Cara
We were in a submarine! I had never seen one before, except in books, so this was a really exciting experience for me. As I peered out one of the portholes, I saw several species of fish; this was unusual, since I'd assumed they'd all be extinct by now. Then again, maybe the consumerists needed them as a food source.
Us kids (well, all except Madiza) sat on a bench in front of the Ox, who explained what was going to happen when we got there.
"We need to go in quickly, and quietly. If any Drones catch us, it will be disastrous."
"Why?" asked Lucy.
Kestrel pressed a button on his watch, and a hologram appeared. It was a giant creature, about 8 feet tall, and because it had some kind of levitation boots, it wasn't touching the ground, making it look even taller. I craned my neck, getting a look at its face. The Drone had a hard face that looked vaguely like a human's, except it had no mouth. That, and something about it just looked creepier. Probably the fact that it was obviously not human. It's arms reached down past it's knees, sort of like a chimpanzee. The hands on those things looked incredibly strong. I was not liking this thing already. My low opinion increased when the hologram slowly turned to reveal the guns on it's back. I was reminded of a scorpion's tail. The overall effect of this Drone gave me the creeps.
Suddenly, Matt said, "Doesn't look too bad." I gave him an 'Are you insane?' look.
"What?!" he protested. "All we have to do is-blast them with plasma rifles or something! I mean, it's not like they have secret weapons or anything, right?"
"Why do you think they're called Drones, Matt?" asked Kestrel.
"...Like the male bees?"
"No. It's because of the low moaning noise they make. It messes with your inner ear, making it impossible for you to run away. If you try, you stumble and fall, every time. Also, these Drones are incredibly strong. Once one grabs you, it would be nearly impossible to make it let go. They are the ultimate capturing machines."
Matt sat silently for a moment. Finally, he said, "I would like to retract my previous statement."
"So, what do we do about them?" asked Lucy.
Kestrel pressed another button, changing to a different hologram. It looked like a cross between two different machines.
"This is the Sacred Computer and ATM of Light," announced the Ox. "We need to get to it, and then Madiza needs to punch in the KillCode. That will give us an extra hour in which to find Deep Thought, and any of our other comrades, and set them free. If we don't manage it in the alloted amount of time, we are lost."
Something in the finality of his words sent chills running along my spine. I knew he wasn't talking about not finding the way back. I involuntarily shivered.
We were led to separate rooms, and given new clothes. They were in black, and made out of some weird material. I wondered if they were mithril, and had a small chuckle with myself. I changed clothes, but kept the levitation boots. Call me sentimental, but since they'd saved my life at least twice, I felt a kind of attachment to them. When we came back, I smirked at how Matt and Lucy looked: like little kids playing at being ninjas. At least, until I realized that I probably looked the same way. The dark coloring made Madiza look even paler than she was, so that she was practically the color of snow. Ben, despite his emaciatedness and matted hair, looked dashing, but that was what came of coming from the consumerist community. There was no such thing as an ugly person there, at least on the outside.
Matt asked, "Do we get any weapons?"
"You shouldn't have to. At all times you will be protected," was the Ox's reply. Matt looked crestfallen. At that moment, Madiza cried, "Ooh, it's a giant squid!" We went to see what she was looking at, and realized that we were here. At the Prison Sanctum.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Happy Hannukah!
Yesterday, Hannukah, or Chanukah, or however you spell that, began at sundown. So, today, even though we're not Jewish, our family is having potato latkes and salmon for dinner! It's going to be a marvelous kosher meal! Happy Chanukah, everyone!
Monday, December 5, 2011
Freegans part 48
Madiza
We all live in a yellow submarine, yellow submarine, yellow submarine! Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink! Lots and lots of water! Going down! Ooh, fishies! Little little fish, Cynoscion nebulosus, spotted seatrout! Where where where are we going? Ask the Professor, he'll know. Ox is the Professor. Does that make me Ginger or Mary Ann? Hee hee hee hee!
"We're going to the Golden Church's Prison Sanctum, out in the middle of the ocean."
Gold gold gold all that glitters is not gold. Still really pretty, though. That's the place of the KillCode, need to remember that. Of course I can, not hard at all. Wonder how far we are under the sea. Not quite 20,000 leagues. Under the sea, under the sea! Nobody beat us, fry us and eat us, in fricassee! Wouldn't put it past them, nope, nope, nope. Ooh, bright shiny lights! All in gold...
We all live in a yellow submarine, yellow submarine, yellow submarine! Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink! Lots and lots of water! Going down! Ooh, fishies! Little little fish, Cynoscion nebulosus, spotted seatrout! Where where where are we going? Ask the Professor, he'll know. Ox is the Professor. Does that make me Ginger or Mary Ann? Hee hee hee hee!
"We're going to the Golden Church's Prison Sanctum, out in the middle of the ocean."
Gold gold gold all that glitters is not gold. Still really pretty, though. That's the place of the KillCode, need to remember that. Of course I can, not hard at all. Wonder how far we are under the sea. Not quite 20,000 leagues. Under the sea, under the sea! Nobody beat us, fry us and eat us, in fricassee! Wouldn't put it past them, nope, nope, nope. Ooh, bright shiny lights! All in gold...
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Freegans part 47
Matt
Finally, we came to a stop. I looked ahead, and saw the reason was a dead end. 'O-kay,' I thought. 'How is this helpful?' My unspoken question was answered when Kestrel reached up, and pushed on the ceiling. It shifted! Some of the others moved to help him, and after a moment, that part of the ceiling lifted up. With a few grunts, they moved it, leaving a square hole over our heads. I could see the night sky, with sprinklings of stars decorating the dark blue. Suddenly I felt very emotional (ssh, don't tell Cara or Lucy). How long had it been since I had last seen that sky?
I could hardly wait to get boosted up out of the hole, just so I could see more. I felt cool breezes over my face, which was really nice. I could feel soft, wet grass beneath my worn-through shoes. Even though there was no moon, I could still see almost everything. I looked at my friends, and saw they were looking happy too. However, our reactions were nothing compared to those of Ben and Madiza. They were actually crying, Ben silently, Madiza in loud, unashamed sobs. They were hugging each other, staring at the stars, the ground, even the shadowy trees, as if they wanted to drink in everything at once.
"They're still here!" Madiza cried out jubilantly. She pointed at the stars, joy written all over her face. "The white coats didn't drain them! They're still out there!"
The Resistance members anxiously shushed her, plasma rifles cocked. That reminded me that we were not out of the woods yet.
As soon as the last of the team was out, they pushed the rock which served as the trap door back into place.
"Come on, we have to get going," directed the Ox. He handed out a few sets of goggles. I put them on, and discovered they were for night vision. Awesome!
"Can we keep these?" I asked Kestrel.
He smiled. "Maybe. We'll see if we survive first." I figured that would suffice for now.
Finally, we came to a stop. I looked ahead, and saw the reason was a dead end. 'O-kay,' I thought. 'How is this helpful?' My unspoken question was answered when Kestrel reached up, and pushed on the ceiling. It shifted! Some of the others moved to help him, and after a moment, that part of the ceiling lifted up. With a few grunts, they moved it, leaving a square hole over our heads. I could see the night sky, with sprinklings of stars decorating the dark blue. Suddenly I felt very emotional (ssh, don't tell Cara or Lucy). How long had it been since I had last seen that sky?
I could hardly wait to get boosted up out of the hole, just so I could see more. I felt cool breezes over my face, which was really nice. I could feel soft, wet grass beneath my worn-through shoes. Even though there was no moon, I could still see almost everything. I looked at my friends, and saw they were looking happy too. However, our reactions were nothing compared to those of Ben and Madiza. They were actually crying, Ben silently, Madiza in loud, unashamed sobs. They were hugging each other, staring at the stars, the ground, even the shadowy trees, as if they wanted to drink in everything at once.
"They're still here!" Madiza cried out jubilantly. She pointed at the stars, joy written all over her face. "The white coats didn't drain them! They're still out there!"
The Resistance members anxiously shushed her, plasma rifles cocked. That reminded me that we were not out of the woods yet.
As soon as the last of the team was out, they pushed the rock which served as the trap door back into place.
"Come on, we have to get going," directed the Ox. He handed out a few sets of goggles. I put them on, and discovered they were for night vision. Awesome!
"Can we keep these?" I asked Kestrel.
He smiled. "Maybe. We'll see if we survive first." I figured that would suffice for now.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Survey
Hello out there, you readers of my blog, and especially of my blog story! Just wanted to ask you all a little question:
After I finish the story I've been working on (and be assured, it's coming to an end soon!), what kind of story do you want me to write next? Fantasy, science-fiction, mystery? Or do you have any opinion at all concerning the matter? Please let me know!
Yours truly,
The Looney Writer
After I finish the story I've been working on (and be assured, it's coming to an end soon!), what kind of story do you want me to write next? Fantasy, science-fiction, mystery? Or do you have any opinion at all concerning the matter? Please let me know!
Yours truly,
The Looney Writer
Monday, October 24, 2011
Freegans part 46
Lucy
Once again, we were off. I felt about ready to drop. What's more, I was kind of annoyed with Madiza. We'd gotten an excuse to finally go home, and she insisted that we be dragged along on another crazy trip, which had a possibility of us getting killed! I felt so angry I wanted to-to- to do something violent! However, what with all the plasma rifles around, that would probably not be a good idea, so I just walked and stewed in silence.
You'd think Cara and Matt would notice I was upset, maybe try to make me feel better, but did they? No! They were perfectly happy to be chatting away with some of the Resistance members, palling around! Madiza was speaking in French with Le Masque again, and as for Ben? He walked along by her side, looking a little anxious, but perfectly willing to go along with this. For some reason, his compliance annoyed me more than anything else. I glared at the ground sullenly.
I don't know how long we walked. It could have been days, or just a few minutes. Suddenly, a pair of bloodshot green eyes were staring right into mine, and a voice shrieked, "Boo!"
I screamed, and jumped back, bumping into one of the new people. Blushing, I apologized, and turned to see Madiza standing there, cackling her silly head off.
"That wasn't funny!" I cried indignantly.
"Oh, come on! Don't you know what day it is?"
"No. Why should I?"
"Friday, October 31st. This is Halloween, everybody make a scene!" Madiza grinned, and ran to the front of the line, where Ox and Kestrel were.
I looked at Cara and Matt, nonplussed, forgetting I was mad at them.
"Hallow-what?"
"Halloween. It's an old holiday, before the government took over. People dressed up in costumes, and went to people's houses for candy. It was something called trick-or-treating," said Cara.
"Oh."
"The rule was the scarier, the better, I think."
"She can keep track of the days of the week?" I asked, bemused.
Cara and Matt both looked at me.
"You're actually surprised by that, Luce?"
Once again, we were off. I felt about ready to drop. What's more, I was kind of annoyed with Madiza. We'd gotten an excuse to finally go home, and she insisted that we be dragged along on another crazy trip, which had a possibility of us getting killed! I felt so angry I wanted to-to- to do something violent! However, what with all the plasma rifles around, that would probably not be a good idea, so I just walked and stewed in silence.
You'd think Cara and Matt would notice I was upset, maybe try to make me feel better, but did they? No! They were perfectly happy to be chatting away with some of the Resistance members, palling around! Madiza was speaking in French with Le Masque again, and as for Ben? He walked along by her side, looking a little anxious, but perfectly willing to go along with this. For some reason, his compliance annoyed me more than anything else. I glared at the ground sullenly.
I don't know how long we walked. It could have been days, or just a few minutes. Suddenly, a pair of bloodshot green eyes were staring right into mine, and a voice shrieked, "Boo!"
I screamed, and jumped back, bumping into one of the new people. Blushing, I apologized, and turned to see Madiza standing there, cackling her silly head off.
"That wasn't funny!" I cried indignantly.
"Oh, come on! Don't you know what day it is?"
"No. Why should I?"
"Friday, October 31st. This is Halloween, everybody make a scene!" Madiza grinned, and ran to the front of the line, where Ox and Kestrel were.
I looked at Cara and Matt, nonplussed, forgetting I was mad at them.
"Hallow-what?"
"Halloween. It's an old holiday, before the government took over. People dressed up in costumes, and went to people's houses for candy. It was something called trick-or-treating," said Cara.
"Oh."
"The rule was the scarier, the better, I think."
"She can keep track of the days of the week?" I asked, bemused.
Cara and Matt both looked at me.
"You're actually surprised by that, Luce?"
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Freegans part 45
Cara
The woman in the mask cried out jubilantly, "Monsieur Boeuf! You and the rest are alright! It is magnificent!" She nearly threw her arms around Ox, who quickly took a step back.
"Yes, Masque, I'm quite alright, thank you. It's very fortunate that you came to us so quickly."
"Oh, it was not all my doing, non? It was mainly due to the ingenuity of La Tour, and his knowledge of the tunnels." She indicated a small, dark man with a small, scruffy beard. I noticed that Kestrel gave an involuntary smile upon seeing him.
"Tower," said Ox in a relieved-sounding voice. "You made it, too."
Le Masque, Tower, and the others peered over at us curiously. When she cast her eyes on Madiza, Masque gasped.
"Is that-"
"Mais oui, c'est moi, Le Projet 112!" Madiza exclaimed, in perfect French. I can't say I was surprised; nothing she could do surprised me anymore. Looking delighted, Masque broke into a rapid conversation with her.
Though his face seemed more accustomed to smiling, Tower looked very grim as he sidled up to Ox, Kestrel, and Max. He said, "There is no more time. We need to get to the Church and free Deep Thought and the others now." He spoke in a foreign, but very nice-sounding accent.
Ox nodded. "Alright. Kestrel, you and I will take 112 and a few others, and go to the Church. Max, you can take the others back home-"
"What?!" It took us a moment to realize that the shocked cry had come from Madiza. She had evidently finished talking to Masque, and was behind us, listening in. Her green eyes were wide with shock, and slight terror.
"You're going to take them away? You can't! I need my friends! I need them!"
"The Church of Golden Light is no place for them. They can't help us. You can," said Ox.
Then I was forced to eat my words. Madiza did something that completely surprised me (and probably Lucy, too, since she was so hostile towards the looney). She folded her arms stubbornly across her chest, and said, "Not without my friends!" Then, even though they didn't say anything, a conversation passed between Ox and Madiza. The problem was plain. He needed her, and didn't want to try to force her to give the code. He didn't want us in danger, but saw that she wasn't willing to be separated from us. It was a struggle for power that only one of them could win. Finally, he sighed and nodded.
"Alright. They may come too."
The woman in the mask cried out jubilantly, "Monsieur Boeuf! You and the rest are alright! It is magnificent!" She nearly threw her arms around Ox, who quickly took a step back.
"Yes, Masque, I'm quite alright, thank you. It's very fortunate that you came to us so quickly."
"Oh, it was not all my doing, non? It was mainly due to the ingenuity of La Tour, and his knowledge of the tunnels." She indicated a small, dark man with a small, scruffy beard. I noticed that Kestrel gave an involuntary smile upon seeing him.
"Tower," said Ox in a relieved-sounding voice. "You made it, too."
Le Masque, Tower, and the others peered over at us curiously. When she cast her eyes on Madiza, Masque gasped.
"Is that-"
"Mais oui, c'est moi, Le Projet 112!" Madiza exclaimed, in perfect French. I can't say I was surprised; nothing she could do surprised me anymore. Looking delighted, Masque broke into a rapid conversation with her.
Though his face seemed more accustomed to smiling, Tower looked very grim as he sidled up to Ox, Kestrel, and Max. He said, "There is no more time. We need to get to the Church and free Deep Thought and the others now." He spoke in a foreign, but very nice-sounding accent.
Ox nodded. "Alright. Kestrel, you and I will take 112 and a few others, and go to the Church. Max, you can take the others back home-"
"What?!" It took us a moment to realize that the shocked cry had come from Madiza. She had evidently finished talking to Masque, and was behind us, listening in. Her green eyes were wide with shock, and slight terror.
"You're going to take them away? You can't! I need my friends! I need them!"
"The Church of Golden Light is no place for them. They can't help us. You can," said Ox.
Then I was forced to eat my words. Madiza did something that completely surprised me (and probably Lucy, too, since she was so hostile towards the looney). She folded her arms stubbornly across her chest, and said, "Not without my friends!" Then, even though they didn't say anything, a conversation passed between Ox and Madiza. The problem was plain. He needed her, and didn't want to try to force her to give the code. He didn't want us in danger, but saw that she wasn't willing to be separated from us. It was a struggle for power that only one of them could win. Finally, he sighed and nodded.
"Alright. They may come too."
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Freegans part 44
Matt
'Figures,' I thought. The Ox, Kestrel, and the red-haired woman pulled out plasma rifles, and began blasting, making it hard for me to see who it was that we were even fighting. Dodging a plasma ball that nearly took my head off, I grabbed the crowbar that Cara tossed to me from her knapsack (I was beginning to wonder if that thing was bottomless), and joined in to the fighting. As soon as I got involved, I could see that these weren't the Junkmen, since they were of ordinary height, and they weren't robots, since they were humans. The conclusion? They must be from the government. This had an odd effect on Kestrel. He had set his beret very low over his face, and looked like he was trying to hide somewhat. I figured he had been a spy, or something like that.
Sadly, we were outnumbered, and out-gunned. In almost no time at all we were surrounded. One of them stepped forward, smirking. He was dressed in the same uniform as the rest of the soldiers, except that his beret was bright red. I assumed this meant he was the leader. He addressed the Ox:
"You have some things that belong to us." The man indicated us kids. "We'd like to have them back now."
"I'm afraid that you can't," said the Ox in a dignified voice.
The soldier looked annoyed. "Perhaps I am not making myself clear." He made a gesture, and almost every soldier pointed his gun at the Ox's chest.
"You aren't in any position to say what we can or can't do. We are taking them now, and if you try to resist, you-"
He was interrupted by a blast of electricity, knocking him sideways into some of the other ranks, like a set of dominoes.
Madiza then turned her tazer on the group next to them, before they could come to their senses and start shooting her. Unexpectedly, more help emerged, in the form of another small group of people, who shot up the tunnel towards us with more plasma rifles. Their leader was a woman wearing an elaborate mask, as if she were about to go to a costume party. Madiza looked down at the man with the red beret, and said contemptuously, "Baaaad old putty-tat!"
'Figures,' I thought. The Ox, Kestrel, and the red-haired woman pulled out plasma rifles, and began blasting, making it hard for me to see who it was that we were even fighting. Dodging a plasma ball that nearly took my head off, I grabbed the crowbar that Cara tossed to me from her knapsack (I was beginning to wonder if that thing was bottomless), and joined in to the fighting. As soon as I got involved, I could see that these weren't the Junkmen, since they were of ordinary height, and they weren't robots, since they were humans. The conclusion? They must be from the government. This had an odd effect on Kestrel. He had set his beret very low over his face, and looked like he was trying to hide somewhat. I figured he had been a spy, or something like that.
Sadly, we were outnumbered, and out-gunned. In almost no time at all we were surrounded. One of them stepped forward, smirking. He was dressed in the same uniform as the rest of the soldiers, except that his beret was bright red. I assumed this meant he was the leader. He addressed the Ox:
"You have some things that belong to us." The man indicated us kids. "We'd like to have them back now."
"I'm afraid that you can't," said the Ox in a dignified voice.
The soldier looked annoyed. "Perhaps I am not making myself clear." He made a gesture, and almost every soldier pointed his gun at the Ox's chest.
"You aren't in any position to say what we can or can't do. We are taking them now, and if you try to resist, you-"
He was interrupted by a blast of electricity, knocking him sideways into some of the other ranks, like a set of dominoes.
Madiza then turned her tazer on the group next to them, before they could come to their senses and start shooting her. Unexpectedly, more help emerged, in the form of another small group of people, who shot up the tunnel towards us with more plasma rifles. Their leader was a woman wearing an elaborate mask, as if she were about to go to a costume party. Madiza looked down at the man with the red beret, and said contemptuously, "Baaaad old putty-tat!"
Friday, July 8, 2011
Freegans part 43
Lucy
Madiza and Ben looked very sweet, snuggled up together like that. He couldn't use his voice to say 'ssh, ssh', so he was softly hissing through his teeth. It was all very cute to watch. So why did I have bile rising in my throat, and feel churning in my stomach? I turned away, only to see Cara and Matt smirking at me, and looking as though they were trying not to laugh.
"Shut up!" I snapped.
"What?" asked Cara, her green eyes going wide and innocent. I just glared, and looked for somewhere else to look. My options were becoming smaller by the second. From behind me I heard small explosions of giggles.
It was a relief to me when Kestrel announced that it was times to go. We got up, and began to quickly pack our things. I tried to carry as much as possible, but didn't do very well, I'm afraid. Most of it had to be taken from me, and distributed among the others. But I didn't mind much. I was used to being the weakling. The tall woman, Max, opened the secret door, and we slipped out. To my dismay, I found myself walking near Madiza, who was mumbling and humming to herself, perfectly happy again. I tried to ignore her, instead focusing on the sides of the tunnel, or my friends, or anything else.
Suddenly, Madiza looked right at me and said, out of the blue, "I've been considering words that begin with the letter J. Jealousy. Jaundice. Jack-in-the-box. Juvenile."
"What's that supposed to mean?!" I demanded, stung by the first word.
"Oh, nothing, nothing at all," she replied lightly, looking up at the ceiling as if there were something interesting there. "Just-beware of the green-eyed monster. Oh, and you can't lose what you never had."
Then she went back to her demented mutterings. I felt flustered and angry. Had she just given me a threat? My wonderings were interrupted-by an attack suddenly made on our small group.
Madiza and Ben looked very sweet, snuggled up together like that. He couldn't use his voice to say 'ssh, ssh', so he was softly hissing through his teeth. It was all very cute to watch. So why did I have bile rising in my throat, and feel churning in my stomach? I turned away, only to see Cara and Matt smirking at me, and looking as though they were trying not to laugh.
"Shut up!" I snapped.
"What?" asked Cara, her green eyes going wide and innocent. I just glared, and looked for somewhere else to look. My options were becoming smaller by the second. From behind me I heard small explosions of giggles.
It was a relief to me when Kestrel announced that it was times to go. We got up, and began to quickly pack our things. I tried to carry as much as possible, but didn't do very well, I'm afraid. Most of it had to be taken from me, and distributed among the others. But I didn't mind much. I was used to being the weakling. The tall woman, Max, opened the secret door, and we slipped out. To my dismay, I found myself walking near Madiza, who was mumbling and humming to herself, perfectly happy again. I tried to ignore her, instead focusing on the sides of the tunnel, or my friends, or anything else.
Suddenly, Madiza looked right at me and said, out of the blue, "I've been considering words that begin with the letter J. Jealousy. Jaundice. Jack-in-the-box. Juvenile."
"What's that supposed to mean?!" I demanded, stung by the first word.
"Oh, nothing, nothing at all," she replied lightly, looking up at the ceiling as if there were something interesting there. "Just-beware of the green-eyed monster. Oh, and you can't lose what you never had."
Then she went back to her demented mutterings. I felt flustered and angry. Had she just given me a threat? My wonderings were interrupted-by an attack suddenly made on our small group.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Freegans part 42
Ben
For a while all I did was watch Madiza draw. I could tell something was wrong, because her hands were trembling slightly, and she was writing an essay in Latin. That only happens when she feels agitated. I reached out and touched her shoulder. She stopped her frantic scribbling, and looked up at me. Her green eyes were bulging with fear.
Hey, are you okay? I signed at her with my free hand. Madiza had taught me sign language, but we didn't use it that often, unless I had no writing materials handy. She replied, No. Well, not really. If you want to know the truth, Ben-ben, I'm really scared. I'm expected to turn off the Drones of Golden Light, for crying out loud! It was clear that she was in one of her more lucid moments. She looked down, and suddenly stuffed the chalk in her pocket.
I don't know if I can take all this pressure, Ben! she signed. I reached out and put an arm around her bony shoulders.
Madiza, I signed with my right hand, you're a genius. You know the KillCode. And we'll all be here to protect you. You'll be fine.
She smiled at me gratefully. Thanks, Ben-ben. But what happens afterward? What will they do to us? They seem nice, but who knows what their real motives are?
I pulled her close, leaning her head against my shoulder. Gently I began to rock back and forth, hissing through my teeth. It was a guaranteed way to calm her down.
For a while all I did was watch Madiza draw. I could tell something was wrong, because her hands were trembling slightly, and she was writing an essay in Latin. That only happens when she feels agitated. I reached out and touched her shoulder. She stopped her frantic scribbling, and looked up at me. Her green eyes were bulging with fear.
Hey, are you okay? I signed at her with my free hand. Madiza had taught me sign language, but we didn't use it that often, unless I had no writing materials handy. She replied, No. Well, not really. If you want to know the truth, Ben-ben, I'm really scared. I'm expected to turn off the Drones of Golden Light, for crying out loud! It was clear that she was in one of her more lucid moments. She looked down, and suddenly stuffed the chalk in her pocket.
I don't know if I can take all this pressure, Ben! she signed. I reached out and put an arm around her bony shoulders.
Madiza, I signed with my right hand, you're a genius. You know the KillCode. And we'll all be here to protect you. You'll be fine.
She smiled at me gratefully. Thanks, Ben-ben. But what happens afterward? What will they do to us? They seem nice, but who knows what their real motives are?
I pulled her close, leaning her head against my shoulder. Gently I began to rock back and forth, hissing through my teeth. It was a guaranteed way to calm her down.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
The Ultimate Disney villain
After much research, study, and speculation, I have narrowed it down to 11 Disney villains who are ultimately superior and awesome, based on voice, looks, powers, and/or theme song (if they have one).
I haven't gotten a particular order for them in coolness, but I do know they are:
1. Ursula, from The Little Mermaid. Evil, white-haired, sarcastic tentacled-woman. What's not to like?
2. Medusa, of The Rescuers. Greedy, sadistic, red-haired woman. There's a pattern here.
3. Jafar, the main bad dude in Aladdin. Doesn't have a theme song in the first movie, and the second is rather mediocre in my book. But his powers are uber-AWESOME.
4. Cruella de Vil, from 101 Dalmatians. Fur-wearing, slightly crazy dog-killer, known as the devil woman. Great theme song.
5. Maleficent, the bad fairy or whatever in Sleeping Beauty. Her song, if you can call it that, doesn't really have any words, just a creepy, bone-chilling clarinet solo. Plus, she has one of the best lines, describing her minions: "They're all hopeless. A DISGRACE to the forces of evil."
6. Frollo, ala The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Sings one of the best songs in Disney history, and his religious hypocrisy is a refreshing relief from the usual cheesy nauseous villains they think up. Even if he does wear a dorky-looking hat.
7. Captain Hook, from Peter Pan. He's hilarious, temperamental but cowardly, and always looking for loopholes in his promises. He can't hold a candle to Dustin Hoffman, but he's the next best thing.
8. Shere Khan, out of The Jungle Book. One of the BEST voices ever! And the way he is politely threatening causes chills every time!
9. Doctor Facilier, from the latest The Princess and the Frog. He has the best song in the movie, and is sort of a cross between Hook and Cruella de Vil. This makes him automatically awesome.
10. Scar, the deprived, vengeful brother from The Lion King. Kind of a stereotypical theme, but then again, most of these are. And there is probably no one with half a brain who would deny that his song is magnificent, and great, and any other positive adjectives possible.
11. Hades, Lord of the Dead, a la Hercules. He talks, looks, and acts great. And the flaming blue hair only adds to his image.
If anyone has any other suggestions for the list, please let me know.
I haven't gotten a particular order for them in coolness, but I do know they are:
1. Ursula, from The Little Mermaid. Evil, white-haired, sarcastic tentacled-woman. What's not to like?
2. Medusa, of The Rescuers. Greedy, sadistic, red-haired woman. There's a pattern here.
3. Jafar, the main bad dude in Aladdin. Doesn't have a theme song in the first movie, and the second is rather mediocre in my book. But his powers are uber-AWESOME.
4. Cruella de Vil, from 101 Dalmatians. Fur-wearing, slightly crazy dog-killer, known as the devil woman. Great theme song.
5. Maleficent, the bad fairy or whatever in Sleeping Beauty. Her song, if you can call it that, doesn't really have any words, just a creepy, bone-chilling clarinet solo. Plus, she has one of the best lines, describing her minions: "They're all hopeless. A DISGRACE to the forces of evil."
6. Frollo, ala The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Sings one of the best songs in Disney history, and his religious hypocrisy is a refreshing relief from the usual cheesy nauseous villains they think up. Even if he does wear a dorky-looking hat.
7. Captain Hook, from Peter Pan. He's hilarious, temperamental but cowardly, and always looking for loopholes in his promises. He can't hold a candle to Dustin Hoffman, but he's the next best thing.
8. Shere Khan, out of The Jungle Book. One of the BEST voices ever! And the way he is politely threatening causes chills every time!
9. Doctor Facilier, from the latest The Princess and the Frog. He has the best song in the movie, and is sort of a cross between Hook and Cruella de Vil. This makes him automatically awesome.
10. Scar, the deprived, vengeful brother from The Lion King. Kind of a stereotypical theme, but then again, most of these are. And there is probably no one with half a brain who would deny that his song is magnificent, and great, and any other positive adjectives possible.
11. Hades, Lord of the Dead, a la Hercules. He talks, looks, and acts great. And the flaming blue hair only adds to his image.
If anyone has any other suggestions for the list, please let me know.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Freegans part 41
Cara
"No, not yet. We have another hour to go before moving," said the Ox to her. She glanced at her watch again, and said, "Oh. Sorry." Then she lay down and went back to sleep.
There was silence, as we digested this little bit of news. I happened to glance over at Madiza, and suddenly noticed that one of her already-ragged shirtsleeves had torn, and I could see her bare arm. To my surprise, it was covered in hundreds of long-healed, pale scars, overlapping and connecting. They stood out against her fair skin. Madiza seemed to instinctively know I was staring, and pulled up her sleeve quickly. I turned to my friends, who I could tell had seen it too. Ben handed me a piece of paper. It had written on it, Don't ask her. She doesn't like to remember. They're all over both her arms and her back, too.
"What happened to her?" I asked.
Ben took back the paper, and scribbled on it for a long while. When he finally gave it back, Matt and Lucy and I read it over.
It was at least a year ago. We were in the cage, doing nothing, when the vice-president came down, accompanied by a squadron of soldiers. They unlocked the cage;then they unchained Madiza, and dragged her out of the cage. Then, before my eyes, they suddenly began flogging her! Right there, in the middle of the floor, for no apparent reason, except to satisfy Gwilliam's angry mood! When he'd finally had enough fun, they brought her back in, and re-chained her! As if she could even crawl, in her weakened and battered state. After they left, I did my best to care for her wounds, even using some of our water to clean them. Even so, it took weeks for them to completely heal.
I looked up, and was startled when I saw that Ben had the scariest look on his face. It was similar to the look Lennie had in the 1996 version of Of Mice and Men. All three of us backed away slightly. As soon as it had come, the expression faded. He smiled apologetically, and went and sat down by Madiza, and watched her draw. I couldn't help noticing that Lucy was scowling at them. Matt and I both rolled our eyes. It was becoming a little obnoxious the way Lucy kept mooning over Ben.
"No, not yet. We have another hour to go before moving," said the Ox to her. She glanced at her watch again, and said, "Oh. Sorry." Then she lay down and went back to sleep.
There was silence, as we digested this little bit of news. I happened to glance over at Madiza, and suddenly noticed that one of her already-ragged shirtsleeves had torn, and I could see her bare arm. To my surprise, it was covered in hundreds of long-healed, pale scars, overlapping and connecting. They stood out against her fair skin. Madiza seemed to instinctively know I was staring, and pulled up her sleeve quickly. I turned to my friends, who I could tell had seen it too. Ben handed me a piece of paper. It had written on it, Don't ask her. She doesn't like to remember. They're all over both her arms and her back, too.
"What happened to her?" I asked.
Ben took back the paper, and scribbled on it for a long while. When he finally gave it back, Matt and Lucy and I read it over.
It was at least a year ago. We were in the cage, doing nothing, when the vice-president came down, accompanied by a squadron of soldiers. They unlocked the cage;then they unchained Madiza, and dragged her out of the cage. Then, before my eyes, they suddenly began flogging her! Right there, in the middle of the floor, for no apparent reason, except to satisfy Gwilliam's angry mood! When he'd finally had enough fun, they brought her back in, and re-chained her! As if she could even crawl, in her weakened and battered state. After they left, I did my best to care for her wounds, even using some of our water to clean them. Even so, it took weeks for them to completely heal.
I looked up, and was startled when I saw that Ben had the scariest look on his face. It was similar to the look Lennie had in the 1996 version of Of Mice and Men. All three of us backed away slightly. As soon as it had come, the expression faded. He smiled apologetically, and went and sat down by Madiza, and watched her draw. I couldn't help noticing that Lucy was scowling at them. Matt and I both rolled our eyes. It was becoming a little obnoxious the way Lucy kept mooning over Ben.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Freegans part 40
Matt
Dude, I had not asked a stupid question! It was a very rational inquiry that deserved speculation! Right?
Anyway, Kestrel and Ox were giving us a very long once-over, and I was starting to get a little uncomfortable. I asked, "What do you mean?"
Cara gave one of her 'That was a really dumb question, Matt' sighs which annoy me so much, and said, "They're not sure they can trust us. They think it's suspicious that we turned up so suddenly. Isn't that right?" The question was directed towards the men. Both nodded.
"S-s-so, what are you going to do with us?" asked Lucy, turning pale.
"Well, if you're just kids, you should be sent home. This is no place for you. But if you turn out to be enemy spies or something-"
"You'll kill us?" I concluded.
"No, probably just tie you up and leave you somewhere."
"Don't you have a lie detector machine or something you can use to test us, see if we're innocent?" asked Cara.
Ox and Kestrel looked at each other, then back at us. The Ox said, "We do, but we don't have it with us. Sadly, it's back at our center of operations."
"Dang," muttered Cara.
Just then, the strange redheaded woman who'd come in and fallen asleep woke up. She looked at a wristwatch, and said, "Time to go."
Dude, I had not asked a stupid question! It was a very rational inquiry that deserved speculation! Right?
Anyway, Kestrel and Ox were giving us a very long once-over, and I was starting to get a little uncomfortable. I asked, "What do you mean?"
Cara gave one of her 'That was a really dumb question, Matt' sighs which annoy me so much, and said, "They're not sure they can trust us. They think it's suspicious that we turned up so suddenly. Isn't that right?" The question was directed towards the men. Both nodded.
"S-s-so, what are you going to do with us?" asked Lucy, turning pale.
"Well, if you're just kids, you should be sent home. This is no place for you. But if you turn out to be enemy spies or something-"
"You'll kill us?" I concluded.
"No, probably just tie you up and leave you somewhere."
"Don't you have a lie detector machine or something you can use to test us, see if we're innocent?" asked Cara.
Ox and Kestrel looked at each other, then back at us. The Ox said, "We do, but we don't have it with us. Sadly, it's back at our center of operations."
"Dang," muttered Cara.
Just then, the strange redheaded woman who'd come in and fallen asleep woke up. She looked at a wristwatch, and said, "Time to go."
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Freegans part 39
Cara
"What's 42 mean? Does that have some significance?" asked Matt. All of us looked at him, wondering how it was that a guy who could act so smart could also ask such abominably stupid questions.
"No duh, Matt," I said, rolling my eyes. He looked down sheepishly.
The Ox said, "One of the most important prisoners being kept in the prison goes by the code name of Deep Thought."
"Like in the book by Douglas Adams?" I asked, remembering why the number 42 sounded so familiar. Dad had given me a copy of it a couple of years ago for Christmas. The Kestrel and Ox both nodded.
"He has an odd sense of humor like that. Anyway, he's one of our most important members, a great computer hacker. His time is running out before they execute him, so we need to get to that computer, and have Madiza type in the KillCode, within at least three days."
I looked at Madiza. She was sitting on the floor, still drawing, muttering to herself; I think her words at that moment were something like 'rabbits' and somebody named George. It was hard to believe that this scrawny, ragged little maniac was instrumental in basically saving our lives, as well as the lives of everyone else on the planet still free of the consumerists. Of course, at that moment Matt had to ruin my pondering by asking, "So what about us?"
The Ox and Kestrel gave us equally unnerving fixed stares.
"Yes, that is the question, isn't it?" asked the Ox.
"What's 42 mean? Does that have some significance?" asked Matt. All of us looked at him, wondering how it was that a guy who could act so smart could also ask such abominably stupid questions.
"No duh, Matt," I said, rolling my eyes. He looked down sheepishly.
The Ox said, "One of the most important prisoners being kept in the prison goes by the code name of Deep Thought."
"Like in the book by Douglas Adams?" I asked, remembering why the number 42 sounded so familiar. Dad had given me a copy of it a couple of years ago for Christmas. The Kestrel and Ox both nodded.
"He has an odd sense of humor like that. Anyway, he's one of our most important members, a great computer hacker. His time is running out before they execute him, so we need to get to that computer, and have Madiza type in the KillCode, within at least three days."
I looked at Madiza. She was sitting on the floor, still drawing, muttering to herself; I think her words at that moment were something like 'rabbits' and somebody named George. It was hard to believe that this scrawny, ragged little maniac was instrumental in basically saving our lives, as well as the lives of everyone else on the planet still free of the consumerists. Of course, at that moment Matt had to ruin my pondering by asking, "So what about us?"
The Ox and Kestrel gave us equally unnerving fixed stares.
"Yes, that is the question, isn't it?" asked the Ox.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Yet another Movie Review
This movie(and the play by Oscar Wilde that it is based on) are both hilarious. In it, Mr. John Worthing goes by the name Earnest in the city, and the name John in the country, as an excuse for him to take on a more libertine nature in the city, pretending that he goes there to see to a younger brother called Earnest. His friend Algernon (Algy) uses a similar technique, pretending that he has an invalid friend by the name of Bunbury, so that he can go "visit" him in the country whenever he wants to get away from his domineering Aunt Augusta.
John falls in love with Algy's cousin Gwendolyn(who thinks his name is Earnest), and unfortunately, Aunt Augusta forbids the match. At nearly the same time, Algy secretly goes to John's home in the country under the guise of being 'Earnest', and has fallen for John's ward Cecily, who expresses a deep admiration for the aforementioned name! Will any of them find true happiness and love?
Friday, March 25, 2011
Phil Collins
How many of you out there have seen "Tarzan"? Well then, you know Phil Collins, right? He's the guy who created all of the music for it, and I think he is completely awesome. My favorite song is the version of "Trashin' the Camp" done by him and N'Sync. It's very catching, and also done almost completely a cappella, which takes real talent, I assure you.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Freegans part 38
Lucy
The Ox looked at each of us carefully, almost like he was searching for something. Then he asked,
"Madiza, do you know what the KillCode is?"
Her eyes widened, and I could practically see the gears inside that warped brain of hers turning. She looked up at the man, and nodded.
"Can you tell me?"
"I could, but should I? After all, three can keep a secret, if two are dead. Hee hee hee!"
The Ox nodded, looking slightly pleased. "Good idea. You can reveal it when the time comes."
Seeing our perplexed expressions, he said, "It's a special code that can shut down the Golden Church's Security Drones for at least an hour."
We knew what the Golden Church was. About the same time the Amish had been eliminated, the consumerists created a new church advocating the idea that their wealth was a gift from God, and that they should revel in it. It was very similar to some of the ideas of the tycoons of the early twentieth century. We'd learned about it in school. The Golden Church, or the Church of Golden Light, was one of the main problems the Freegans were facing. Because of the faux religious fervor, they were better able to spread their propaganda against us.
"Isn't the Golden Church full of a bunch of wacko flagellants?" asked Cara, with her typical bluntness.
"Some of them. More importantly, they have a Prison Sanctum, where they store heretics and anyone who opposes them. It is guarded by vicious robot-androids known as Drones, which are controlled by the Sacred Computer and ATM of Light. Madiza happened to see the KillCode, therefore memorizing it, and if she types it into the computer, she can shut down the Drones."
"What will that do?" Matt wanted to know.
"It will help us to enter and save our missing comrades-" The Ox stopped talking with a small gasp. He was looking down at the floor. We followed his gaze, only to see more of Madiza's scribblings. In the middle of them, she had written the number 42, which was also circled. She looked up at him with a smile.
"Yes," said the Ox unsteadily. "Exactly."
The Ox looked at each of us carefully, almost like he was searching for something. Then he asked,
"Madiza, do you know what the KillCode is?"
Her eyes widened, and I could practically see the gears inside that warped brain of hers turning. She looked up at the man, and nodded.
"Can you tell me?"
"I could, but should I? After all, three can keep a secret, if two are dead. Hee hee hee!"
The Ox nodded, looking slightly pleased. "Good idea. You can reveal it when the time comes."
Seeing our perplexed expressions, he said, "It's a special code that can shut down the Golden Church's Security Drones for at least an hour."
We knew what the Golden Church was. About the same time the Amish had been eliminated, the consumerists created a new church advocating the idea that their wealth was a gift from God, and that they should revel in it. It was very similar to some of the ideas of the tycoons of the early twentieth century. We'd learned about it in school. The Golden Church, or the Church of Golden Light, was one of the main problems the Freegans were facing. Because of the faux religious fervor, they were better able to spread their propaganda against us.
"Isn't the Golden Church full of a bunch of wacko flagellants?" asked Cara, with her typical bluntness.
"Some of them. More importantly, they have a Prison Sanctum, where they store heretics and anyone who opposes them. It is guarded by vicious robot-androids known as Drones, which are controlled by the Sacred Computer and ATM of Light. Madiza happened to see the KillCode, therefore memorizing it, and if she types it into the computer, she can shut down the Drones."
"What will that do?" Matt wanted to know.
"It will help us to enter and save our missing comrades-" The Ox stopped talking with a small gasp. He was looking down at the floor. We followed his gaze, only to see more of Madiza's scribblings. In the middle of them, she had written the number 42, which was also circled. She looked up at him with a smile.
"Yes," said the Ox unsteadily. "Exactly."
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Platypuses/Platypi
Some people might think them strange, freaky creatures, but personally, I think the platypus is one of the cutest creatures on this earth. Who can resist that cute little face?
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Megamind
This movie was absolutely marvelous. In it, two aliens wind up on Earth, after their planets are destroyed. One goes to a mansion, and has the good life, as well as extraordinary super powers. The other crashes in a prison, and has to make do with having a lot of brain power. The two grow up to be rivals Metro Man and Megamind. Or, as Mega Mind puts it, "He took the name: Metro Man, defender of Metro City. I decided to pick something a little more humble: Megamind, incredibly handsome criminal genius and master of all villainy!"
They have the archetypal good guy-bad guy comic book relationship: Megamind will try and take over Metro City, Metro Man will stop him, and Megamind will go to jail. Over and over. When one day, to everyone's surprise (especially his) Megamind is able to successfully kill off Metro Man! He happily takes over the city, but then realizes that without a super hero to fight, he no longer has any purpose in life!
I would explain more, like how he uses some of Metro Man's DNA to create a new super hero for him to fight, or how that guy turns out to be evil, but it would kind of give away the plot. It's funny, and has a relatively good message, and with a PG rating for mild language and violence. Really a marvelous film.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Tragedy, Gloom and Doom
Fans of Redwall will be saddened to hear of the unexpected death of Brian Jacques, age 71. It was on Saturday, in Liverpool, England. He was a great man, and a great writer. Never again shall we read the works of another like him. He has a wife, Maureen, and two sons, Marc and David. We are sure that they are all feeling the same loss all us Redwall fans are, if not stronger. In pace requiescat, Brian Jacques!
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Freegans part 37
Lucy's parents were frantic. Ever since Danielle had run home, sobbing, and told them that the kids had been carried off by the consumerists, they had been worried. They had heard nothing for two weeks. McTavish had sent out spies, and surveillance tapes, but hadn't been able to discover anything. Then three days ago, he'd gotten a report that the president and vice president were very agitated about something, and that several of their troops had gone suddenly missing. Lucy's dad suspected that the kids had done something to throw a monkey wrench into the works, and were now being hunted. While this gave a sign that they were still alive, it upset them still, because it also meant they were in a heap of trouble.
Ever since Matt had disappeared, his dad had sobered up, and appeared to realize that he really did love his son. Now, instead of lying around all day in a drunken state, he moped around the Freegan village, murmuring about how everyone he cared about left him. It was really a sad thing to see.
Matt's dad finally went back to his camp that night, feeling alone and dejected. He'd gone to Mr. McTavish and asked permission to try and go find his son, but McTavish had politely (but firmly) brushed him off, stating that they didn't want to take any unnecessary risks. He thought this was unfair; this was his kid they were talking about, for crying out loud! He needed to find him, make sure he was okay! This was something that could finally give him a purpose, after so many years of being in a drunken stupor. He considered ignoring the order and going after Matt anyway. Yes! That would work! Nobody was going to try and tell him not to save his own son!
As he went into his hut to get some supplies, he found a paper lying on his table. Unaware that a similar note was being read at this moment by Lucy and Cara's family, he picked it up. It said:
Your child has been found, and is in safe hands. Please don't worry. We will try and get him to you as soon as possible.
The note wasn't signed. Instead, there was a peculiar spiral shape, almost like a tornado.
Ever since Matt had disappeared, his dad had sobered up, and appeared to realize that he really did love his son. Now, instead of lying around all day in a drunken state, he moped around the Freegan village, murmuring about how everyone he cared about left him. It was really a sad thing to see.
Matt's dad finally went back to his camp that night, feeling alone and dejected. He'd gone to Mr. McTavish and asked permission to try and go find his son, but McTavish had politely (but firmly) brushed him off, stating that they didn't want to take any unnecessary risks. He thought this was unfair; this was his kid they were talking about, for crying out loud! He needed to find him, make sure he was okay! This was something that could finally give him a purpose, after so many years of being in a drunken stupor. He considered ignoring the order and going after Matt anyway. Yes! That would work! Nobody was going to try and tell him not to save his own son!
As he went into his hut to get some supplies, he found a paper lying on his table. Unaware that a similar note was being read at this moment by Lucy and Cara's family, he picked it up. It said:
Your child has been found, and is in safe hands. Please don't worry. We will try and get him to you as soon as possible.
The note wasn't signed. Instead, there was a peculiar spiral shape, almost like a tornado.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Freegans part 36
Cara
"What's that thing he's using?" I pointed to the thingy the Ox (as Ben had told me he was called) was holding to Madiza's head.
"Come here, and I'll show you," said the Ox. We dutifully trooped over to look. It was rectangular, made of some odd metal, and had a view-screen on the side facing us. The Ox was pressing a button on it with his thumb while he examined Madiza.
"This is used to study the brain waves in a person's mind, and calculate how much brain power they use. I invented it." The Ox seemed mildly proud of himself as he said this.
"How does it work?" asked Matt. By way of reply, the Ox held up the scanner thing to the side of Matt's head, and pushed the button. There was a loud humming noise, and then on the screen there appeared a lot of lines, kind of like a graph. The Ox studied it, and then gave a nod of satisfaction.
"According to this, you have the normal brainwaves of someone of your age and intelligence." They were wavy, and changed at a nice, slow rate. Then the Ox held it up to Madiza's head, so we could see, and pressed the button. Loud beeps and chirps came from the thing; the lines, when they appeared, were disjointed and uneven. Some were very jagged, and some were curvy, and one was perfectly straight.
"As you can see, her mental capacity is alarmingly high for someone her age, and also very out of sync. Her thoughts are not evenly organized, and keep changing rapidly. This proves that she is, in fact, Project 112."
When the Ox finished speaking, Madiza stood up and peered into his eyes, looking suspicious. Finally she smiled and said, "You're a good boy, too." Then she reached up and patted him on the head, like she had the Kestrel. He looked at us quizzically. I said, "She had to make sure we could trust you."
"Ah. I see."
Then Lucy spoke up. She asked, "Why is Madiza so important to you?" It was the question all of us had been wondering, but hadn't quite figured out how to ask.
"What's that thing he's using?" I pointed to the thingy the Ox (as Ben had told me he was called) was holding to Madiza's head.
"Come here, and I'll show you," said the Ox. We dutifully trooped over to look. It was rectangular, made of some odd metal, and had a view-screen on the side facing us. The Ox was pressing a button on it with his thumb while he examined Madiza.
"This is used to study the brain waves in a person's mind, and calculate how much brain power they use. I invented it." The Ox seemed mildly proud of himself as he said this.
"How does it work?" asked Matt. By way of reply, the Ox held up the scanner thing to the side of Matt's head, and pushed the button. There was a loud humming noise, and then on the screen there appeared a lot of lines, kind of like a graph. The Ox studied it, and then gave a nod of satisfaction.
"According to this, you have the normal brainwaves of someone of your age and intelligence." They were wavy, and changed at a nice, slow rate. Then the Ox held it up to Madiza's head, so we could see, and pressed the button. Loud beeps and chirps came from the thing; the lines, when they appeared, were disjointed and uneven. Some were very jagged, and some were curvy, and one was perfectly straight.
"As you can see, her mental capacity is alarmingly high for someone her age, and also very out of sync. Her thoughts are not evenly organized, and keep changing rapidly. This proves that she is, in fact, Project 112."
When the Ox finished speaking, Madiza stood up and peered into his eyes, looking suspicious. Finally she smiled and said, "You're a good boy, too." Then she reached up and patted him on the head, like she had the Kestrel. He looked at us quizzically. I said, "She had to make sure we could trust you."
"Ah. I see."
Then Lucy spoke up. She asked, "Why is Madiza so important to you?" It was the question all of us had been wondering, but hadn't quite figured out how to ask.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Freegans part 35
Ben continued
I had written, 'Okay, what is going on? Who are these people, and what is he doing to Madiza?'
Kestrel frowned at me. "Who's Madiza?"
I gestured towards her, and the guy who was bent over her. He reminded me of the archetypal college professor: thin, with glasses and a slight beard. I could imagine him in a suit standing in front of a blackboard, holding chalk and writing complex equations.
"Oh. Why do you call her that?"
'It's what she calls herself. Madiza Hatter.'
Getting the pun in the name, Kestrel gave a small smile. "Well, don't worry, the Ox won't hurt her. He just wants to run a small test, make sure she's what he thinks."
'What are you talking about?'
"Wake your friends up. This is something all of you need to know."
Soon all four of us were seated around Kestrel. Madiza had woken up by now, and it appeared that the Ox was asking her some questions, and at the same time holding up some weird little box to the side of her head. It made little beeping sounds, almost as if it were scanning the insides of her brain.
"About six years ago, scientists working for the government developed a new type of technology they referred to as Project 112. Its' purpose was to get rid of schools, by transferring information directly into the brain, since it's basically a living computer. Anyway, before it could be sold, they first needed to experiment to make sure it was safe. To do this, they needed a test subject."
"You mean-" Lucy stopped in shock, and her eyes flicked in Madiza's direction.
"That's right. Your friend was already a prisoner, so they figured why not make her a lab mouse, too. The test run failed, filling up her brain too much. It was like a computer that had been overloaded; so to speak, her wires short-circuited."
"Wow. So there is such a thing as too much information," said Matt. All of us glared at him. This was hardly a laughing matter.
I had written, 'Okay, what is going on? Who are these people, and what is he doing to Madiza?'
Kestrel frowned at me. "Who's Madiza?"
I gestured towards her, and the guy who was bent over her. He reminded me of the archetypal college professor: thin, with glasses and a slight beard. I could imagine him in a suit standing in front of a blackboard, holding chalk and writing complex equations.
"Oh. Why do you call her that?"
'It's what she calls herself. Madiza Hatter.'
Getting the pun in the name, Kestrel gave a small smile. "Well, don't worry, the Ox won't hurt her. He just wants to run a small test, make sure she's what he thinks."
'What are you talking about?'
"Wake your friends up. This is something all of you need to know."
Soon all four of us were seated around Kestrel. Madiza had woken up by now, and it appeared that the Ox was asking her some questions, and at the same time holding up some weird little box to the side of her head. It made little beeping sounds, almost as if it were scanning the insides of her brain.
"About six years ago, scientists working for the government developed a new type of technology they referred to as Project 112. Its' purpose was to get rid of schools, by transferring information directly into the brain, since it's basically a living computer. Anyway, before it could be sold, they first needed to experiment to make sure it was safe. To do this, they needed a test subject."
"You mean-" Lucy stopped in shock, and her eyes flicked in Madiza's direction.
"That's right. Your friend was already a prisoner, so they figured why not make her a lab mouse, too. The test run failed, filling up her brain too much. It was like a computer that had been overloaded; so to speak, her wires short-circuited."
"Wow. So there is such a thing as too much information," said Matt. All of us glared at him. This was hardly a laughing matter.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Freegans part 34
Kestrel
I tensed as the door opened, waving at the silent kid to get down. I picked up the rifle and eased my way to the right, so as to have a clear field of fire if necessary. I felt my pulse quicken. There was silence for a few moments. Then-
"Byron!" Came the low hiss.
My heart leaped. "Pope!" I called back softly. In response, a gloved hand reached out, clicked the trapcatch, and then withdrew. Then Max stepped through the door. As usual, she looked unintentionally beautiful; her red hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail, and her features were accented by the tension in her eyes. I hadn't expected her; the Ox and I had planned this as a two-man operation. For a moment, I let myself pretend that she had wanted to see me again. I moved back to the bench and sat down.
The Ox came through behind her, adjusting his glasses. He looked at the children, then swung his gaze on me. "And 112?" he said, raising his eyebrows. I pointed to where the girl huddled in the corner, muttering in her sleep. "Ah", he said, and then walked over and squatted in front of her.
Max, meanwhile walked to me. "You made it out safely," she said. It was a statement of fact. I nodded. She sighed and sat down on the bench next to me. "Eastbridge is lost. There's no word from Oak or the Harpy. The Butcher made it out, I'm sure-- we had radio contact with him for a few moments before he went into the subways-- but who knows what he'll do." I nodded again. She looked very, very tired. "How long have you been up?" I asked; then, before she answered, I handed her a bottle of water. "Get some sleep. The Ox wants to take a look at her-" here I gestured towards 112- "and we can't risk moving for another three hours anyway. I'll stay on guard." At that moment, the silent kid, who had been still up to then, walked over and handed me his notebook.
I tensed as the door opened, waving at the silent kid to get down. I picked up the rifle and eased my way to the right, so as to have a clear field of fire if necessary. I felt my pulse quicken. There was silence for a few moments. Then-
"Byron!" Came the low hiss.
My heart leaped. "Pope!" I called back softly. In response, a gloved hand reached out, clicked the trapcatch, and then withdrew. Then Max stepped through the door. As usual, she looked unintentionally beautiful; her red hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail, and her features were accented by the tension in her eyes. I hadn't expected her; the Ox and I had planned this as a two-man operation. For a moment, I let myself pretend that she had wanted to see me again. I moved back to the bench and sat down.
The Ox came through behind her, adjusting his glasses. He looked at the children, then swung his gaze on me. "And 112?" he said, raising his eyebrows. I pointed to where the girl huddled in the corner, muttering in her sleep. "Ah", he said, and then walked over and squatted in front of her.
Max, meanwhile walked to me. "You made it out safely," she said. It was a statement of fact. I nodded. She sighed and sat down on the bench next to me. "Eastbridge is lost. There's no word from Oak or the Harpy. The Butcher made it out, I'm sure-- we had radio contact with him for a few moments before he went into the subways-- but who knows what he'll do." I nodded again. She looked very, very tired. "How long have you been up?" I asked; then, before she answered, I handed her a bottle of water. "Get some sleep. The Ox wants to take a look at her-" here I gestured towards 112- "and we can't risk moving for another three hours anyway. I'll stay on guard." At that moment, the silent kid, who had been still up to then, walked over and handed me his notebook.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Freegans part 33
Ben
Kestrel led us into a small alcove, and tapped part of the wall. To my surprise, it slid away, revealing a hidden cavern! He brought us inside, and tapped the wall again, closing it. Lucy gratefully sank to the floor in exhaustion. Kestrel said, "We'll wait here until reinforcements arrive."
"Reinforcements?" asked Cara. "There are more of you?"
"Of course," Kestrel said with a smile. "You didn't think I was the only Resistance member, did you?"
"Well, no," she admitted. I noticed that Madiza was sitting on the ground too. She had her chalk out, and was writing again. This time it caught me by surprise. She was writing over and over the number 112. Kestrel had noticed it too. His eyes widened.
"112?" asked Matt, staring at it. He looked up at the Kestrel. "Does this mean anything to you?"
"Maybe. But I can't explain right now. Later."
There was an old paraffin stove and some provisions in the cavern, and the Kestrel soon had things rather nice and cozy. He produced some sleeping bags when we were done eating, and Lucy (of course) was the first to crawl into one and fall asleep. Matt and Cara soon followed, and I didn't keep my eyes open for much longer. The sleeping bag was wonderfully comfortable, much better than the old pile of rags I'd slept on for the past five years. Madiza was now drawing cross sections of several different eyes, and I left her to it.
I woke abruptly, after what seemed not a long enough amount of sleep. The Kestrel was still keeping watch, and Cara and the others were still asleep. I realized what had woken me. Madiza had dozed off some time previously, and was now tossing and moaning.
"No...no...no, you can't have it! No! Go away! It's mine! My preciousssss!" The last word came out in a loud hiss. She snapped awake, eyes wide. Her eyes darted this way and that before she suddenly realized, "Oh. It was a dream." Then she lay down and went back to sleep. Kestrel raised his eyebrows at me. I shrugged; things like that had happened so many times that I was used to it. Kestrel asked, "Does she always do things like that?"
I nodded. He then asked, "Do you know why she can do that?" He indicated the chalk drawings. I got out my notepad and wrote, 'It's because of the experiments the government did on her, right?'
He replied enigmatically, "Basically, yes." I was about to ask on paper what he meant, but suddenly the door to the cavern began to open!
Kestrel led us into a small alcove, and tapped part of the wall. To my surprise, it slid away, revealing a hidden cavern! He brought us inside, and tapped the wall again, closing it. Lucy gratefully sank to the floor in exhaustion. Kestrel said, "We'll wait here until reinforcements arrive."
"Reinforcements?" asked Cara. "There are more of you?"
"Of course," Kestrel said with a smile. "You didn't think I was the only Resistance member, did you?"
"Well, no," she admitted. I noticed that Madiza was sitting on the ground too. She had her chalk out, and was writing again. This time it caught me by surprise. She was writing over and over the number 112. Kestrel had noticed it too. His eyes widened.
"112?" asked Matt, staring at it. He looked up at the Kestrel. "Does this mean anything to you?"
"Maybe. But I can't explain right now. Later."
There was an old paraffin stove and some provisions in the cavern, and the Kestrel soon had things rather nice and cozy. He produced some sleeping bags when we were done eating, and Lucy (of course) was the first to crawl into one and fall asleep. Matt and Cara soon followed, and I didn't keep my eyes open for much longer. The sleeping bag was wonderfully comfortable, much better than the old pile of rags I'd slept on for the past five years. Madiza was now drawing cross sections of several different eyes, and I left her to it.
I woke abruptly, after what seemed not a long enough amount of sleep. The Kestrel was still keeping watch, and Cara and the others were still asleep. I realized what had woken me. Madiza had dozed off some time previously, and was now tossing and moaning.
"No...no...no, you can't have it! No! Go away! It's mine! My preciousssss!" The last word came out in a loud hiss. She snapped awake, eyes wide. Her eyes darted this way and that before she suddenly realized, "Oh. It was a dream." Then she lay down and went back to sleep. Kestrel raised his eyebrows at me. I shrugged; things like that had happened so many times that I was used to it. Kestrel asked, "Does she always do things like that?"
I nodded. He then asked, "Do you know why she can do that?" He indicated the chalk drawings. I got out my notepad and wrote, 'It's because of the experiments the government did on her, right?'
He replied enigmatically, "Basically, yes." I was about to ask on paper what he meant, but suddenly the door to the cavern began to open!
Sunday, January 9, 2011
My Abduction
Last night I was abducted by aliens. As I recall, I had been in bed, fast asleep, when suddenly I woke up, for no good reason that I could figure out. It was dark in my room, with only the faintest light from the cracks in the window blinds. Then I realized that my closet door was glowing and shivering slightly. I thought at first that the monsters inside were breaking their oath, and were about to come and dispatch me (it's a longer story than this one), so I was shaking in my socks. To my surprise, the door flung itself open, and out came a spaceship!
It was a lot smaller than I had expected: only about the size and shape of a really big beach ball. Then I realized that it must be a pod, and that the spaceship must be outside, perhaps hovering above the house! I broke out in a faint cold sweat. The pod cracked open in the middle, and an alien popped out. It was rather small and thin, with glowing, bulgy blue eyes, webbed hands and feet, and ears that looked a lot like a bat's. Those were the most obvious details. When the alien saw me, it pulled out a tiny gun and zapped me with it. The next thing I knew, I was completely paralyzed, and lifted into the air. The pod with the alien still inside floated back towards the closet, with me floating behind, unable to move an inch, except perhaps my heart and lungs, which were doing calisthenics in my chest.
We went into the closet, and as soon as the door closed behind me, a blaze of color swam before my eyes, mixed with sight and sound. I half wondered if I had stumbled into the Twilight Zone. Suddenly, we were on the inside of what couldn't be anything but a spaceship. There were hundreds more of the aliens bustling about, obviously hard at work. The corridor we were in faintly reminded me of the ones aboard the starship Enterprise. My alien guide got out of his pod, which floated away. He then made a pulling motion with the stun gun, and I floated after him into a room. Inside were a dozen of the creatures, all of whom were seated around a table, talking and munching snacks. My heart started beating faster, if possible, when I saw the quantity of surgical instruments at one corner of the table. The alien at the head of the table asked, "Is this the one, Leroy?"
"Yes, sir!" said my capturer, saluting.
"Good. Put her on the table. And turn that thing off; we want her to be able to answer our questions."
Leroy did so, and I instantly found that I could move again. My first action was to pinch myself to make sure I was awake, even though I knew I was, since I had never had a dream this real before, and I wouldn't have remembered to pinch myself in a dream.
I looked at the aliens. They stared back. Some of them were glaring at me. Suddenly, the one at the head of the table, obviously the captain, demanded, "Why haven't you written more of your story on your blog?!" It was as if he'd pressed a button that set the other aliens off.
"We've been waiting to find out what happens next!"
"I want to know if the Kestrel gets the children to safety!"
"Me too! How do they get away?!"
"Stop holding out on us!"
"Please! Please!" I begged. "It's my ghost writer's fault! He's supposed to ghost the next chapter, and he's been too busy to do it!"
"Excuses, excuses," muttered one of the aliens. "I say we just dissect her now."
"No!" snapped one of the others. "She can't write if she's dissected!" That started a new flood of shouting and arguing, and even a short fistfight, until the head of the alien council jumped onto the table and yelled for order.
"Alright!" he said, "You have all made your points clear! Fisher, Jenkins, that's enough! (Two of the guard aliens pulled the combatants apart) Now, I will give you my decision. Because she has a legitimate excuse for not writing more on her blog story about the Freegans, I will postpone this girl's dissection for a couple of weeks. However, if by that time she has not written anymore, well then-" he picked up a scalpel and turned it so that it caught the light. I hadn't known that knives could glint evilly before. It made the hair on my neck stand on end.
"Do you understand?" the captain asked, staring at me with his bulgy eyes.
"Y-yes, sir," I squeaked out, my voice several octaves higher than usual.
"Good," he said, "It is done."
After that, they took me back home, relatively unharmed, unless sheer terror and fear of the inevitable counts as being harmed. I just wanted to say, except if my ghost writer finds time to write the next chapter, that it's been nice knowing you.
It was a lot smaller than I had expected: only about the size and shape of a really big beach ball. Then I realized that it must be a pod, and that the spaceship must be outside, perhaps hovering above the house! I broke out in a faint cold sweat. The pod cracked open in the middle, and an alien popped out. It was rather small and thin, with glowing, bulgy blue eyes, webbed hands and feet, and ears that looked a lot like a bat's. Those were the most obvious details. When the alien saw me, it pulled out a tiny gun and zapped me with it. The next thing I knew, I was completely paralyzed, and lifted into the air. The pod with the alien still inside floated back towards the closet, with me floating behind, unable to move an inch, except perhaps my heart and lungs, which were doing calisthenics in my chest.
We went into the closet, and as soon as the door closed behind me, a blaze of color swam before my eyes, mixed with sight and sound. I half wondered if I had stumbled into the Twilight Zone. Suddenly, we were on the inside of what couldn't be anything but a spaceship. There were hundreds more of the aliens bustling about, obviously hard at work. The corridor we were in faintly reminded me of the ones aboard the starship Enterprise. My alien guide got out of his pod, which floated away. He then made a pulling motion with the stun gun, and I floated after him into a room. Inside were a dozen of the creatures, all of whom were seated around a table, talking and munching snacks. My heart started beating faster, if possible, when I saw the quantity of surgical instruments at one corner of the table. The alien at the head of the table asked, "Is this the one, Leroy?"
"Yes, sir!" said my capturer, saluting.
"Good. Put her on the table. And turn that thing off; we want her to be able to answer our questions."
Leroy did so, and I instantly found that I could move again. My first action was to pinch myself to make sure I was awake, even though I knew I was, since I had never had a dream this real before, and I wouldn't have remembered to pinch myself in a dream.
I looked at the aliens. They stared back. Some of them were glaring at me. Suddenly, the one at the head of the table, obviously the captain, demanded, "Why haven't you written more of your story on your blog?!" It was as if he'd pressed a button that set the other aliens off.
"We've been waiting to find out what happens next!"
"I want to know if the Kestrel gets the children to safety!"
"Me too! How do they get away?!"
"Stop holding out on us!"
"Please! Please!" I begged. "It's my ghost writer's fault! He's supposed to ghost the next chapter, and he's been too busy to do it!"
"Excuses, excuses," muttered one of the aliens. "I say we just dissect her now."
"No!" snapped one of the others. "She can't write if she's dissected!" That started a new flood of shouting and arguing, and even a short fistfight, until the head of the alien council jumped onto the table and yelled for order.
"Alright!" he said, "You have all made your points clear! Fisher, Jenkins, that's enough! (Two of the guard aliens pulled the combatants apart) Now, I will give you my decision. Because she has a legitimate excuse for not writing more on her blog story about the Freegans, I will postpone this girl's dissection for a couple of weeks. However, if by that time she has not written anymore, well then-" he picked up a scalpel and turned it so that it caught the light. I hadn't known that knives could glint evilly before. It made the hair on my neck stand on end.
"Do you understand?" the captain asked, staring at me with his bulgy eyes.
"Y-yes, sir," I squeaked out, my voice several octaves higher than usual.
"Good," he said, "It is done."
After that, they took me back home, relatively unharmed, unless sheer terror and fear of the inevitable counts as being harmed. I just wanted to say, except if my ghost writer finds time to write the next chapter, that it's been nice knowing you.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Help
Does anybody know how to delete posts? I wrote one earlier, and realized there was some stuff in it that others might object to, but I couldn't figure out how to delete it, so I just deleted all of the content. But now it's going to be annoying me for the rest of my life, unless I can get rid of it.
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