04:10:43 PM
HOLY FUCKING SHIT.  Roger:  :mittens:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Dysfunctional Cunt on July 27, 2011, 04:24:23 PM
SO AWESOME!!!!

:mittens:

MORE MORE MORE!!!
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Doktor Howl on July 27, 2011, 04:33:09 PM
Day 4, still later

The fucking things were pounding on the other side of the hatch, I heard over the radio (no sense worrying about that now), but it seemed to be holding, and I had other problems.  They were also coming out of the sewers in other buildings, out of street drains, everywhere.

Solid Sams and I were on the roof with a couple of Templars, shooting down at the sleek, deadly looking forms as they approached the monastery.  Firearms-wise, the shotgun seemed to be useless at range, so I was using a borrowed rifle.

Down in the street, a police van screeched around the corner, and disgorged bobbies, none of which were armed with anything more than nightsticks.  As they came around the van, they all froze in horror.

The nessies, of course, knew precisely what to do.

As they boiled toward the hapless peelers, we stepped up our rate of fire as much as we could.  A squad of armored templars charged out of the monastery and started hacking, but it was a foregone conclusion.  One Templar and one cop made it onto the fire escape, raising it behind them.

The cop was raving as he reached the roof.  "YOU'RE NICKED!  YOU'RE ALL BLOODY NICKED!"

We started laughing, while continuing to shoot nessies.

"I think I found something really interesting", said my Sams, over the radio.

"Yeah?  We're kind of busy, up here."

"Well, I'll just tell you the important bit now, then.  The nessies are a security system.  That recent bugger in that old room must have triggered them."

"Well, shut the fucking thing off!"

"I'm working on that.  This architecture is close to our way of doing things, but not quite the same."

"Well, then, let me know, right?"

I went back to shooting.  We were killing them by the score, but they had reached the monastery, and had breached the entrance door.

Machine gun fire lashed the street, tearing nessies into piles of gore.  Looking up, I saw some kind of armored car, and what appeared to be British Royal Marines.  The calvary had arrived.

And then I heard a scraping noise behind me, and an unearthly song.  Oh, fuck.

I spun around, hauling out the shotgun, but a claw swept it from my hand.  I desperately rolled backwards, as the nessie gathered itself for a spring...

...And stopped moving.  It just sort of sat there, bobbing up and down slightly.  Pulling a Bisley, I emptied the cylinders into its head.

"GOT IT!", said Sams.  None of the nessies in the street were moving, and the marines were tearing them to pieces with concentrated fire.

I laid there for probably ten minutes, trying to get my breathing under control, when suddenly I was flipped over on my back.  I looked up into the muzzles of half a dozen assault rifles.

"You, my son, have some explaining to do.", said someone wearing sergeant's stripes.  A distance away, I saw solid Sams and the other templars being detained as well.

"I'll come along quietly", I said, "If you promise to get me a decent cup of coffee."

To be continued.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Doktor Howl on July 27, 2011, 05:02:47 PM
Day 5

Frankly, I'd expected to be handled roughly.  The British Royal Marines are not known as a touchy-feely organization, after all.  But the worst I got was handcuffs in the front...More symbolic than anything, I suppose.  At no time was there less than eight marines around me, armed for bear.  They didn't say much, which suited me just fine.

After a brief helicopter ride, solid Sams and I found ourselves in a military facility of some kind.  We were placed in separate rooms, and my handcuffs were removed.  

An hour passed.

Eventually, a man wearing colonel's insignia entered the room with the sergeant that captured me, and sat down across from me.  Another surprise...No table, no bright lights.  Just this slightly frumpy looking colonel, who looked at me with a curious expression.

"I've heard that you were cooperative", he began.

"There was a mention of a decent cup of coffee", I replied.

He nodded to the sergeant, who left the room.

"Surprising.  Most men in your position would want something stronger."

"Not a good idea.  I've had a hell of a week, and I think coffee would be best."

The coffee arrived.  Taking a sip, I asked, "What would you like to know?"

"Everything, really.  Who are you?  Who are those people?  What were those things?  I've got 6 dead policemen, 50 dead civilians, and a few corpses in bloody space suits...Not to mention a building full of people in spacesuits, technology we don't understand, and enough weapons to turn the country upside down.  And bloody swords.  Swords."

"Well, in order, I'm Dok Howl, and I'm from Arizona.  I'm here at the request of the leader of the group you are referring to.  That group is a religious order..."

"A cult."

"A religious order dedicated to the betterment of the species, which has become sidetracked into the survival of the species.  And the nessies..."

"Nessies?"

"The creatures your men killed.  Nice job, by the way."

"Quite."

"Anyway, the creatures seem to be some sort of biological defense system for a computer that apparently operates in multiple dimensions at once."

"Stop fucking me about, son."

"Let me finish, and then you can have the sergeant beat the nonsense out of me, okay?"

"Very well, continue."

"We have no idea where the computer came from, or who built it, or what it's for.  All we can gather is that someone found it under South London, and set off the security.  An anti-virus, if you will.  And it's happened more than once in England's - the world's -  history, from what I can guess.  See-through Sams shut it off."

"Who?"

"He's the guy in the other room, sort of.  He's one of him, anyway."

"Talk sense, man!"

"I am.  It's just that sense isn't what it used to be.  Anyway, see-through Sams is Solid Sams', except from an alternate Earth, one that has been overrun by the nessies entirely.  The only reason I could see him at all is that he stayed within a few feet of the computer.  Though I think it isn't actually the computer, just a terminal.  You didn't come across that, by any chance?  It looks like an old book."

"No.  I think you should write everything down, don't you?"

"Sure.  But you're never going to actually let me leave, are you?"

"I don't know."

He was lying, of course.  I wouldn't let me go, if I were him.  He left, and I wrote this account for a while, and then I went to sleep on a cot in the corner.

To be continued.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Doktor Howl on July 27, 2011, 05:31:16 PM
Day Seven

I awoke to the sound of conversation.  Looking up, the other end of my room was glowing a familiar shade of blue.

And then Sams & Sams walked through the wall.

See-through Sams said, "Sorry that took so long, Dok.  I was busy clearing out the nessies from alternate worlds.  It was taking forever, until I realized I could do it all at once, with a 'global' haha command."

"So it's over?"

"Yeah, but we can do a LOT with this thing.  We can locally change the way the universe works, though I don't suggest we do that.  We can move from one place to another, or one world or another.  But if you're in the wrong world, you pop back to your normal world if you go more than ten meters away from the book.  And that brings me to my problem."

"What's that?"

"Having met me, I kinda like me.  And I like this world better than mine.  I want to stay, but to do so, I have to dump someone else in my world.  And I think I know just the guy."

"Who?"

"This asshole named Hayes.  He's a bigger asshole here, from what I gather, and I think they deserve each other."

"Okay, but..."

The door flew open, and the Colonel and some marines pointed weapons at us.

"What's the trouble, Colonel?", I asked.

"What in hell is going on in here?", he shouted, "and why can I see through one of you?"

"I already told you that, Colonel.  It's not my fault if you chose not to believe me."

"I think your friend should hand that book over, now."

"Oh, I don't think so, Colonel.  In fact, it's time we left.  Don't do anything foolish, like shoot at us, or anything, because it would be a shame if we just 'adjusted' you somewhere else.  Like the moon."

See-through Sams giggled nervously.  The Samses weren't used to confrontation, it seemed.

I'm sitting here, writing the rest of this down, because the Colonel really should know all of this.  He's across from me now, red as a beet and muttering.  See-through Sams is sort of levitating next to him, which has convinced the Colonel that rough business is probably not in his best interests.

The Colonel has asked me what we plan to do with this, and I had to honestly reply that I don't know.  Maybe go exploring the multiverse a bit, while we learn the controls.  Then maybe we'll do something else.

Interesting note:  On the majority of Earths, intelligent life never developed.  That means we have lots and lots of room that we didn't have before.  That's something worth exploring, for example.

Well, thanks for your hospitality, Colonel.  I'll remember that your men didn't beat us up, when I get back.  But you'll have to excuse me...There's work to be done.

Doktor Hamish Howl,
<Date Redacted>

Following this written testimony, this "Doktor Howl" person and his companions simply got up out of their chairs and vanished.  If they are seen, they are to be watched, but NOT interfered with.  Notify your chain of command, and wait for orders.  Be also advised that every surviving member of the "Paynite" cult has vanished from their cells.  They are to be treated in the same manner as above.  For God's sake, don't make them angry until we can figure out what's going on.

- Colonel R.F. Smith
British Royal Marines.

Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on July 27, 2011, 05:45:04 PM
Quote from: Doktor Howl on July 27, 2011, 05:31:16 PM

Following this written testimony, this "Doktor Howl" person and his companions simply got up out of their chairs and vanished.  If they are seen, they are to be watched, but NOT interfered with.  Notify your chain of command, and wait for orders.  Be also advised that every surviving member of the "Paynite" cult has vanished from their cells.  They are to be treated in the same manner as above.  For God's sake, don't make them angry until we can figure out what's going on.

- Colonel R.F. Smith
British Royal Marines.



I am in awe! Both of the way you've opened "Book II" and the last paragraph, I was whooping and laughing when I read that.

Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Doktor Howl on July 27, 2011, 05:48:27 PM
I had a lot of fun with this.

EoC will be adding Sams' side here and there, apparently.  And what happens to Hayes.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Dysfunctional Cunt on July 27, 2011, 05:53:16 PM
ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!!

I really can't wait to see this put together....

:mittens: :mittens: :mittens: :mittens: :mittens: :mittens:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Freeky on July 27, 2011, 06:28:24 PM
SO MUCH WIN and the part where the British Marine guy was making a note was funny.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on July 27, 2011, 10:40:09 PM
Rita was in no better shape than reporter had been.  When Hayes told her he was looking for Sams, she nearly threw him out.  What stopped her was the sobbing, and Hayes doing his best to be human.  She blamed Sams, it seems.  She saw the same footage they'd all seen; a young man fleeing a mob of monsters.  Yet she was the only one that knew what he left behind in that building.

Shareese.  It was a new name to Hayes.  Pretty young thing, if Rita's word is any to trust, and near inseparable from Sams for a while.  When the former Paynite came to her that day, she threw him out in a bout of crying that she'd been slipping into off and on since.  Hayes didn't let on to her why he wanted to find his friend.  It was better that way, not that it helped much.

It fell, finally, to check two places.  There was Mom and Dad Sams, with whom he wasn't sure where to start, or the Paynites, with whom he wasn't sure if he'd be welcome.

Standing outside the monastery, Hayes reflected on how comparatively little time he'd been above.  He didn't miss the sewers, nor the disquieting religious folk within, and only slightly did he miss dispatching with Nessies.  Things were admittedly simpler when waiting for the burst.

Absurdly, the notion of sneaking into Operations occurred to him.  He waved it in favor of a much simpler approach.

His hand raised to knock on the door, a familiar voice called out to him.

"Hayes!"

He turned, and there half the way down the street stood Sams.

The two men walked to each other.  As they approached, Hayes found himself at quite a pace with his hands balled into fists.

"Well what's come over you, then," Sams asked, seeing this.

"I thought you were dead.  I was sure of it, that when Palmer's little escape happened that you died with the rest of them."

"And your first reaction upon finding I'm not is to hit me?" Sams asked, aghast.

"Oh, I knew you weren't as soon as I saw your silly arse on the telly.  Hitting you was going to be the conclusion of a long process in which I decided how best to tell you to fuck off for letting me think I'd been responsible for your death."

"You know, on top of it, you look like you could actually hurt someone with those things now.  What have you been doing?  Why are you out here?"

"I made my way out.  But I came back to find you.  I suppose because nothing else really made much sense."

The pair stood there for some time, minds racing and not of a word of it coming to their mouths.

"I need your help," Sams said finally.

"You certainly seem to."

"I'm going into the sewers," the younger man said.  It was with a firmness in his voice that had quite a bit more exercise lately.

"I'm telling you, the servohead thing is-" Hayes began.

"No servos.  At least, not working ones.  I'm going in because I know there's more to this, Hayes, and we aren't going to find out what it is by defending the monastery or even above ground.  They came from the sewers, the reason why they came has to be in the sewers.  I'm going to find it."

"You'll be killed."

"I won't.  Now will you help me or not?"

"What do you need?"

"Go knock on that door and get your job back.  In a few days, you're going to lose account of a suit of armor.  I have the rest figured out."
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on July 27, 2011, 11:32:00 PM
Sweet Mother of Mercy...

The awesome...
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Jenne on July 27, 2011, 11:37:01 PM
WHAT A TWIST!  Go EoC, Go!
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on July 27, 2011, 11:40:52 PM
He was needed badly.

The Hessians were all but dismantled, their last run being when their leader crawled to the above ground.  His name was a curse to a few of them, though it was Miller that blamed him the most.  Of course, that's because his dying words were on mission he'd been left to helm, and it was directly after the discovery Hayes was gone that a Nessie delivered the fatal blow.

Hayes hadn't seen that coming.  He'd done his best to keep his crew sustained in his absence – even set up his last mission to be a simple one to ease the shock.

Sams told him to get his job back.  For a long time Operations hadn't been his job.  After knocking on the monastery door, Payne took a quick look at him and pointed him to the sewers.

He wouldn't be The Hessian again, not in name.  Just another servohead.

In the days since Sams stole off with an unaccounted for suit, Hayes was running missions two, sometimes three times in twenty four hours.  He didn't recognize most of the templars and didn't care to even try.

Chaos visited, several days after his friend's departure.  In numbers he'd never seen, the Nessies poured from every sewer grate around.  There was a certain terror the first time he'd seen them in concentration, though even that was not of this size.  When it happened, they spread and hunted individually, their minds going off to conquer one prey at a time.

Now was another matter.  They came from all directions, seemingly, and made as though to converge on a single point.  The sight of them rushing together, a single mind in a hundred bodies, was like nothing he could conceive.

Immediately, Hayes ran to the nearest suit.  Since dozens of others did the same, the nearest suit was hard to find.  When finally he was together, he saw a great many Templars standing about, or attempting to make a plan.

"Hessians," he roared in habit.  To his surprise, several heads turned to him.  "Take your weapons and come to me!  This is open combat, not the tunnels!  Keep to each others backs and fight them at choke points – do not let them surround us!"

He left and did not turn back.  A dozen men followed him to the fight.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on July 28, 2011, 12:27:01 AM
**Recording.  Tunnel 9 Operations.  00/00/00  00:00**

"I thought I might find you here."

"Hasn't been anyone else in here since the fight.  What's with the book?"

"It's how I stopped them, Alec.  They're some kind of defense system.  I know it sounds strange but, here, hold it for a moment.  You'll understand."

"Sams, this is...everything.  This is everything you could possibly do.  Why did you stop me?"

"The one who took the book before me.  The one who unleashed the Nessies – he was a corpse when we found him.  He was absorbed by the book, couldn't think to do anything but-"

"Give it back."

"No."

"There's something I need to do.  One thing, actually, then so much more that can be done.  Sams, you can make everything better, change it all.  You can fix so much!  We have to do that!"

"I've fixed the Nessies, Hayes, and until I know more about this book that's all I intend to do."

"But before the Nessies, you can undo everything that was wrong!  Think of it all!  Here, give it back here and I can show you."

"No.  I think it's best if I leave."

"Leave to where?"

"Another world, to start.  I have to keep this book safe and, more importantly, keep the world safe from it.  You may not have noticed in your glimpse, but there are a number of places where the Nessies won.  We were lucky here and I did the best I could there but I need to do some travelling."

"Let me have the book just a moment, please Sams.  You can grab it back again like you just did.  Just allow me a moment for one thing."

"You can't bring your wife back, Alec."

"Yes I bloody well can!  If you give me that book I can or you can do it yourself right now!  Do that.  You know it's possible."
"Of course it's possible, but look at what else is possible with this thing.  You don't know what could come of making it happen."

"Don't leave me here alone, Sams.  You go off and have your book just leave me with her."

"I...have someone in mind to send to you, now.  You've convinced me.  I'm leaving, Hayes.  Goodbye."

**End Recording**

**Recording.  Tunnel 9 Operations.  00/00/00  00:00**

"He did that to us.  They did that to us."

"And what do we do?  You know, we ought to split up, go our separate ways but, of course, keep in close touch."

"I can appreciate the idea.  Where to?"

"I think I'll go to America.  We've always wanted to see it.  And it's where this Doktor Howl fellow comes from."

"Great idea.  Me, I suppose I'm a bit of a homebody.  I think I'll see what happens with the Paynites.  Now they don't have any Nessies to fight, I think one or two might have some difficulties readjusting to life above.  Not to mention without the juice."

"You do that."

"And we'll find them.  And we'll remember what he did."

"And we'll fix it."

**End Recording**
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on July 28, 2011, 03:20:29 AM
Now that my part is finished, I'd like to say thanks everyone for the fun and support.  I'm happy to have been a part of this.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on July 28, 2011, 03:22:52 AM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on July 28, 2011, 03:20:29 AM
Now that my part is finished, I'd like to say thanks everyone for the fun and support.  I'm happy to have been a part of this.

Next time we're at the German Club, I'm buying you another beer.

Damn, man.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on July 29, 2011, 08:35:43 PM
:mittens: to all. This project is as historical as it was unplanned.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on July 30, 2011, 06:47:36 PM
I am walking down an empty and now clean tunnel, safe as a babe in its mothers' arms.

The damn things were nothing but a computer virus. I try to shy away from this train of thought, but my mind won't allow it. Even though the tunnels are well lit the line of thought seems to bring a tinge of darkness to my mind.

Finally, I ask myself the question that I dread the answer to. If a computer virus can kill us...if it can travel through our worlds...

I make one last valiant effort to push these questions away and they simply come crashing back on me like an ocean wave.

Are we all just part of a computer program? Were those of us who fought no more than an anti-virus? Are the innocents above who did not fight just normal bits of data? Were the school children bits of AI? Learning?

What is human?

I am afraid my mind is slipping away. Something feels so very wrong.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on July 30, 2011, 08:52:15 PM
Sorry, I just couldn't let that sleeping dog lie.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Doktor Howl on July 31, 2011, 04:18:39 AM
Quote from: Charley Brown on July 30, 2011, 08:52:15 PM
Sorry, I just couldn't let that sleeping dog lie.

Let's just not get all Matrixy, is all.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on July 31, 2011, 02:05:38 PM
Quote from: Doktor Howl on July 31, 2011, 04:18:39 AM
Quote from: Charley Brown on July 30, 2011, 08:52:15 PM
Sorry, I just couldn't let that sleeping dog lie.

Let's just not get all Matrixy, is all.

If we do, please kill me.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Adios on August 22, 2011, 12:44:56 PM
Bump, bitches.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on December 21, 2011, 12:27:24 PM
Nomination for thread of the year (if not thread of the decade)

Also...
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on July 04, 2011, 08:49:25 PM
I only figured out how Khara gets the hooks yesterday. I haven't had time to write it up yet! SORRY!

Any risk of us ever finding out?
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on December 21, 2011, 12:37:09 PM
Seconded.  This was amazing.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on January 03, 2012, 01:38:19 AM
Quote from: P3nT4gR4m on December 21, 2011, 12:27:24 PM
Nomination for thread of the year (if not thread of the decade)

Also...
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on July 04, 2011, 08:49:25 PM
I only figured out how Khara gets the hooks yesterday. I haven't had time to write it up yet! SORRY!

Any risk of us ever finding out?

I have two blankets to seam together and a scarf to finish before I have any "free" time. Lemme get that done and I'll find the story-stuffs and finish it up. Sorry I didn't get it done before, guys.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on July 24, 2012, 03:10:14 PM
Bump for an example of the whole board doin' it RIGHT.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: LMNO on July 24, 2012, 03:13:09 PM
I'd still like to gather this all together and makes something tangible out of it, somehow.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on July 24, 2012, 03:24:28 PM
Agreed.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: LMNO on July 24, 2012, 03:56:32 PM
Did we have more than one thread of Nessies, or is this it?
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on July 24, 2012, 04:31:05 PM
Quote from: LMNO, PhD (life continues) on July 24, 2012, 03:56:32 PM
Did we have more than one thread of Nessies, or is this it?

Pretty sure this is it.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: LMNO on July 24, 2012, 04:31:40 PM
Excellent....
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Luna on July 24, 2012, 04:32:22 PM
This was it, though mention leaked here and there.

Seeing this title again with new posts gave me a happy.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: LMNO on July 24, 2012, 07:14:38 PM
Ok, I got roughly 76,000 words, after taking out the multiple pages of mittens an OMG. 

And I also found this: http://www.blackironprison.com/index.php?title=Nessies

I have a word document that starts a new page for each post, and it's roughly 250 pages long (standard A4 format).

I don't have p3nt's illustrations.

I don't know what I'm going to be doing with this, but I might do something.  If anyone wants a copy of what I have to run with themselves in the meantime, you can download it here: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B8HUZ1DTb5O_eUNKX2dPR3F4dFU

Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on July 24, 2012, 07:17:37 PM
Quote from: LMNO, PhD (life continues) on July 24, 2012, 07:14:38 PM
Ok, I got roughly 76,000 words, after taking out the multiple pages of mittens an OMG. 

And I also found this: http://www.blackironprison.com/index.php?title=Nessies

I have a word document that starts a new page for each post, and it's roughly 250 pages long (standard A4 format).

I don't have p3nt's illustrations.

I don't know what I'm going to be doing with this, but I might do something.  If anyone wants a copy of what I have to run with themselves in the meantime, you can download it here: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B8HUZ1DTb5O_eUNKX2dPR3F4dFU

HELL YES.  Run with that shit. 
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on July 24, 2012, 08:51:52 PM
I've been ruminating on how this could all be presented.

When I wrote my first few conversations, I always pictured each one as a bookend to another part of the larger story.  Like the one about the Old Man being one of the Four Horsemen sandwiching the original mention of the Old Man.  Of course, then I just sort've started running away with those two characters as all of our vignettes became more narrative in style.

Then I was wondering if all of the vignettes could serve as bookends to the more narrative-style ones, but I'm not sure that there's enough of the narrative to support them.

Is it just better in raw form, as we watched it unfold ourselves in this thread?  Presented as small snippets of different media leaking out to the wider world, giving us small bits of the story was clearly very effective for the readers here.

And what about editing?  I know my own pieces could definitely use a touch up, especially the early ones before I knew where I was going with them.  So many of the authors aren't active and I'd hate fuck with their work without approval, if they're even still interested in it anymore.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on July 24, 2012, 08:53:23 PM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on July 24, 2012, 08:51:52 PM
I've been ruminating on how this could all be presented.

When I wrote my first few conversations, I always pictured each one as a bookend to another part of the larger story.  Like the one about the Old Man being one of the Four Horsemen sandwiching the original mention of the Old Man.  Of course, then I just sort've started running away with those two characters as all of our vignettes became more narrative in style.

Then I was wondering if all of the vignettes could serve as bookends to the more narrative-style ones, but I'm not sure that there's enough of the narrative to support them.

Is it just better in raw form, as we watched it unfold ourselves in this thread?  Presented as small snippets of different media leaking out to the wider world, giving us small bits of the story was clearly very effective for the readers here.

And what about editing?  I know my own pieces could definitely use a touch up, especially the early ones before I knew where I was going with them.  So many of the authors aren't active and I'd hate fuck with their work without approval, if they're even still interested in it anymore.

I think the only people that would have a problem with non-profit use of the work would be Khara and Charley.

Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: LMNO on July 24, 2012, 08:54:50 PM
I'm gonna quietly go through the posts, editing for grammar, syntax, and coherency.  After that, I'll probably use the wiki to arrange various arcs, flashbacks, flashforwards, and tie-ins.

I don't know how long it's gonna take, so if someone has a passion, hop to it.  I won't get in your way.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on July 24, 2012, 08:55:52 PM
Quote from: The Dead Reverend Roger on July 24, 2012, 08:53:23 PM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on July 24, 2012, 08:51:52 PM
I've been ruminating on how this could all be presented.

When I wrote my first few conversations, I always pictured each one as a bookend to another part of the larger story.  Like the one about the Old Man being one of the Four Horsemen sandwiching the original mention of the Old Man.  Of course, then I just sort've started running away with those two characters as all of our vignettes became more narrative in style.

Then I was wondering if all of the vignettes could serve as bookends to the more narrative-style ones, but I'm not sure that there's enough of the narrative to support them.

Is it just better in raw form, as we watched it unfold ourselves in this thread?  Presented as small snippets of different media leaking out to the wider world, giving us small bits of the story was clearly very effective for the readers here.

And what about editing?  I know my own pieces could definitely use a touch up, especially the early ones before I knew where I was going with them.  So many of the authors aren't active and I'd hate fuck with their work without approval, if they're even still interested in it anymore.

I think the only people that would have a problem with non-profit use of the work would be Khara and Charley.

Non-profit!  Roger this thread is my retirement plan!
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on July 24, 2012, 08:57:02 PM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on July 24, 2012, 08:55:52 PM
Quote from: The Dead Reverend Roger on July 24, 2012, 08:53:23 PM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on July 24, 2012, 08:51:52 PM
I've been ruminating on how this could all be presented.

When I wrote my first few conversations, I always pictured each one as a bookend to another part of the larger story.  Like the one about the Old Man being one of the Four Horsemen sandwiching the original mention of the Old Man.  Of course, then I just sort've started running away with those two characters as all of our vignettes became more narrative in style.

Then I was wondering if all of the vignettes could serve as bookends to the more narrative-style ones, but I'm not sure that there's enough of the narrative to support them.

Is it just better in raw form, as we watched it unfold ourselves in this thread?  Presented as small snippets of different media leaking out to the wider world, giving us small bits of the story was clearly very effective for the readers here.

And what about editing?  I know my own pieces could definitely use a touch up, especially the early ones before I knew where I was going with them.  So many of the authors aren't active and I'd hate fuck with their work without approval, if they're even still interested in it anymore.

I think the only people that would have a problem with non-profit use of the work would be Khara and Charley.

Non-profit!  Roger this thread is my retirement plan!

My plan involves tobacco.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: the last yatto on July 26, 2012, 10:11:51 AM


Fuck that black ooze, this is the prequel :mittens:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Placid Dingo on July 26, 2012, 10:24:55 AM
Quote from: The Dead Reverend Roger on July 24, 2012, 07:17:37 PM
Quote from: LMNO, PhD (life continues) on July 24, 2012, 07:14:38 PM
Ok, I got roughly 76,000 words, after taking out the multiple pages of mittens an OMG. 

And I also found this: http://www.blackironprison.com/index.php?title=Nessies

I have a word document that starts a new page for each post, and it's roughly 250 pages long (standard A4 format).

I don't have p3nt's illustrations.

I don't know what I'm going to be doing with this, but I might do something.  If anyone wants a copy of what I have to run with themselves in the meantime, you can download it here: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B8HUZ1DTb5O_eUNKX2dPR3F4dFU

HELL YES.  Run with that shit.

Yay! Nessies wiki being used!

I never finished it, sorry. I tried to make each page seperate from BIP by sticking to tha pattern of Pagename(Nessies)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Reginald Ret on February 26, 2014, 12:21:22 PM
Bump.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: LMNO on February 26, 2014, 02:03:50 PM
Yeah, yeah.  I gotta get this stuff laid out for printing.  I'm a slacker.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Reginald Ret on February 26, 2014, 02:11:15 PM
Quote from: LMNO, PhD (life continues) on February 26, 2014, 02:03:50 PM
Yeah, yeah.  I gotta get this stuff laid out for printing.  I'm a slacker.
I wasn't bitching ;) I just like this.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on February 26, 2014, 06:16:09 PM
Apparently the Black Iron Prison domain has expired.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Mesozoic Mister Nigel on February 26, 2014, 06:34:32 PM
Oh dear. :(

Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on September 08, 2017, 12:17:29 AM
*Bump* Because...
(http://blackadderquotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/cunning-plan-weasel.jpg)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on September 08, 2017, 12:33:07 AM
Quote from: P3nT4gR4m on September 08, 2017, 12:17:29 AM
*Bump* Because...
(http://blackadderquotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/cunning-plan-weasel.jpg)

Excellent.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on September 08, 2017, 07:08:48 PM
(https://us.v-cdn.net/6024342/uploads/editor/v8/mamqz9f482we.jpg)

So I figure I've got about 6 months to a years worth of work to do to make this happen and I'm more than happy to throw that much of my life into what I think is one of the most awesome things that's happened on this board since I've been here. Especially given that this involves sculpting in VR which is something I was going to be doing anyway.

What would be cool is if someone is prepared to put the same graft into editing this into a graphic novel/illustrated novel kinda deal. What would be even cooler is if this thread came back from the dead and new shit was added. Dunno, anybody in?

Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: LMNO on September 08, 2017, 07:16:47 PM
I've still got the manuscript, now redacted due to some ex-board members no longer wanting to contribute.  I can revisit and repost in it's entirety, and people can beta test as they see fit.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on September 08, 2017, 09:15:25 PM
Making of (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bft5HJlSQgg)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on September 09, 2017, 01:19:34 AM
I'm down with storyboarding it.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on September 09, 2017, 01:15:38 PM
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/AFud2nitMiQWWyc1zshyYVajfr9L98UAvGYfIHuo8_IoxFhitKbH8MIIHRnhFyhIUUHO9U1bVJt8UxkgC6iHKkoN_Bw3drHqENNvKDcdW6SZ52PsTCNA0HFGRuoV7NPyycgAs9bOtafZomO_D-kxFZaWQnKNtc8Fz60va9MRAXI2kErEZoIxg67msRwDpP3EBf00vJvMSnNCtSCdkcvgNpC1kOyN46XiZuAUuKVRKO3oVu20dqsaLe-7bBovbgkkV22Eex6tmeT-eZEZypZO9DC_mx2-396OOMQfqNmP6Q5olFI65sahaVQUkEF9vnpPtDruSlTu6qkGhB-mPKJevezSPBeyO_wzUQ2A--SkqeQtJMpgzXeYWCMf-bFTAOpIULyg1OXsCoirb6iH9mE-fEdCLCIdEVFMP-HZHANebuj8NIUjn-wpyTKCY6rVxMsWBJxpP5eRYkViHIHBfR_pd3Nc3Bqa5mo6WeWVHELydEulCygxLeRrn_5ZqPuzmZAOCWiwh_J2TeaaauX9e5Y12x8hkClNIbtGE9SAyET7QKanDRdxJQDG833YVOOHNnJrPZ128NAU57FG0u0NOnhIzwEP9oMTDFn80hQPZZvZzyKvuAyyZL4v0g=w564-h845-no)

The armour is going to take me the longest. Creatures and people I'm quite good at. Hard surface shit like servo assisted power armour, not quite so ninja. I aim to change that over the course of this project.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on September 09, 2017, 04:06:10 PM
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/xRVuMqAd_Uonqirru7lfq-nOCon8RSp8SxshceuoovnBn7_WSWduFiFruefpX0OUyszdE41qvoVgZa0DXWtSa0695owGlwC18k0Sqke4nIZhSRRmIs87ItMtfzHQBsaKxEQopFLDH7PWk67FmjZ5-dm7cGEyzmqDxClL3XZH_MkOqf0tT66gOi6DDnUV5uIyydP4ritLor6r4frYltMl3pPuRhnUZ-Mm21zeI7rZZYJvf51ubG0pMEU7tcTJqOK1X1NfOtQV9mMK5t77wk9UfLzaWHCZz71cS-ALEqUAU9aDGInVyiEkGENrGTsMQXm-CJHBdI8l5WNaGsKA_dNLEDbH4YpKc9uvPrKm5a8cZudmL_EkOGwXXgz_2ilIhsF7Zq4XIdjSVwrmYoEvreQ0ICI08cXML5_4PTyu4c081EgREhFF0UmS2pvFSt7CW79WIJUrvusrfUx-nxyYwKM6ndMAt5LsFhOP_c1eIx5JYXfZ6mesEpE5kFvmUhGB0vnLf_aHAViyr4ED5BYX_WahmP2aTf-Lt8FUIAqpcKswI-ZELMg5senENpU4P_1-jNIpSgV7lEUpH3UNRgkI9FpXV2W8WWBr7yH5mo1koocYSfk=w564-h845-no)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Eater of Clowns on September 09, 2017, 05:07:59 PM
Damn, p3nt!

Of course since you bumped this I've been rereading it. And I passed my 200th day logged in to this little hole.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on September 09, 2017, 09:23:57 PM
It's very - Fallout - is the only thing.
(https://us.v-cdn.net/6024342/uploads/editor/3z/15dh5dcruyuh.jpg)
(https://us.v-cdn.net/6024342/uploads/editor/vx/i771zurmczwo.jpg)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on September 09, 2017, 11:07:01 PM
I like it.  :mittens:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on September 09, 2017, 11:07:27 PM
Just give me a date by which you want the first story board.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on September 10, 2017, 12:01:40 AM
Anytime, man. I'll just keep plugging away on content. No rush. We all got other shit to attend to. I'ma have a full read through and see if anything jumps out at me. Plus the armour is coming together but it aint gonny do that on it's own. As soon as you have a first frame in your head call it out and I can fire a concept your way within an hour or two. Anything that looks interesting I can develop and we can dump anything that doesny work.

Might be an idea to come up with a cast list. I can work my way through it.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on September 10, 2017, 04:36:21 AM
Quote from: P3nT4gR4m on September 10, 2017, 12:01:40 AM
Anytime, man. I'll just keep plugging away on content. No rush. We all got other shit to attend to. I'ma have a full read through and see if anything jumps out at me. Plus the armour is coming together but it aint gonny do that on it's own. As soon as you have a first frame in your head call it out and I can fire a concept your way within an hour or two. Anything that looks interesting I can develop and we can dump anything that doesny work.

Might be an idea to come up with a cast list. I can work my way through it.

I think I can have something in the next 2-3 days.  I'm going to go in order at least at first, which should give you an idea of the characters needed.

(Richter's paean will be done in the margins, because it's too good not to use, but would drag in a scene of its own.)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on September 10, 2017, 09:35:01 AM
Sounds good. I'm planning on developing the characters as kinda stylised, cartooney but angled more toward realistic proportions  and I want to throw a bit of time into developing a workflow that's consistent, fast and looks the bollocks.

Was working on the Power armour some more this morning. Tightening up the "engineering" side so it's something that would realistically fit on a human. This is important to me for two reasons. Firstly, I'm a pedantic wanker and even if I could hide the fact that no one could ever wear this stuff, I'd fucking know and fuck that for a laugh. The second reason is logistics. I'm imagining a lot of shots of bodies lying in wreckage with some ripped off, characters getting suited up and whatnot. These shots will be a choice of a couple of hours pissing about or a couple of seconds if all I have to do is cut a crack in the visor and the face is already in place behind it.

So I shot some video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTMhlX1WsLk) which shows the process in case anyone is interested. I now have the suit blocked out and can chuck a ton of hours at detailing it up all cool as fuck.

This is my first serious attempt at modelling something like this so I've been flying far outside my comfort zone. Pretty stoked with progress so far.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/0D7M9zDka-NVCKc-GPeHq5lIpctAza5Hr98Hip2o1H_j1ORK9EjvPrLLxe8iFs-jQKPnt3b1jvGArE06gaIOv1xVScN8AgZ9S73lfqsRkNPpBgEUyAPqLhWzhdcXW0uVafpwFaQSk0P8OdO_0PBauQG5Jk-Vb3ibQeIASprz-SpZlgtOWBxdHjHra6d0MmHbIhuQMvjjgcF_GDoLGpAAWNHACn6qb1uhg6sHbY2Qt3W-ltP1KjeYtGVLjPVAan35yY8mnQ8gNHlxiHTCiEeLgulZHSx4XlXfJaDxSmfPVeh4AAPOoyznfzPOypXbQfrbEuzsVnRxZV5aPp2XwEY9td5TYooWVgTmtMklHf5e5OAFgdzKp-6EMKu9iJDQbwY1nn3asIzYvnypyR3Iq7y3i9vlbADUhQQyoeaK36mwjVDLlkeELbAnqJMqhJDqyc7P2mkraaTXM63LV2v73hyjoKcBi2DdQTquSytV69r6XM7Mz4quW2k96iLu8ufOdqZbtePWajQ6gpw-2ZMbQylaLsRaHvHFeLSNdGY0PPLZ6wxtzad8muuv5izmAp2rS7TDsg0ah5dC10CdaQZRqLNBVrixIJ4KtHMf4KxNMqlo-vU=w596-h894-no)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on September 10, 2017, 01:49:00 PM
(https://us.v-cdn.net/6024342/uploads/editor/3f/ynvl1mjizjc2.gif)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: LMNO on September 10, 2017, 03:45:22 PM
Holy shit, that's great.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on September 10, 2017, 05:03:55 PM
Thanks!

So I figured I'd be ages coming up with this stylised look but I think I pretty much got what I was going for straight out the trap. I guess faces really are my strong suit. (read - the only thing I know how to do)

Note, the eyelids look weird because I've left them as separate objects because it's easier to pose them for expression. Once I have an expression, tho, blending it all back together should fix it.
(https://us.v-cdn.net/6024342/uploads/editor/wg/0u5lrmh72xuv.jpg)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on September 10, 2017, 05:34:30 PM
Quote from: P3nT4gR4m on September 10, 2017, 09:35:01 AM
Sounds good. I'm planning on developing the characters as kinda stylised, cartooney but angled more toward realistic proportions  and I want to throw a bit of time into developing a workflow that's consistent, fast and looks the bollocks.

Was working on the Power armour some more this morning. Tightening up the "engineering" side so it's something that would realistically fit on a human. This is important to me for two reasons. Firstly, I'm a pedantic wanker and even if I could hide the fact that no one could ever wear this stuff, I'd fucking know and fuck that for a laugh. The second reason is logistics. I'm imagining a lot of shots of bodies lying in wreckage with some ripped off, characters getting suited up and whatnot. These shots will be a choice of a couple of hours pissing about or a couple of seconds if all I have to do is cut a crack in the visor and the face is already in place behind it.

So I shot some video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTMhlX1WsLk) which shows the process in case anyone is interested. I now have the suit blocked out and can chuck a ton of hours at detailing it up all cool as fuck.

This is my first serious attempt at modelling something like this so I've been flying far outside my comfort zone. Pretty stoked with progress so far.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/0D7M9zDka-NVCKc-GPeHq5lIpctAza5Hr98Hip2o1H_j1ORK9EjvPrLLxe8iFs-jQKPnt3b1jvGArE06gaIOv1xVScN8AgZ9S73lfqsRkNPpBgEUyAPqLhWzhdcXW0uVafpwFaQSk0P8OdO_0PBauQG5Jk-Vb3ibQeIASprz-SpZlgtOWBxdHjHra6d0MmHbIhuQMvjjgcF_GDoLGpAAWNHACn6qb1uhg6sHbY2Qt3W-ltP1KjeYtGVLjPVAan35yY8mnQ8gNHlxiHTCiEeLgulZHSx4XlXfJaDxSmfPVeh4AAPOoyznfzPOypXbQfrbEuzsVnRxZV5aPp2XwEY9td5TYooWVgTmtMklHf5e5OAFgdzKp-6EMKu9iJDQbwY1nn3asIzYvnypyR3Iq7y3i9vlbADUhQQyoeaK36mwjVDLlkeELbAnqJMqhJDqyc7P2mkraaTXM63LV2v73hyjoKcBi2DdQTquSytV69r6XM7Mz4quW2k96iLu8ufOdqZbtePWajQ6gpw-2ZMbQylaLsRaHvHFeLSNdGY0PPLZ6wxtzad8muuv5izmAp2rS7TDsg0ah5dC10CdaQZRqLNBVrixIJ4KtHMf4KxNMqlo-vU=w596-h894-no)

Looks great.  Bear in mind that in many frames, the person will have their helmet off.  I like the head you've drawn there, just make sure the armor appearance accounts for someone "speaking to the camera" without their brain bucket on.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on September 10, 2017, 07:13:13 PM
 8)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/u6uuhqzdXcF9zsWzIvvKcEtTIPn7-BqqZL0W9Nwz0ajG-7CQi6Pc-jw2cCz-zqq1LYSHOxy0IFcpyFllTwkhcWZwd1KgbD0SiszLm1JlrqDly6LL5-qZsY6LNryKvgcOhnxgQAxAYW9pPw4zSEqV7CCrkxVA-b8mW7fW7AR4TwPzSq_EpanNGKOpSF3J0zahMl3Sc_eEO-YiS5Yxq7psEuLBxTNZBr7-O6ZTUBUwDwxNjiO1A9BHzjCZGCrlh-rAUiuTw5Zv-Q8aLzBNjMz6fc9ItoFTODcZN3-EueoNnM_tNyu4VxqoX3gigc1p-RjzE_LIsRQXoUwO-wrqLBg_GHShrDv0CyXuGd7-U4Gs8patwsXs7Q-55MkkgmVKn6D6Vr3TnVP2MVrulEYoB-fJBbOYBGit-PvdtSbjXv2wKHKLJO_4RcdPvJ7TeeNpUbFAM8XXsuExQilSwvGxGwJxx7vVG1YQctfoOrOqEAALc7AxmDMZQZSf8U5nsIWZr5UU-JNF2x4PzhKZgqGYl5kia5V__LryjRnUjB096dHmAHQBnZJFlgavk5ktkUga1SbkBk9kRZlD-XrFkd1WovcTpxszLfUS-ZwsgGDrTL3HhBI=w900-h894-no)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on September 10, 2017, 10:54:18 PM
Quote from: P3nT4gR4m on September 10, 2017, 01:49:00 PM
(https://us.v-cdn.net/6024342/uploads/editor/3f/ynvl1mjizjc2.gif)

This is more or less exactly how I had pictured nessies, btw.   :lol:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on September 10, 2017, 10:55:23 PM
And my heroes have always worn clown shoes.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on September 11, 2017, 06:33:07 PM
Yeah the clown shoes we'll lose at some point, I'm still at the - figuring out how he's going to look stage. Case in point - helmet. Too artsy fartsy. Brow especially. No way a bunch of numbskulls living in a sewer were going to get the brow all caricatured like that. They would try to finesse it out of a sense of loyalty to Payne but their attempts should be crude and utilitarian.

Templars, historically, were never considered a great art movement. They were more in the business of killing people and it showed in their approach to design so I sorta headed more in that direction. Blocky seams, straight lines and hard angles.

At some point in the proceedings, when I was starting to feel like I had a kinda no-nonsense but still reasonably badass thing going on. I was working on the idea of the countersunk rivet heads  it occurred to me that it's job was to protect a fellow from hordes of rampaging monsters. Given that I'd already figured out that subtlety wasn't a thing what was the best defense I could think of. Then the "best defense is a good offense" thing popped in my head.

(https://us.v-cdn.net/6024342/uploads/editor/cu/yduffpust904.jpg)

I'ma redo the chestpiece too. I think it looks kinda interesting but lets face it there's no way you're going to leave the vitals as exposed as that. It's a f'kin invitation for the Nessies to finish the job.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on September 11, 2017, 07:42:40 PM
...bit more like this
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Y4AzVK5N3RNAMU8blQ71ghTwwwRa21XrXW8j3bbu5VkzVeLkzNvUHF-OFbt8FMTjC55W9NF4MyuyiD7u9a8t2cl8kguf6I-UGkiWW8-tpwIYVzyP3VWKQlCRQs2J21Z5NLDqL5l0oubh5MaFWkcmxoBfoy4xS1MOwXabG3KitZyt6NYb0kYy9qSWKpPMrhwN0Mt1UzYKvd8cApi_oSWs9CJtZgLyBBrH5nePorXhsFhuedvOCp3RtiFhZVHneSNjwgIpBC7qpmrM9LYJKQyNaHfpR90NbnF-op_4U70-R5WCGdU78844woHJh7r-J-fDwMVN9IJ3aPvfM1RO-LuXiVhH-EaRpaL0VUD3K0bVy7c0-7HEfKaBEKIbTE2_8Lw1ocGoGtMWbSp2EFpX1NjUn3VpzeoOjhEl3dpMx9oZLL83yKVIWDHDtQb9H9eAwTsmEKTIZ9AXds0yctSkPGPcp5Rrvpya6G47qY6YPfgN_cOviYResLgrv0-ILAra_3Y7Ee4UXm_JQe_XfPPP5-sz8n9cF97VLYnllqPb7PqtgaLpqQP_CMGHalIM0wiCLtjuImtaJhpyA-LhQp2MSnOEQKeBZw47Ztp1hVC_73krRxTfR8UNW4yp8g=w596-h894-no)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on September 12, 2017, 01:19:54 AM
Quote from: P3nT4gR4m on September 11, 2017, 06:33:07 PM
Yeah the clown shoes we'll lose at some point, I'm still at the - figuring out how he's going to look stage. Case in point - helmet. Too artsy fartsy. Brow especially. No way a bunch of numbskulls living in a sewer were going to get the brow all caricatured like that. They would try to finesse it out of a sense of loyalty to Payne but their attempts should be crude and utilitarian.

Templars, historically, were never considered a great art movement. They were more in the business of killing people and it showed in their approach to design so I sorta headed more in that direction. Blocky seams, straight lines and hard angles.

At some point in the proceedings, when I was starting to feel like I had a kinda no-nonsense but still reasonably badass thing going on. I was working on the idea of the countersunk rivet heads  it occurred to me that it's job was to protect a fellow from hordes of rampaging monsters. Given that I'd already figured out that subtlety wasn't a thing what was the best defense I could think of. Then the "best defense is a good offense" thing popped in my head.

(https://us.v-cdn.net/6024342/uploads/editor/cu/yduffpust904.jpg)

I'ma redo the chestpiece too. I think it looks kinda interesting but lets face it there's no way you're going to leave the vitals as exposed as that. It's a f'kin invitation for the Nessies to finish the job.

Points of order:

1.  The nessies almost always DID finish the job, and

2.  Payne is a slave to fashion.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on September 12, 2017, 05:03:31 AM
Halfway done with the intro story board.

I think I'll have it in your hands by Wednesday night, your time (I am busier than expected, and the boss left me in charge again.  Ha.  haha.)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on September 12, 2017, 08:59:52 PM
So I'm kinda locking down the head, collar and chestpiece here so if this really fucking sucks or should look completely different you better let me know now. The full standing pose isn't working so the waist is going to have come up a bit and the legs straighten out to make it look less like he's taking a shit.

The chains fastening the torso onto the chestpiece were an afterthought but I was thinking they could be "laced" on the chest a whole bunch of different ways maybe to denote rank. Can do stars and triangles and chevrons?

(https://us.v-cdn.net/6024342/uploads/editor/92/he9x9ctznt4h.jpg)

(https://us.v-cdn.net/6024342/uploads/editor/dp/xmrnuok0izie.jpg)

(https://us.v-cdn.net/6024342/uploads/editor/wx/3r738ldb4c27.jpg)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on September 13, 2017, 01:57:12 AM
Quote from: P3nT4gR4m on September 12, 2017, 08:59:52 PM
So I'm kinda locking down the head, collar and chestpiece here so if this really fucking sucks or should look completely different you better let me know now. The full standing pose isn't working so the waist is going to have come up a bit and the legs straighten out to make it look less like he's taking a shit.

The chains fastening the torso onto the chestpiece were an afterthought but I was thinking they could be "laced" on the chest a whole bunch of different ways maybe to denote rank. Can do stars and triangles and chevrons?


More chains equal more rank.

Also, in the original story, the suits were hi-viz orange, like demented road workers.  That can be changed, of course.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on September 13, 2017, 07:42:54 PM
Orange you say? Went a bit more yellow cos I had JCB in my head but I can go oranger if you prefer?
(https://us.v-cdn.net/6024342/uploads/editor/9f/3tffect1m9zn.jpg)
(https://us.v-cdn.net/6024342/uploads/editor/1o/xs9opskose9x.jpg)
(https://us.v-cdn.net/6024342/uploads/editor/xp/xmjxv3m6waos.jpg)
(https://us.v-cdn.net/6024342/uploads/editor/3i/533wrj645upi.jpg)

So these are test shots straight out of Medium of vastly inferior lighting and finished model quality to the finals but, that said, I'm thinking he's looking pretty good shape-wise? I fixed the waistline which meant I had to lose the chains for the time being but they'll be back once I get him into Blender and figure out some pathing tricks to automate the process a bit. Right now it would be half an hours work every time I change the pose and you can fuck right the hell off if you think I'm chucking 5 hours of my life away every time your script tells me there's ten of these pricks in a frame.

I was going to model my own environments but I'm pretty stoked with the effect I'm getting here using just stock photos as scenery cards. I'll see how it pans out. Maybe do a mix. Depends on the set requirements I guess.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on September 14, 2017, 02:03:26 AM
First story board is done but I don't fucking like it and I'm gonna use if for buttwipe and try again.  Tonight. 

I will post it to your PMs tomorrow night, at about this time.

Getting that first post into 5 panels is way fucking hard.  2 would work and 10 would work, but it needs to be 5 and that's a bitch.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on September 14, 2017, 10:23:29 PM
Started on the arms. By now you should be realising why I said there was no rush for the script. Reckon this armour has at least another couple of weeks to go. Plus maybe another week rigging it. Rigging a robot will be good practice for rigging the faces which are harder and might well take another couple of weeks :eek:

As I'm sure said at the start, tho, once I have the assets built, and a slightly firmer grip on what the fuck I'm doing at the back end, I'll start churning out panels like fuck. Will be snowball effect, just you watch.

(https://us.v-cdn.net/6024342/uploads/editor/og/sz72eaubk523.jpg)

Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on September 14, 2017, 11:52:29 PM
New version of Blender just came out the other day. Did a quick test shot of the story so far. A little bit of proper lighting goes a long way
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/2JmOGQlAOPADskkQLck-w9PT2aNVJM9PDoOxWZRhTc6JRDOKQBGV_eT06RlfuJ2Ylv9LaNPWN4jiDmIeMzAqRcMzkueskLvYTqT_SU4QL_7pxhbFU99Qi7wJYuRYtAQPAsDW8tDDc_9coOoL0K_06nCi5aFJpv0zrejBxYKfishD-HsUgFBm4PEAs-DiQ87wSla0kxQSGiWrSOEUkFnabFcGmX55pVT8gHWhW-GB7dGI1MptgDXw1UL0Y7SKwqboldKP3xb9gNo5gRZENdWFULL62L2lN8z2U3MPDu6zOoY6weDfmbtWZuv9q3jl2SAVBWngNf6jZ4lEsQR54N1Nu-6DwaXsKP4ADpKzzf-aMWWzIlrDDMGvhfqn2CrbSB_dPFjWcgVgtE6Qc0ZsLPy-Pr-J6gQrlesbnKdrOU7oEKgg25N2FEGqgWY8AJEaAQWfpn8UUHSvpS814HyU93BlcCnmJzRN0iENlDy6km1_LIeoG5-IXZWYHAzU4knQ9D6CxIcvl3vjxUc6weLAY8S-sit49B0a60ed4QNZm0Y8HO5ML-1fupKHWaMwKK-_KSdfFFOOmOztPyBGborufgSIPI9jdd_lL1HEvPUeRgTgC2c=w430-h894-no)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on September 14, 2017, 11:54:01 PM
Intro storyboard done.

Take your time.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on September 15, 2017, 05:43:25 PM
So in 3d modelling you pose your characters by building a "rig" and then a bunch of other complicated as fuck bullshit. When it goes wrong the armour splodeys!  :eek:

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/hI73qVjBLFoJJi2L6olfJ09DX22dr1NY26M44Htbmy9pmF25rmoiXgKWnnWgE5n451t_Ji9_VLx9-f2o8GCOag8RI5uQCvd1DNaCIVNI6mRMgfqTUmVDgGig5oY-0Kg1gxEevwhrfIv3kAFlKtZ8k6tn7rX7KsJZFrxuRKXns8VBiQiIXHGNZ1S6gFp1-k2s2WS9QKCCqJbcVgf39WYFqMYmaRnfauLIetPQbWfvF8RlbCoe-ezom4ZCe62Z-O2jm1GOCo-enfHwXZBgfaeSMNSEsOwEBbnvfrZRysRrPHmG-IVL2y9xSi3kfZLHkiQOvS_bzJuAdYbA66ZrEd1aFuYNhnaRPUx4k8WI_huDVqkAVqIgvHmifFNDFu23Q5R-iB-6CgWAYeYJlKUdr8k2C59VBry8qBBRlDE9_Cw7Qsy05F9xIB5H0F5swqHCLFSDvZgr7pXzDNdCfG1s_ksDRlpKsGrFCAdOKm2Yg-F_nhHYAqSb7MHO-80f13Gj7UxNLavBvds7kp60xetVuAv6JVPGSF0pjdIDsMZyl5fO6VtOxDCkA81-zng_cF3Ti5Cx7ixNomkOCrziJhft9fQ79uSmibcNhGsm3JQngtAH5x8=w671-h894-no)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on September 17, 2017, 10:23:14 AM
(https://us.v-cdn.net/6024342/uploads/editor/ap/nkvi1v9d91cm.jpg)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: minuspace on September 17, 2017, 10:14:53 PM
Hey Pent, these are awesome... The medium test shots, first series on this page, I know you say you don't like the lighting, but I do. What kind of lighting are you using to get that scattered glare/reflection thing? You can see layers of light bouncing off his glove, particularly in the last medium test shot, do you know what they are calling that these days? In older versions of blender I could get it with a "radiosity", now kinda at a loss?
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on September 18, 2017, 08:04:43 AM
Thanks dude! The effect you're talking about is called "bloom" or "HDR bloom" one of those effects they stuck in rt rendering engines a while back. Around HL2 time if memory serves. Not sure how you'd do it in blender but there's bound to be something. Hopefully now you have a technical term to punch into google you should have a bit more luck.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on September 19, 2017, 07:19:19 PM
More adventures learning to pose this fucking thing.
(https://us.v-cdn.net/6024342/uploads/editor/35/o47d0oiocux8.jpg)
And more fuck ups.
(https://us.v-cdn.net/6024342/uploads/editor/40/ckwrtaxco8pi.jpg)
I keep telling myself it'll be worth it in the end when I can set up a scene in a couple of minutes. Doing it by hand in Medium would take days.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: LMNO on September 19, 2017, 07:20:46 PM
Now I want to see the opening scene from sound of music with julie andrews in battle armor.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on September 20, 2017, 07:53:46 PM
Quote from: LMNO on September 19, 2017, 07:20:46 PM
Now I want to see the opening scene from sound of music with julie andrews in battle armor.

If I end up with a really detailed rig that's a thing that could totally happen. :eek:

Spent a while tonight refining the hands. At one point I was twirling it about and had this idea for the cover

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/RiG9iMp9Pl_eQNupgiwdl6sXF-IcoVdtsc0f0dczxv9SmlkOdI-ki4tS7Jm0_-DIleWr7W_EzJ8qz2oTqlst4ydvLUMGzEhVz3vNVCS6s3gGLKIoS3W1z6jtU8N9L1jzgMM7aGKPpW58hDP1EqAUoY8J23ByHDe-l1RsC4OaZaAkSshXe2-2mCtn78AdQZb5361TsU0DNID_-WQrELUGTdG6-TlRpkq6SfDLR7xY203ZeRjnv-37R_iBKVkpAMcVc8Bj8ZWOcrpr3jj2n9NE1U_7Poys1aFd4GPXmiWkDT5kww2-d1fR834AcsfKeL-ruwMZ8ZOj4IEidOyQVKwSx0HMx1yg3GSuclV7hP4xD6mffZnGUWTsU3hI3cJewUkUg9QsrV4il-0_arIvRHF4D9nXea7CgQoHpouUbfy8WzWgSdS3I3aJqx7pHj3s-2x6263gsJhbQJEbQ6MjBjx5pR5sN-OrjNSCUJRCtMOGxkV6H2ClZnKzCdhYkLGvGw09fIt6bXGUzpt1yMPuXPGaTp5Fimq0SxbnKF5l5Q8XCcq7mzlVmVxJVyUhMtuiGG-eqN-QTSTSFreNXfGhV-WuTuk29eei7NF4iKKCahQXt3L-odS_OXA4FE8T0bpVwUDATLHaAbMvqAj9lyOcjXnzmZo1ugoAx5gX73Hx=w596-h894-no)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on September 21, 2017, 06:58:56 PM
Was fucked off with the original nessie look. I don't think he kept up with the armour in terms of overall meanness. It was turning into Hammerstein V's Barney. Fuck that! Had a go at spider eyes to see if that made a difference. Maybe?

(https://us.v-cdn.net/6024342/uploads/editor/ht/ism3hbo9wfg7.jpg)

(https://us.v-cdn.net/6024342/uploads/editor/j4/tw2aumg9mqrh.jpg)

The plan is I'm going to be doing a lot of shit with surface texture and lighting so you never quite get a good look at these fucks, even when they're all over the place so maybe it only really matters to me but it matters so I'll be fucked if he doesn't end up looking badass enough to take down one of those power armour wankers with all six of his eyes tied behind his back.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on September 24, 2017, 06:12:06 PM
Steady progress...
(https://us.v-cdn.net/6024342/uploads/editor/bi/wkirohtqkh5l.jpg)
(https://us.v-cdn.net/6024342/uploads/editor/2m/5tazzxf770k3.jpg)
(https://us.v-cdn.net/6024342/uploads/editor/rx/xdczg8rapyu2.jpg)

I now have a fully rigged and textured power armour suit and a retopo'd, rigged Nessie that just needs the detail baked back in. Starting to feel like this might actually fucking work! :eek:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: minuspace on September 24, 2017, 09:08:44 PM
Quote from: P3nT4gR4m on September 18, 2017, 08:04:43 AM
Thanks dude! The effect you're talking about is called "bloom" or "HDR bloom" one of those effects they stuck in rt rendering engines a while back. Around HL2 time if memory serves. Not sure how you'd do it in blender but there's bound to be something. Hopefully now you have a technical term to punch into google you should have a bit more luck.
Cool!  Think I get it. Between bloom and radiosity, here I go
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on September 25, 2017, 09:38:56 PM
New paintjob
(https://us.v-cdn.net/6024342/uploads/editor/2i/b31sb3w5vi8s.jpg)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on September 25, 2017, 11:06:31 PM
How hard would it be to add some spines to the back of that?
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on September 25, 2017, 11:24:20 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on September 25, 2017, 11:06:31 PM
How hard would it be to add some spines to the back of that?

Not hard. I'll have a bash tomorrow.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on September 26, 2017, 08:19:38 PM
Okay so this was waaaaay harder than I thought it was going to be but, on the plus side, I have learned epic amounts of blender theory tonight!

Flaccid
(https://us.v-cdn.net/6024342/uploads/editor/i5/z93coyrlyllb.jpg)

Erect
(https://us.v-cdn.net/6024342/uploads/editor/ox/z6p566yzk2ae.jpg)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on September 27, 2017, 12:02:54 AM
Exactly what I was thinking of.  Well done, that maniac.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on September 27, 2017, 11:02:55 AM
Good call on the spines. Totally needed it!

:awesome:
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on September 30, 2017, 10:17:02 AM
Plodding away on detailing on teh armour. This is the MKIII. Some of the differences are subtle and some technical. Legs are a bit closer to done. Feet are a mix of a couple of ideas, still got a ways to go.

(https://us.v-cdn.net/6024342/uploads/editor/j2/ykg029jfpbft.jpg)

Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on September 30, 2017, 08:27:43 PM
(https://us.v-cdn.net/6024342/uploads/editor/su/wsy3ieuuof8a.jpg)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: LMNO on September 30, 2017, 10:05:58 PM
That guy's fucked.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on October 01, 2017, 02:07:04 AM
Dunno, if he can just make it to the corner and tag-in his partner...
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on October 01, 2017, 03:01:58 AM
Quote from: LMNO on September 30, 2017, 10:05:58 PM
That guy's fucked.

If you look back through the stories, most of them were.

P3NT, can we see some halberd action?
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on October 01, 2017, 10:06:50 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on October 01, 2017, 03:01:58 AM
Quote from: LMNO on September 30, 2017, 10:05:58 PM
That guy's fucked.

If you look back through the stories, most of them were.

P3NT, can we see some halberd action?

Meet divine balance - The Evenator MkI

After his first kill, the neophyte will dress the hilt of his weapon by binding the underpants he shat (rinsed in the blood of the vanquished of course) with strips hewn from the hide of his first kill.

(https://us.v-cdn.net/6024342/uploads/editor/te/nbmxttyiqjlf.jpg)

*ETA - yeah, yeah, I know when you said "action" you were thinking more along the lines of these chaps going into things and coming out again, sometimes with bits still attached. More to follow...
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on October 01, 2017, 02:58:40 PM
Could go either way...
(https://us.v-cdn.net/6024342/uploads/editor/gw/b9277cn4snz7.jpg)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on October 01, 2017, 06:44:02 PM
My bet is on the nessie, since he is only holding that thing by one hand and is clearly not serious about hitting for the back fence.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on October 01, 2017, 08:15:11 PM
(https://us.v-cdn.net/6024342/uploads/editor/jz/z9ixxndagigk.jpg)

Not that Nessie. That nessie was always toast. Look at the first pic again, second nessie sneaking up behind him. Crocodile eyes floating in the water just to the right of his hand. My bet's on that one.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on October 01, 2017, 08:42:51 PM
This is fantastic.
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on October 02, 2017, 06:18:41 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on October 01, 2017, 08:42:51 PM
This is fantastic.

Cheers, man. Hopefully be worth the wait. And there is still a fair bit of wait to come. Going to throw this week at developing MkIV of the power armour suit. Hopefully this will be the final iteration although I wouldn't rule out a MkV. The rig is causing all sorts of retarded problems based on shit I didn't understand when I was making it. Nature of the beast - first do it wrong and, in doing so, learn why it's important to do it right. Plus I'm still using the hipoly output from Medium and it's slowing my machine to a crawl so I'll have to get in and retop the whole thing in Blender otherwise scenes with a lot of these guys are going to be out the question. On the plus side the level of detail will be off the charts compared to the shit I've shown you so far so we have another major jump in quality in the bank.

Still need a solution for the leg pistons and the chains but I don't anticipate any problems there, it's just something I haven't looked into yet. Then there's the Nessie who still needs a whole bunch of detail added. Model is pretty cartooney now. It's basically still just a sketch at this point and I'd like to be able to shoot extreme closeups of things like the eyes, mouth and claws. Hopefully I can get those two high detail and proper rigged by the end of the month and at that point my output will go from 0-100 overnight and should look like a DDoS attack on photobucket 8)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on October 04, 2017, 08:41:27 PM
Breakthrough. MkIV rig is now doing shit I never even dreamed possible! I swear the little bastard is alive. This is going to be stupid easy. Rest of the week doing retop on the suit. It's still a couple of million polys at this point which is why the video is jerky as fuck. Once I've got him down to a hundred k or so, posing will be silky smooth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTy2i5GIkxU (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTy2i5GIkxU)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on October 07, 2017, 10:39:58 AM
Armour looks okay from a distance but not so good close up. Before I do the retop (which will kinda lock me in) I'm going to remodel the whole thing with better detail, starting with the helmet.
(https://us.v-cdn.net/6024342/uploads/editor/xq/zk3rtyh5g52t.jpg)

(https://us.v-cdn.net/6024342/uploads/editor/6y/36clocgg0ash.jpg)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on October 08, 2017, 07:30:01 PM
"Alright, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up"

(https://us.v-cdn.net/6024342/uploads/editor/lx/w0zzv1ha79d1.jpg)

(https://us.v-cdn.net/6024342/uploads/editor/p0/p8b91vtb2ses.jpg)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on October 09, 2017, 08:13:32 PM
The next bit. Tomorrow night hopefully I can retop this, thereby replicating a whole weekends efforts in a couple of hours.
(https://us.v-cdn.net/6024342/uploads/editor/3c/iqaqw14q5yha.jpg)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on October 12, 2017, 12:03:22 AM
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/UNhjxZnn8B33cSS6gPAEdWTdtcHpDdad81ubnRVHQMqBapfOZfkE_D9ZbnKGE0-PQ4uAEtnbuR2Y8eJOTAu6ikUCUDw-CjTJPdC7JgyDyPFwI_5bmgVm2NpHAPnziQV-T7Cvm6uvzMkaq9VqJtA36sUepcy5KaaLNjc9FWtvoeKHeN7J4gniIGOgdABX5p8ciXJpgVnAXr4V6Qg_CJDopDUGhO2Hp3jYZf52WA9ARNbSXHfQotTYHa1Bd5zOMnrGFxrQutq_wLJUchRap8-KL0teU19Bc3zL6x8J8_pOFojlyEG6r8ZMKMmbAGV1Z3svtvwD343-75kEVsE-GhmZfb9B3X0prOb9yviTVVKSmsVHU2pPOWx4J7HGx25o4e20KEJ1EQHNDSDf5qf6NyRiRB77HJT5NLpufoiPGhBKN-XTSaatme9V1DAhKFL9ysmXXdqGoQ1a_kYw6-cWZl975gBe-WIC_6QQ6xCwAGQq-yZ7dR7Q-0mWAe25pHAZlwV-OakpPsU3rGg08dh9ogLw83RzHL1UWB6Z80ihAzvFV6WUu_nSOTjirFPCQtaUo6wwo-Ms5JBg8UNTZP7DkXZaGN0o3oIzhJ7svlPXVW4ylAA=s893-no)

I gotta draw the little grid by hand. That's what's taking so long here  :argh!:
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/OyibBer6TDxNAIsSYO_EqTzwPsg79nc0kkjju1cqdCdW2Rpbw93i9-A1ltPyTNzzyO3dAvx-fRKOXIrNRLwp3Mg9qNpKCivW2VpEkHKzPzaPtPo_Mj8H4iqFREK5gkfrgQFGd-zkgpYDvV-3-8nkj0E7yAOPnXJnmpwm8_hYy7hPEyUhcN9HWbKTh9vMO8SlBCCtWYExPrCV3wzfCSJ8k1umpKdscNUK5wqOmw8Ff8UQjA0u-1pAii_dik3lSy8vUbh18lSowkiuyMFRBlAHB1VlS8NLlwL6a_UvS3V8z5s4uAVM6Kx0YcredX-wQuisCskTnWjnE0la4yF9H6_31D0KXf36rgNfhgs6TGibxKlmXOnb5AUJw6TqRsseiB_kBBPGmQDUEsJVOvjWvjNAsJ7xk1T5hmnKTXfD433qiIeYMYaWb6RzFL4DRjeOaC7hy8LMdzzAQ2uZJ_TDLj_n5tuxhQsmIeXy0cRAxHTkM8NdnfXW5TctBx77mDUu5v4j6EpIyeoqO76hRPVJKr505yLYj5p89CiBRB6pPDwJuFyRyss3t6X5FdqQVz9q5Xwrj72gBLISnQqK2-48S02fY-Wwjl4H-Pdo36UD7Nv3W6w=w827-h828-no)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on October 15, 2017, 01:23:28 PM
Chain is back! Also more progress on the remodel. Shoulders and elbows next, then the hands. Hands will be a while. Going to go all out and build something that at least looks vaguely plausible but also sick as fuck. Lastly will be the pistons. I have a solution for those but, right now, it's only been tested in my head. So it's a thought experiment but I'm pretty confident it'll pan out in implementation.

The main takeaway from here, tho, is that I'm finally sitting with a half built version of final-quality resource. Like this pic is how all the panels are probably about as far as I can take it in terms of detail and lighting and realism and all that good stuff. For once I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. If I'm not careful I'll end up with arse prints all over my laurel collection. Nessie is still a fucking building site right enough. Plenty room for improvement there.

(https://us.v-cdn.net/6024342/uploads/editor/ju/z8as4ur5f5pa.jpg)

(https://us.v-cdn.net/6024342/uploads/editor/qj/wr5gopgs95dt.jpg)

Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on October 24, 2017, 05:13:15 PM
Okay so this has been holding me up for f'kin days. Finally think I know where I'm headed with the hands. Had to rebuild from the ground up as something that will animate. A lot of expression comes from hands. Worth spending some time to get looking semi-believable.

(https://us.v-cdn.net/6024342/uploads/editor/by/zk1ckooa54mj.jpg)
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: Doktor Howl on February 10, 2018, 12:28:38 AM
So what happen?
Title: Re: More Futurisitic Fun Than You Really Wanted, part I of V
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on February 12, 2018, 08:07:37 AM
Still in the pipeline. Bit more stuff I need to figure out but I'm on the home stretch for sure.