Principia Discordia

Principia Discordia => Apple Talk => Topic started by: Doktor Howl on August 22, 2011, 02:43:37 PM

Title: Anachronisms
Post by: Doktor Howl on August 22, 2011, 02:43:37 PM
Pancho and Lefty never did know when to quit.  They were old-time train robbers, desperados, and they never did actually adjust to the law coming to the old West.  They just kept doing their thing.

It's difficult, you must realize, to rob a modern train from horseback.  The damn things go fast as hell, and when you finally do get on, there's no payroll or bejeweled passengers to rob.  The internet took care of all of that, with all this new digital payroll.  They still rob the trains, though, because they're a certain type of people, and robbing trains is what they do.

The TSA and the FBI have investigated them, and have stated that they could put a stop to the train holdups anytime they chose to...But nobody's getting hurt, and nothing of any real value is taken (try to fit a conex box on a horse).  Sure, it's still armed robbery, but who wants to be the guy that ended that chapter of history forever?

It's even said that the train drivers slow down a bit when they see the old guys coming.  They're not as spry as they once were and neither, for that matter, are their horses.  

They do it, they say, because this new world of iPods and the internet and 3000 channels on the TV is no fit life for a human being.  They have nothing but scorn for Bernie Madoff, who was nothing more than a slick confidence man...And don't even get them started on bankers.

No, they'll tell you about campsites and hideouts (even if nobody is looking, you have to have a hide out), and hoof beats kicking up dust as they pull up even with the locomotive.  "That's living", they say, and any who want to laugh at them for their anachronistic behavior should be prepared to for them to laugh right back.

"Look at you, with your mobility scooters and your mortgages and your credit cards!  Look at you, with your debt and your worries and your safe lives.  Just LOOK at you, you've been DEAD for 30 years!  Go find your grave and crawl in it, you fucking zombies!  We're ALIVE, and we plan to stay that way until we get killed.  You won't find us dying in front of a computer or a TV or any of the other modern gewgaws designed to make ROBOTS out of you!

"Keep your trinkets, your toys, your cheap Chinese crap that you've been told you need.  Stay in your mausoleums.  Live your "lives".

"Now if you'll excuse us, the 4:15 from El Paso is due in about 15 minutes, and I have a birthday gift for Jack, the engineer.  Known him for years.

And they rode off through the desert, plumes of dust from a cleaner time.

Okay for now,
Dok
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Phox on August 22, 2011, 02:47:01 PM
Wow.
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Luna on August 22, 2011, 02:51:26 PM
Oh, YES!
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Doktor Howl on August 22, 2011, 04:33:26 PM
Pancho and Lefty rode across the desert, annoyed by the sight of high tension lines, which ruined the view.  It was getting dark, and time to make camp.  Beans & bacon, again...It had always been beans & bacon, and Pancho still wasn't used to the horrible gas that Lefty emitted as a result.  Every day.

As they began to assemble the camp, however, there was a bright light all around them.  The starship hovered in place for a moment, then zipped into the heavens.  The empty camp below was soon visited by coyotes, drawn to the smell of the bacon.

*ouch*

Pancho wanted to wipe his mouth.  He'd been sicker'n even that last round at Madam Tien's bordello last June, when he'd gotten into the mescal for a weekend.  He couldn't, however, do anything about it, as he was strapped to some kind of table.  Groans to his right told him that Lefty wasn't feeling much better.

He looked around.  He was in a featureless grey room, with a very low white light illuminating it from strips on the ceiling.  There were no doors that he could see, and no other occupants save Lefty and himself.  A mild panic began to build.

"Get ahold of yourself, man", he though to himself, "You've been in rougher spots than this."  His wrists were strapped down, but he was still able to slip his hand in his pocket, where his folding knife was.

A half hour later, he was free, and cut Lefty loose.

"What're we gonna do?", asked Lefty?

"Simple, ya idjit.  We're gonna lay back down and make it look like the straps are still good.  Then when whatever John Law got us comes in, we jump him."

"Okay."

After about another half hour, a section of the wall irised open, and two small humanoids walked in.  They were little guys, with gray skin, large heads, and dead black eyes. 

"I heard about these guys", Lefty whispered, "They're gonna probe us."

And indeed, one of the gray creatures approached the table Pancho was on, brandishing a silvery metallic rod of some kind.

"Hell with that.", Pancho said, slid off the table...And kicked the grey dude in the junk.  The alien let out a high-pitched whistle and fell to the floor.  Lefty leapt off his table and punched the other alien in the face.  The Alien started to get up, and Lefty started doing the groin-stomp boogie on him.

A moment later, more aliens poured through the door, just as Lefty had managed to stick his alien in a grey cloth bag he had found, and was just beginning to beat the sack against the wall.

Three of the aliens aimed something that looked like pistols at Lefty.  He dropped the bag.

The lead alien said, in a hoarse voice, "You are interesting subjects.  This is good."

"Subjects for what?"

"Experimentation."

"I heard about you guys all the time.  You've been probing people for years.  What are you looking for?"

"We aren't sure", the alien rasped, "We were told to probe humans, and then the masters left.  We are terribly bored, of course, but orders are orders."

"You've been sticking rods up peoples' butts for years?  What the hell kind of job is that?"

"It is the job we have.  The masters have given their instructions.  Now, please get on the table."

"Or else what?"

"Or else we shoot you."

"If you shoot us, you won't be able to probe us."

"That does present a problem."

"Well," Lefty said, "This here is what we call a 'Mexican stand off.'  These things can go on for days.  Unless you're interested in a quicker resolution."

"What do you propose?"

Lefty grinned, and pulled a deck of cards out of his pocket.

"You boys ever play poker?"

To be continued
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Elder Iptuous on August 22, 2011, 04:41:56 PM
Oh, i like where this is going.  :D
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Adios on August 22, 2011, 04:45:20 PM
Aw hell, I only rob trains anymore because the women like to kiss me.

And you're sleeping downwind tonight you bastard.

Oh, and 2 pair does not beat a flush, but that was damn well played.
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Mesozoic Mister Nigel on August 22, 2011, 06:04:32 PM
:mittens: I like where this seems to be headed...
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Nephew Twiddleton on August 22, 2011, 09:40:31 PM
Liking the twist here. And how the greyfaces in the story are literally greys.
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Triple Zero on August 23, 2011, 11:49:12 AM
Hahaa I like this story! Especially the aliens!

(check it, Aliens playing poker (http://i.imgur.com/JJ5Ut.jpg), no Greys though)
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Doktor Howl on August 23, 2011, 04:14:08 PM
"So, what are we going to do with a spaceship, Pancho?"

"I don't know.  We could go to another star, buzz the locals?"

"Naw, the head alien dude says this bird isn't capable of getting to other stars.  Says you need a mothership for that."

"So where's the mothership?"

"Away.  Won't be back for years."

Pancho pondered for a while.  "We could rob trains with it."

"Naw, you need horses for that.  It's tradition."

"Point."

Lefty looked around at the bridge of the spaceship he'd just won at the poker table.  The controls were fantastically simple, but he'd keep the crew on, because they really had no other place to go, did they?

An idea dawned on him.  A horrible, insane, hilarious idea.

"Hey, Grey Dude...You know where Washington, DC is, right?"

"Yes", replied the Grey, "it is the capitol of your nation-state."

"Okay, here's what I want you to do..."
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Luna on August 23, 2011, 04:31:35 PM
 :lulz:

Oh, dear...
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Doktor Howl on August 23, 2011, 04:39:42 PM
"Mister President, you HAVE to get out of here."

"Thank you, General, but where I am I going to go?  That damn thing has been hovering right above us for hours.  Do the aliens have any more demands?"

"No, Mister President.  We left the cases of smokes, 'ham sammichs', and crappy bourbon on the lawn, and they just sort of beamed them up."

"Any other changes?"

"No.  We have a full squadron of fighters orbiting them, but so far, nothing."

Up in the ship, Lefty staggered over to the communications console.  Pancho was sprawled across the co-pilot's seat, smoking a panatella.

"Okay, Grey Dude, next tell them that we wish to meet with a cultural emb...emb...repre...zentative."

Pancho started giggling.  "I vote for Marissa Miller!"

"No, we have to be dead serious about this, Pancho.  This is the first time we actually get to meet Earthings, remember."

"HAW HAW!"

The Grey at the communications console spoke into the microphone.  "Attention, Earthlings.  We wish to meet with a cultural representative."

"Tell him it better be one that accurately represents America's core values."

The Grey complied.  Pancho and Lefty dissolved into helpless laughter.

"If I may ask, what is so funny about this request?", the Grey asked.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"  Pancho seemed dangerously close to pissing himself.

"It's like this", Lefty replied, "No two Americans can agree on what their culture is.  Mostly because they don't have one.  It's a collection of other cultures, along with a puritan ethic left over from 400 years ago.  They'll be arguing for DAYS about this.  The TV pundits alone will be going berserk."

"Request for clarification: What is a 'Puritan'?"

"It's someone who feels that enjoying oneself is itself a sin."

"Your world is a nightmare, human.  It is fundamentally mad."

"You're telling ME?  I have to LIVE there."

The alien, unsure how to take this, turned back to his communications board.

Pancho giggled again, "So, what do we do when they finally pick one?  I mean, IF they finally pick one?"

"Dunno.  I haven't thought that far ahead.  Let's just wing it."

The alien turned back to them.

"As you predicted, it seems to be utter chaos down there.  There seems to be two major factions with extremely different ideas."

"They arguing yet?"

"Not as such.  It seems that both factions themselves have factions, and those sub-factions are the ones arguing."

"Okay.  When they really get going, tell me, and we'll name the representative."

Pancho looked over.  "Who did you have in mind?"

Lefty just grinned.

to be continued
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Triple Zero on August 23, 2011, 04:57:19 PM
"Naw, you need horses for that.  It's tradition."

:mittens:

this is getting better and better!!
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Mesozoic Mister Nigel on August 23, 2011, 05:08:13 PM
Ahahahaha this is GREAT!
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Anna Mae Bollocks on August 23, 2011, 05:56:46 PM
This ruuuuuuules.  :lulz:
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Eater of Clowns on August 23, 2011, 06:54:57 PM
Enjoying this IMMENSELY.   :)
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Jenne on August 23, 2011, 07:02:03 PM
Liking the "HAW HAW" especially--rooting for Lefty and Pancho!
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Luna on August 23, 2011, 07:34:33 PM
Dok?  Please turn down the UFO's quake ray if you're going to test it in DC...  the earth moved way up HERE...
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: iarmit on August 23, 2011, 07:34:55 PM
Something tells me Dok wrote a rejected script for Cowboys and Aliens.
Oh, and I am a little ashamed to admit I had to GIS Marisa Miller... though,
now, I am glad I did  :fap:
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Doktor Howl on August 23, 2011, 08:32:50 PM
Quote from: iarmit on August 23, 2011, 07:34:55 PM
Something tells me Dok wrote a rejected script for Cowboys and Aliens.

And the 2011 award for backhanded compliments goes to...(drum roll)...

:lulz:
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Phox on August 23, 2011, 11:14:17 PM
Awesome, Dok.  :lol:
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Doktor Howl on August 24, 2011, 03:06:30 PM
Rush Limbaugh stood beneath the alien vessel, more than a little apprehensive.  Sure, he was proud to be vindicated in his beliefs from the obviously superior aliens, but they WERE aliens, after all.

A bright light surrounded him, and he began to slowly rise into the air.  Very slowly.  A weird noise came out of the spaceship, sort of like an engine laboring too hard.  The light went out, and he was unceremoniously dropped on his ass.

In the command center set up on the White house lawn, the radio crackled to life with the alien's voice.  "He's too fat.  Try Michael Moore."


Up in the alien vessel, even the communications officer was laughing, in his own alien way.  The erstwhile commander of the aliens stared at him like he had caught an infection of some kind.

"What's wrong with you, communicator?"

"Heeeeeeeeeeeeee!"

The commander turned to Lefty.  "What have you done to him?"

"Nothing, man.", gasped Lefty, "I can't help it if you have no sense of humor."

"Well, if you hadn't demonstrated psychic abilities during that game of 'poker', everything would be fine.  We'd be performing our jobs and studying your planet."

"You ARE studying our planet.  You'll learn a lot more about us this way, than by jamming rods up peoples' arses."

The commander looked thoughtful for a moment.

The communicator broke in, yelling something in their language.

"What's he on about?", asked Pancho.

"He says the mother ship has returned early.  We are doomed."

"Well, take us up.  May as well get a look."

An hour later, the mother ship appeared on the screen.  It was four miles long, about, and bristling with what might be weapons, or possibly communications devices.

"eeeeeeeeeeeeeee", from Lefty.

Pancho stood in what appeared to be a rapturous trance.

"eeeeeeeeeeeeeee"

Pancho looked over at Lefty, who seemed to be in utter bliss.  "Do...do you know what, Lefty?"

"We gotta...we gotta...WE GOTTA ROB THAT THING!"

"Damn straight, Lefty.  Hey, alien dude, take us in."

To be continued.
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Triple Zero on August 24, 2011, 03:16:47 PM
Oh, YEAH :D
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Adios on August 24, 2011, 03:18:03 PM
I quite literally pissed myself, so happy to be wearing a diaper!  :lulz:
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Dysfunctional Cunt on August 24, 2011, 03:20:24 PM
OMG laughing so hard co-workers think I'm crying.....

MUST BREATHE.......

Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Adios on August 24, 2011, 03:25:14 PM
You don't think we need Butch and Sundance to pitch in here?  :lulz:

I can't stop laughing.
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Luna on August 24, 2011, 03:28:57 PM
"He's too fat."   :lulz:   

This is a work of beauty, Dok!
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Adios on August 24, 2011, 03:30:42 PM
Quote from: Luna on August 24, 2011, 03:28:57 PM
"He's too fat."   :lulz:   

This is a work of beauty, Dok!

The really funny part of that was being replaced by Michael Moore.  :lulz:
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Doktor Howl on August 24, 2011, 04:27:06 PM
Quote from: Pancho on August 24, 2011, 03:30:42 PM
Quote from: Luna on August 24, 2011, 03:28:57 PM
"He's too fat."   :lulz:   

This is a work of beauty, Dok!

The really funny part of that was being replaced by Michael Moore.  :lulz:

Yeah, I wanted to poke fun at them as cultural icons, not political figures.
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Freeky on August 24, 2011, 04:40:23 PM
Oh man.  So awesome. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Dysfunctional Cunt on August 24, 2011, 05:18:51 PM
Quote from: Doktor Howl on August 24, 2011, 04:27:06 PM
Quote from: Pancho on August 24, 2011, 03:30:42 PM
Quote from: Luna on August 24, 2011, 03:28:57 PM
"He's too fat."   :lulz:   

This is a work of beauty, Dok!

The really funny part of that was being replaced by Michael Moore.  :lulz:

Yeah, I wanted to poke fun at them as cultural icons, not political figures.

So nicely done!!!

:mittens:

Dok this whole series is absolutely hysterical!!!  Loving it!!

Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Jenne on August 24, 2011, 05:30:34 PM
Quote from: Luna on August 24, 2011, 03:28:57 PM
"He's too fat."   :lulz:   

This is a work of beauty, Dok!

My fave line of that one was "WE GOTTA ROB THAT THING!"  :lulz:  I couldn't stop chuckling...
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Mesozoic Mister Nigel on August 24, 2011, 06:40:44 PM
THIS. IS. AWESOME!

:mittens::mittens::mittens:
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Richter on August 26, 2011, 03:08:54 AM
NICE.  Waiting for moar.
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Anna Mae Bollocks on August 26, 2011, 03:25:15 AM
I liked the way Michael Moore's Jabba The Hut frame was considered as possibly being lift-able, compared to Rush's.  :lulz:
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Doktor Howl on August 26, 2011, 04:00:16 AM
Quote from: Richter on August 26, 2011, 03:08:54 AM
NICE.  Waiting for moar.


I was busy spamming CG with HIMEOBS pics today.  I will try to get to it tomorrow, though I have actual work to do.
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Precious Moments Zalgo on August 26, 2011, 04:16:38 AM
Looking forward to it.  This is great.
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Doktor Howl on August 26, 2011, 06:23:58 PM
The first officer of the Far Voyager approached the airlock to the hangar bay with a squad of rigorists.  The crew of the observation craft had not responded to their hails, and had not logged the correct number of probings.  This is why these unscheduled inspections were made, after all.  A few days in a punishment cell, and then an accounting.  And then a new crew, with the old one going in the recycler.

Just another day.

But when the hangar bay doors opened, two aliens wearing long coats and weird hats stood there smiling, each aiming two guns of some kind at the officer.

The tall one began chanting, or perhaps singing, something that his internal translator chip read as "It's a stickup, so put your hands in the air, and d-don't bring 'em down, keep 'em right up there."

The officer and the rigorists raised their hands.

The shorter one looked at the tall one.  "You don't rap during a train robbery.  You maybe sing George Jones tunes, but you don't rap."

"This ain't a train."

"Still, it's tradition.  You just don't do it."

"It's a free country."

"Lefty, you might have noticed that we're not in America at the moment."

"Yeah, that's what I said." 

"Point."

The first officer was getting a headache.  This was NOT going per procedure.  He dropped his arms, pulled out his stun baton, and briskly stepped forward.

The tall primate shot him in the right leg.

"AAAAIIIIIIIIEEE!  YOU SHOT ME!", he screamed, hearing the strange alien words come out of his mouth (you never really do get used to the translator chips).

"Well, yeah.  I told you to keep your hands up.  This is a robbery."

"A what?"  The first officer was a little dizzy, and it HURT, but he was reasonably sure his wound wasn't fatal.

"We're here to take your stuff.  It's what we do."

"This is most irregular.  You can't DO that."

"Looks like we are."

"Why?  Why are you doing this?"

"HAR!", the tall one said, "He spends decades probing primates, and he doesn't even learn enough to answer THAT question, Pancho?  These guys are idiots."

Pancho, the shorter one, gestured at the rigorists, who were unfortunately armed only with stun batons.  "What's with the brute squad, anyway?"

The observation craft's communications officer leaned forward and said "We did not log enough probings.  They would question us, then put us in the recycler."

"What?"

"We would be recycled into food or other organic products, and replaced with a new crew."

"Well, I'll be a son of a bitch."  Pancho turned to the first officer.  "I don't think I like you, mister.  You jackasses carry him.  We're going to the bridge."

The rigorists picked up the stricken first officer, and carried him ahead of the aliens and the crew from the observation craft.

"You try anything funny, and I'll shoot you ALL in the leg.", said Lefty, "I'm a very dangerous man."

"You're a primitive primate.", groused the first officer.

"Yeah?  Well, I don't shove people in the garbage disposal for not working hard enough.  And I don't spend years shoving metal rods up peoples' butts.  Someone's primitive here, and I think it's the guys with the high technology."

The first mate clammed up.

They walked through hallways for about a mile.

"Hey, jackass", said Pancho, "How come we haven't seen any crew?"

"Because it isn't shift change", the first officer responded, "They are either at their work stations, or sitting in their quarters."

"What, so you're either working or sleeping or just sitting there?"

"Yes", replied the first officer, "What else should they do?  Act like you primates, running all over the place?"

"Well, sure.  Everyone ought to have a good time."

The first officer mumbled something about barbarians.  Pancho just laughed.

They walked through an unremarkable - for the ship - door, which resembled the door of an elevator, and they were on the bridge.  A dark grey alien, a bit smaller than the rest, looked up from his chair.  Several other aliens sat at stations around him, roughly in a circle.

Lefty grinned, "We done hijacked the starship Enterprise!"

to be continued
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Jenne on August 26, 2011, 06:29:49 PM
Ah--can't wait for the next installment and see what hijinks they get up to on the ship!
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Doktor Howl on August 26, 2011, 06:31:08 PM
Quote from: Jenne on August 26, 2011, 06:29:49 PM
Ah--can't wait for the next installment and see what hijinks they get up to on the ship!

Yeah, this was more of a "building" installment.

The next one gets a little nuts.

I also decided, you may have noticed, that the aliens' culture is about as pleasant as, say, North Korea.
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Jenne on August 26, 2011, 07:04:32 PM
:lol:  A little restrictive.  I noticed!  They are well-versed the ways of the "rat race."
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Dysfunctional Cunt on August 26, 2011, 07:08:38 PM
 :lulz:

:mittens:

I'm loving this series.... 
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Nadezhda on August 26, 2011, 07:21:14 PM
Quote from: Pancho on August 24, 2011, 03:18:03 PM
I quite literally pissed myself, so happy to be wearing a diaper!  :lulz:

I'd like to repeat this sentiment of how awesome this work is, but with less diaper  :sad:
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Luna on August 26, 2011, 07:29:36 PM
I had a horrible visual...  a gray...  in Uhura's uniform.

Where the hell is my mental floss?
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Anna Mae Bollocks on August 26, 2011, 09:29:04 PM
Quote from: Doktor Howl on August 26, 2011, 06:23:58 PMThe shorter one looked at the tall one.  "You don't rap during a train robbery.  You maybe sing George Jones tunes, but you don't rap."

"This ain't a train."

"Still, it's tradition.  You just don't do it."

"It's a free country."

"Lefty, you might have noticed that we're not in America at the moment."

"Yeah, that's what I said." 

"Point."

:mittens: :mittens: :mittens: :mittens: :mittens:
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Mesozoic Mister Nigel on August 26, 2011, 10:19:43 PM
This is awesome.  :lulz:
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Don Coyote on August 26, 2011, 10:57:08 PM
Quote from: Luna on August 26, 2011, 07:29:36 PM
I had a horrible visual...  a gray...  in Uhura's uniform.

Where the hell is my mental floss?
:fap: :fap: :fap: :fap: :fap:[move]:fap: :fap: :fap: :fap: :fap: [move]:fap: :fap: :fap: :fap: :fap:
[/move][/move]
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Phox on August 26, 2011, 11:07:17 PM
Dok, I hope you aren't writing this for a network. I'd hate to see it cancelled.  :lol:
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: LMNO on August 29, 2011, 02:24:08 PM
I am incredibly glad I read this.  A perfect way to start my morning back at work.
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Doktor Howl on August 29, 2011, 02:25:57 PM
Quote from: LMNO, PhD (life continues) on August 29, 2011, 02:24:08 PM
I am incredibly glad I read this.  A perfect way to start my morning back at work.

I have another 16 hour day today, so I might be able to add the next chapter.
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Mesozoic Mister Nigel on August 29, 2011, 03:51:40 PM
Quote from: Doktor Howl on August 29, 2011, 02:25:57 PM
Quote from: LMNO, PhD (life continues) on August 29, 2011, 02:24:08 PM
I am incredibly glad I read this.  A perfect way to start my morning back at work.

I have another 16 hour day today, so I might be able to add the next chapter.

Yay!
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Freeky on August 31, 2011, 10:26:14 PM
bunp


AWESOME
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Doktor Howl on September 01, 2011, 02:22:25 PM
"Good LORD, just look at the SIZE of that thing!"

"Yessir, Mister President,  looks to be about 4 miles long."

"How is it staying there without roasting us or crushing us?"

"We have no idea.  Look, Mister President, you really need to get out of here.  These aliens sounded crazy last time."

"No, I can't run from the first alien contact in human history.  Besides, look at that thing.  It could blow Cheyenne Mountain to hell and gone."

The receiver set up in the White House crackled to life... 

"Okay, we got a bigger ship.  Send the fat guys back out."


Up in the ship, Pancho and Lefty were in tears.  The alien communications officer had released the transmit button and dissolved into helpless peals of his strange version of laughing.  The ship's former captain sat and fumed.

"Lighten up, compadre", Lefty said, "This is fun."

"We aren't here for 'fun'.  We are here to study your species."

"Well, you're about to get a first class education in dangerous primates.  Anyway, why are you studying us?  You've been doing it for decades, right?  What's the point, if you weren't even going to say hello?"

"To see whether you will make a good servitor species, or whether you should be exterminated."

"Say what?"

"Alien species are to be assimilated into the confederation, or eliminated as a threat."

Pancho turned to the communications officer, but kept his guns trained on the captain. "Tell the president to set up video.  A laptop computer ought to do it, right?"

"Yes, we can transmit directly to their router."

A few minutes later, the president and the secretary of state were looking at Lefty.

"Um.  Who the hell are you?"

"We're Pancho & Lefty, the best train robbers left in the United States, Mister President...And we've done stole us the biggest damn train ever.  Look, I need you to get some computers ready for a massive data dump.  We're going to broadcast the plans for their engines, weapons, and all that shit directly to you and every other world leader."

"Why on Earth would the aliens do that?"

"Mostly because Pancho has a gun to the captain's head."

"WHAT?"

"Oh, yeah, these guys are pricks, Mister President.  The commander types, anyway.  They've spent the last 5 decades sizing us up for slavery or extermination."

"How many are on that ship?"

"Not as many as you'd think.  A few thousand, maybe.  Most of their controls and maintenance are automated."

The secretary of state broke in, "You can't give those plans to everyone."

Lefty grinned.  "Seems to me, I can do whatever I like.  I'm the guy with the bazillion plasma cannons, right?  Either everybody gets it, or nobody gets it.  Turns out there's plenty of room out there, and there's no reason one nation should hog it all up."

"This will mean utter chaos!"

"Yeah.  Cool, ain't it?"

Up on the bridge, the captain sat rigid, with the same look as the guard that got kicked in the bits earlier.

Pancho looked at him.  "What's your problem?"

"You're letting monkeys loose into the universe."

"You said you wanted to learn about us, right?  Well, now you can do it from the comfort of your own home."

"My superiors will send warships.  You'll be wiped out."

"HAW!  Never bet against rats or primates, short arse.  Blowing shit up is about all we're good at.  Besides stealing shit."

"Oh, yeah", Lefty said, "Monkeys always steal shiny shit.  It's wired right in.  Hey, spend a little time looking in the Library of Congress down there.  American History, 1790-1890, look up the Lakota.  Because what happened to them is about to happen to you...And frankly, you deserve it way more than those poor bastards ever did.

The communications officer broke into the conversation.  "The data is ready to transmit."

"Great.  Send it to repeat for two days, and then we've got to get busy."

"Doing WHAT?" the captain asked.

"Oh, you'll see."

to be continued.
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Eater of Clowns on September 01, 2011, 02:25:25 PM
 :)
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Jenne on September 01, 2011, 02:34:09 PM
Hee hee.  "short-arse"!

AND OH NOES TEH CHAOS!!!

Can't wait to see what else is around the next corner, Rog!
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Doktor Howl on September 01, 2011, 02:35:22 PM
Quote from: Jenne on September 01, 2011, 02:34:09 PM
Hee hee.  "short-arse"!

AND OH NOES TEH CHAOS!!!

Can't wait to see what else is around the next corner, Rog!

Yeah, I figure there's two, maybe three chapters left.  Ought to be good for a laugh.
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: LMNO on September 01, 2011, 02:47:47 PM
This is great stuff, Rog.  Refreshing, hilarious, and TRUE.
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Doktor Howl on September 01, 2011, 02:49:15 PM
Quote from: LMNO, PhD (life continues) on September 01, 2011, 02:47:47 PM
This is great stuff, Rog.  Refreshing, hilarious, and TRUE.

I went into this assuming that aliens would be just as complacent and dumb as we are, only with more accumulated knowledge.
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Epimetheus on September 01, 2011, 03:26:50 PM
 :D

Refreshing, like the man said. True agents of Eris, those two. Where's the popcorn?
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Jenne on September 01, 2011, 03:33:41 PM
I just like how they're having the time of their lives instead of going:

OH NOES!  ALIENS! :omg:

...like every other human would.  And they'll laugh in the faces of anyone who displays such behavior in front of them.
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Triple Zero on September 01, 2011, 03:34:49 PM
:mittens: !!!
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Jenne on September 01, 2011, 03:50:59 PM
By the way, Rog, this would make an AWESOME graphic novel.  Though you might be burned out on that.
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Dysfunctional Cunt on September 01, 2011, 03:59:55 PM
I have to stop reading this at work, people are looking at me really funny.  I'm thinking it is the giggling and snorting because I'm trying no to just go

BAW HAW HA HA HA

This is awesome and I have to agree that the Adventures of Pancho and Lefty would make a great book, tv series or movie!!!

:mittens:
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Doktor Howl on September 01, 2011, 04:09:02 PM
Quote from: Jenne on September 01, 2011, 03:50:59 PM
By the way, Rog, this would make an AWESOME graphic novel.  Though you might be burned out on that.

It's not so much that I'm burned out, as I can't find any artists that will actually do the job.  I've pretty much given up on the whole graphic novel thing as a result, with the exception of Pent, who is working on a very long lead time for Tales From Fat Ernie's.

Every other artist has failed to deliver, and I'm sick of being let down, to be honest.
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Luna on September 01, 2011, 04:16:49 PM
Quote from: Doktor Howl on September 01, 2011, 04:09:02 PM
Quote from: Jenne on September 01, 2011, 03:50:59 PM
By the way, Rog, this would make an AWESOME graphic novel.  Though you might be burned out on that.

It's not so much that I'm burned out, as I can't find any artists that will actually do the job.  I've pretty much given up on the whole graphic novel thing as a result, with the exception of Pent, who is working on a very long lead time for Tales From Fat Ernie's.

Every other artist has failed to deliver, and I'm sick of being let down, to be honest.

That spectacularly sucks.
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Anna Mae Bollocks on September 01, 2011, 07:09:33 PM
This HAS to be done. It's too good.
And if they don't step up to the plate (Pent exempted) THEY SUCK.
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Mesozoic Mister Nigel on September 01, 2011, 07:40:24 PM
I'm LOVING this!

And you know what? Fuck artists. This is AWESOME and while I actually prose format to graphic artist format, it's good enough that if you're really set on graphic novel format I think you should try submitting it to a few publishing houses. They have their own in-house artists so you wouldn't have as much control over the art, but it would be worth it IMO.

(But I prefer straight-up prose, like I said, so in my mind it's fucking PERFECT as it is.)
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: LMNO on September 01, 2011, 07:43:50 PM
Be a revolutionary.  Use stick figures, do it yourself.


Hey, worked for Harvey Pekar until he found Crumb.
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Triple Zero on September 01, 2011, 07:48:57 PM
Quote from: LMNO, PhD (life continues) on September 01, 2011, 07:43:50 PM
Be a revolutionary.  Use stick figures WOMP, do it yourself.

Fixed, for how we roll :)
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: LMNO on September 01, 2011, 07:50:51 PM
Quote from: Triple Zero on September 01, 2011, 07:48:57 PM
Quote from: LMNO, PhD (life continues) on September 01, 2011, 07:43:50 PM
Be a revolutionary.  Use stick figures WOMP, do it yourself.

Fixed, for how we roll :)

This is a MUCH better idea.
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Jenne on September 01, 2011, 07:54:37 PM
OFUK YEAH
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Payne on September 03, 2011, 08:45:28 AM
Shit yeah Rog!

I am fairly certain I've met The Grey Captain IRL (I am fairly certain I used to work for him).
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Da6s on September 03, 2011, 09:11:37 AM
and now i'm stuck waiting for the ending.  :argh!:


Amazing read, as always, Dok.
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: Anna Mae Bollocks on September 04, 2011, 03:45:50 AM
Quote from: LMNO, PhD (life continues) on September 01, 2011, 07:43:50 PM
Be a revolutionary.  Use stick figures, do it yourself.


Hey, worked for Harvey Pekar until he found Crumb.

I think Crumb would actually appreciate this, if you could get his attention.
Title: Re: Anachronisms
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on January 02, 2013, 02:54:58 AM
Bump, because I feel like finishing this.