Although this particular film was pornographic, it was strangely lacking in sexual content, which suited Jack because he had no intention of removing his clothes for the minor role he was to play. He hadn't properly memorized his lines, so he'd followed along in the script as a rough edit with cartoon stand-ins played on the screen. However, now that the viewing had fizzled out, he had a new problem to deal with.
Two gangs faced off in the empty city streets. The dilapidated cityscape was dark but suffused with colors, giving the scene a cinematic feel. Jack stood helplessly in the middle of the two gangs, his vantage point flashing from group to group as they argued over his fate. One gang was represented by only two individuals, one of which was E. Barry, and Jack hoped that this group would prevail; they were the gentler of the two groups, and he had more affinity for their character. However, they were vastly outnumbered. The other, tougher gang was at least seven strong, and they were more likely to use violence.
Sure enough, E. Barry and his fellow were under blows by the young men of the other gang. Jack quickly got into a nearby car, locked the door, and tried not to notice that his favored team was quickly laid out. The tough gang then turned their attention to the car. One tried to punch in the glass window but failed, and the others began beating on the vehicle aggressively. Jack stayed focused on his book.
Eventually the gang got tired and began milling around the exterior of the car restlessly. They slipped two wafers into the car, one of which Jack handed to the passenger next to him. Together they ate the wafers. One ruffian looked in expectantly, and Jack nodded and wiggled his hand to indicate his satisfaction with the wafers.
"Are you at least going to come to the bar with us?" asked one of the gang pathetically.
"Yeah, I guess I could still do that," replied Jack. He was reticent, but they had won, after all. He was a member.
Night turned to day. Jack became a girl with long hair, but the girl with long hair was not Jack.
The girl with long hair stood underneath an overpass, talking to another blond girl about her admittance to the gang. It was revealed that they had strung her up by her long hair and hung her from the bottom of the overpass. She indicated that this was merely a mostly harmless hazing gesture; her exceedingly long hair snaked around her such that most of her body weight was supported, taking the pressure off of her scalp.
"It feels kinda good," she admitted to the blond girl as she began to untangle herself. Once she was free of her bonds, the gang returned.
"Hey, Africa!" they jeered playfully.
"Awww, shut up!" she replied, attempting to adopt a facade of toughness.
Jack had missed the enemy assault. He'd been delayed tying his shoes, and once he got up to the top floor of the crowded house all the guns had been checked out. Luckily, he'd found a pointy set of pliers, just in case.
"Is the assault over?" he asked The Father.
"Yes," replied The Father.
In the lull between waves, the enemies' children were peacefully going trick-or-treating from house to house, with chaperones, of course. As Jack contemplated this, he witnessed a terrifying scene. In the kitchen, a toddler handed a young baby a broccoli stem.
"No, stop!" yelled Jack. But he was too late; the baby tried to eat the broccoli and it became lodged in her windpipe. She fell to the ground, her face purple, her chest heaving in a vain attempt for air. In a panic, Jack rushed to the infant and tried to press on her chest, but he did not know the proper technique.
"Heimlich, heimlich!" he tried to shout, but his voice came out as a meek rasp.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Fiddle Rescue
"Don't do it, leave it!" yelled the blond girl. Ignoring the warning, Jack plunged heedlessly under the water in pursuit of his violins. He reached the first quickly, but the second was floating perilously close to a precipice. Mustering his speed, Jack snatched it just before it fell into the black void.
Back on the surface, the blond girl chastised Jack's recklessness. "You never go back for things!" she said angrily.
"You don't understand," he replied stubbornly, clearing his eyes of water. "If I lose it, I...I'm done. I'm done."
She floated close to Jack and Gunther, the moonlight catching her eyes. "Do you two have wives?"
"No," Jack and Gunther replied. They floated a while longer, then swam over to the lighted cave on the shore that led back to the park. Jack needed to examine his instruments for damage. Even if they had managed to stay dry, the pressure had probably gotten to them. Climbing out of the water, Jack looked down to see a white undergarment looped around his toe.
"Whose bra is this?" asked Jack.
"Oh, that's mine," replied the blond girl.
Back on the surface, the blond girl chastised Jack's recklessness. "You never go back for things!" she said angrily.
"You don't understand," he replied stubbornly, clearing his eyes of water. "If I lose it, I...I'm done. I'm done."
She floated close to Jack and Gunther, the moonlight catching her eyes. "Do you two have wives?"
"No," Jack and Gunther replied. They floated a while longer, then swam over to the lighted cave on the shore that led back to the park. Jack needed to examine his instruments for damage. Even if they had managed to stay dry, the pressure had probably gotten to them. Climbing out of the water, Jack looked down to see a white undergarment looped around his toe.
"Whose bra is this?" asked Jack.
"Oh, that's mine," replied the blond girl.
Granite Land
The jagged, geometric landscape was broken by granite spires and craggy rocks. Jack wobbled uncertainly on the stones in the middle of the gloopy mud pool. He was surrounded by alligator creatures that were inching ever closer. Swooping wildly back and forth, Jack watched as the largest of the creatures encroached too close for comfort. Jack effortlessly leapt from the pool to the top of one of the rock protrusions.
"I've passed the gate," he told the big creature.
"Wrong, the whole thing is the gate," said the creature. Jumping even higher than Jack had, he reached the tallest rock. Jack started leaping from rock to rock, trying to outmaneuver the beast, but it was clear that from his high perch the creature would have an angle of attack no matter where Jack went.
Jack left and found a large clearing. A very tall being stood frozen in the middle, a spindly thing made of stony bone and gristle that reminded Jack of a giraffe. He grabbed a stringy rope, climbed to the giraffe's knee and removed a small, orange orb that was wedged in between the joint. The bone giraffe animated and started wobbling forward with his three remaining good legs.
Before Jack was able to try for another knee orb, two people appeared and the earth opened up in a whirlpool of dirt and void. At the center of the maelstrom, the expressionless head of a nemesis stared outward, its mouth open, inhaling. Sub-audible bass tones rumbled through the landscape as the earth and wind churned round and round, and Jack was anxious. Just as suddenly as it began, the vortex was plugged and the nemesis head disappeared underneath a reformed earth.
"I've passed the gate," he told the big creature.
"Wrong, the whole thing is the gate," said the creature. Jumping even higher than Jack had, he reached the tallest rock. Jack started leaping from rock to rock, trying to outmaneuver the beast, but it was clear that from his high perch the creature would have an angle of attack no matter where Jack went.
Jack left and found a large clearing. A very tall being stood frozen in the middle, a spindly thing made of stony bone and gristle that reminded Jack of a giraffe. He grabbed a stringy rope, climbed to the giraffe's knee and removed a small, orange orb that was wedged in between the joint. The bone giraffe animated and started wobbling forward with his three remaining good legs.
Before Jack was able to try for another knee orb, two people appeared and the earth opened up in a whirlpool of dirt and void. At the center of the maelstrom, the expressionless head of a nemesis stared outward, its mouth open, inhaling. Sub-audible bass tones rumbled through the landscape as the earth and wind churned round and round, and Jack was anxious. Just as suddenly as it began, the vortex was plugged and the nemesis head disappeared underneath a reformed earth.
Revolving Door
Jack eyed the cop behind him nervously. She had been following him ever since he had gone through the speed trap back in the school zone, and although he had zealously stuck to the forty-five mile per hour speed limit, he'd obviously done something wrong. Sure enough, she beckoned him to pull over in a small, barren cul-de-sac. He parked and watched as KatBaits got out of the squad car. She wordlessly approached Jack's vehicle.
"What's wrong?" someone said from the back of Jack's car. Without saying anything, KatBaits got into the driver's seat of Jack's car and drove them all to the police station. Jack and his compatriots waited in the station for something to happen. After KatBaits left, a male officer approached them.
"What did I do?" asked Jack.
"You bypassed a line of cars by crossing the over the median into the oncoming lane, and in a school zone," explained the officer gently.
"Oh," said Jack, his face gaunt.
"That's vehicular endangerment. It carries a penalty of a $1,013 fine and one to seven years in prison."
"Oh," said Jack again, weakly. This is how happens, he thought. "Is there anything I can do to lessen the penalty? Appear honest and responsible?"
"Don't appear detached, try to show emotion," said the male officer while KatBaits went in back to double check the penalty.
A muddy surface. Oh, thank goodness, thought Jack. It was a dream, I'm not actually going to prison.
"No, it wasn't a dream. You're going to prison," said a small boy with a malicious grin. He and Jack sat inside the hollowed bones of a darkened, open house.
"Prove it," challenged Jack defiantly. "How do you know? Who was the female cop?" The boy's grin faded.
"I don't know," said the boy.
"You would definitely be able to name her," said Jack. He was driving again.
A muddy surface. Jack was relieved. It had been a dream.
"Wait, this is the place, the school, from my dream..." said a confused Jack. Montano just stared.
A muddy surface. More driving.
"What's wrong?" someone said from the back of Jack's car. Without saying anything, KatBaits got into the driver's seat of Jack's car and drove them all to the police station. Jack and his compatriots waited in the station for something to happen. After KatBaits left, a male officer approached them.
"What did I do?" asked Jack.
"You bypassed a line of cars by crossing the over the median into the oncoming lane, and in a school zone," explained the officer gently.
"Oh," said Jack, his face gaunt.
"That's vehicular endangerment. It carries a penalty of a $1,013 fine and one to seven years in prison."
"Oh," said Jack again, weakly. This is how happens, he thought. "Is there anything I can do to lessen the penalty? Appear honest and responsible?"
"Don't appear detached, try to show emotion," said the male officer while KatBaits went in back to double check the penalty.
A muddy surface. Oh, thank goodness, thought Jack. It was a dream, I'm not actually going to prison.
"No, it wasn't a dream. You're going to prison," said a small boy with a malicious grin. He and Jack sat inside the hollowed bones of a darkened, open house.
"Prove it," challenged Jack defiantly. "How do you know? Who was the female cop?" The boy's grin faded.
"I don't know," said the boy.
"You would definitely be able to name her," said Jack. He was driving again.
A muddy surface. Jack was relieved. It had been a dream.
"Wait, this is the place, the school, from my dream..." said a confused Jack. Montano just stared.
A muddy surface. More driving.
Arbor H
This is how trees must communicate, thought Jack. Meaningful paradoxes flowing at a glacier's pace across nowhere.
Barside Gathering
Jack walked by the row of portable classrooms in the back of the school. Tucked in between two of them was a very small, curved bar with only one wall. Six or seven teachers completely filled the space, each nursing a beer or cocktail. Jack immediately recognized Richotnik among them. Looking up from his drink, Richotnik smiled broadly and walked over to Jack and Montano.
"Montano, hello!" said Richotnik, giving Montano a warm handshake. "And Jack, hello!" Jack was briefly surprised but delighted that Richotnik knew his name.
"Well, now what?" asked Montano after they exchanged pleasantries.
"Well, come drink with me!" replied Richotnik heartily.
Jack desperately wanted to do just that, but he knew that he was obligated to return to his student teaching. Hoping to finish early, he went back to the classroom of small children. Activities resumed.
"Now, sit down kids!" said the teacher after a duration. Jack thought that an appropriate amount of time had passed, and he was antsy to get back to the small bar lest he miss the gathering with Richotnik. As he got up to leave, the teacher said sternly, "You too, Jack!" He grumpily sat down in the small desk.
After class was done, he went to the front of the school building. Montano was coming out, and Jack looked at him hopefully.
"We just finished," said Montano.
"Montano, hello!" said Richotnik, giving Montano a warm handshake. "And Jack, hello!" Jack was briefly surprised but delighted that Richotnik knew his name.
"Well, now what?" asked Montano after they exchanged pleasantries.
"Well, come drink with me!" replied Richotnik heartily.
Jack desperately wanted to do just that, but he knew that he was obligated to return to his student teaching. Hoping to finish early, he went back to the classroom of small children. Activities resumed.
"Now, sit down kids!" said the teacher after a duration. Jack thought that an appropriate amount of time had passed, and he was antsy to get back to the small bar lest he miss the gathering with Richotnik. As he got up to leave, the teacher said sternly, "You too, Jack!" He grumpily sat down in the small desk.
After class was done, he went to the front of the school building. Montano was coming out, and Jack looked at him hopefully.
"We just finished," said Montano.
An Eviction
Jack walked down the stairs into the liquor store, but everything was packed up and boxes were piled everywhere. He exited and walked back up the stairs to find a young, twenty-something woman sitting where the two staircases met at a right angle.
"We got kicked out of our home," she said.
"That sucks."
"We got kicked out of our home," she said.
"That sucks."
Leadership Test
The stocky woman sitting at the computer terminal stared dolefully at the screen. Jack, the newly-appointed leader, patiently waited for her to say something. His young aide sat to his right, also waiting for something to happen. Although the woman was an influential and experienced leader in her own right, Jack wasn't intimidated. He was confident that his common sense and good will would sufficiently supplant the gaps in his knowledge.
"Let's see, you're concerned about..." Jack offered tentatively, attempting to start the process. He saw her click a bullet point on the screen. "Well, I'll let you tell me what your concerned about."
"Ok, let's see," she began in a curt but not unfriendly tone. "Firstly, we're concerned about the level of your rock armor upgrades."
"Ok..." said Jack. He grabbed a nearby notepad and scribbled "rock armor" on the paper, wondering if he could delegate this task to his aide. "I will work on that, but it'll be a little difficult."
The woman looked up from her screen and gave Jack a skeptical look. He could tell that she had expected a different answer.
"Look, I know I haven't been a leader for very long, so I know you don't know my style yet, but I'm not going to lie and say it'll be easy when it won't. I'm going to tell you the truth, be honest with you. When both parties have a free flow of information, that's when we can accomplish the most, when we are most effective. I won't lie just to smooth things over."
The woman gave a small but satisfied smile in response. "However," she said, "part of the job of a leader is to cover the truth when doing so is beneficial to his followers."
Jack opened his mouth to speak, but stopped short and exhaled. "Look," he said, gesturing with his arms before halting again. "Look," he began once more, "of course, this information won't be shared with the general populace unless necessary. But with you, it's another matter."
She raised another salient objection, and once again Jack provided a halting but convincing response. The debate continued for some time before it became clear that the woman was playing devil's advocate.
"Ah, I'm sticking jabs in you, yes?" she said with amusement after Jack was stymied again.
"Heh, yeah, but no, this is good," he replied.
"At any rate," she continued, "the other leaders won't accept your rule until you pass The Teth."
Jack knew of The Teth. It was the final level in a Japanese roleplaying video game that was commonly administered as a test to prove the legitimacy of new leaders.
"Isn't that in Japanese?" asked Jack.
"Yes."
Jack wondered what he would do; he didn't know Japanese. If The Teth was dialogue driven, he would just to have to guess and hope for the best.
The Teth began. To Jack's relief, it appeared to be pure arena combat. His avatar was planted in the center of a gladiatorial ring located inside a cavernous rock chamber. There were six enemies around the perimeter of the ring, each with a particular specialization. Some were melee, others were ranged, and most had an elemental affiliation. Of the six opponents, only three were active at any time. Jack began maneuvering around the field, trying to dodge attacks while frantically activating abilities on the action bar to discover what they did. He settled on a hit-and-run strategy using a ranged sword ability until he found something better. Halfway through the fight, he summoned a dog to his side and armed himself with a very long pole. Jack's character dodged fire waves and flashing swords as he slowly wore down his foes. Things seemed to be going well, and Jack began to think he might actually make it. Every once in a while he would pause the action to consult the Wikipedia article, just in case there were any surprises in store near the end of the fight.
"Do you want an abbreviated cutscene, or the full version?" a voice asked.
"I'll take the full version, I suppose...that is, if I beat it."
After a long and grueling battle, Jack emerged victorious. Six more competitors appeared: Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and three kids in plain clothes. Jack was at a gas station. The competitors were gone.
"I was worried I'd have to fight upgraded versions, but I guess not. Seems strange," pondered Jack aloud.
"Let's see, you're concerned about..." Jack offered tentatively, attempting to start the process. He saw her click a bullet point on the screen. "Well, I'll let you tell me what your concerned about."
"Ok, let's see," she began in a curt but not unfriendly tone. "Firstly, we're concerned about the level of your rock armor upgrades."
"Ok..." said Jack. He grabbed a nearby notepad and scribbled "rock armor" on the paper, wondering if he could delegate this task to his aide. "I will work on that, but it'll be a little difficult."
The woman looked up from her screen and gave Jack a skeptical look. He could tell that she had expected a different answer.
"Look, I know I haven't been a leader for very long, so I know you don't know my style yet, but I'm not going to lie and say it'll be easy when it won't. I'm going to tell you the truth, be honest with you. When both parties have a free flow of information, that's when we can accomplish the most, when we are most effective. I won't lie just to smooth things over."
The woman gave a small but satisfied smile in response. "However," she said, "part of the job of a leader is to cover the truth when doing so is beneficial to his followers."
Jack opened his mouth to speak, but stopped short and exhaled. "Look," he said, gesturing with his arms before halting again. "Look," he began once more, "of course, this information won't be shared with the general populace unless necessary. But with you, it's another matter."
She raised another salient objection, and once again Jack provided a halting but convincing response. The debate continued for some time before it became clear that the woman was playing devil's advocate.
"Ah, I'm sticking jabs in you, yes?" she said with amusement after Jack was stymied again.
"Heh, yeah, but no, this is good," he replied.
"At any rate," she continued, "the other leaders won't accept your rule until you pass The Teth."
Jack knew of The Teth. It was the final level in a Japanese roleplaying video game that was commonly administered as a test to prove the legitimacy of new leaders.
"Isn't that in Japanese?" asked Jack.
"Yes."
Jack wondered what he would do; he didn't know Japanese. If The Teth was dialogue driven, he would just to have to guess and hope for the best.
The Teth began. To Jack's relief, it appeared to be pure arena combat. His avatar was planted in the center of a gladiatorial ring located inside a cavernous rock chamber. There were six enemies around the perimeter of the ring, each with a particular specialization. Some were melee, others were ranged, and most had an elemental affiliation. Of the six opponents, only three were active at any time. Jack began maneuvering around the field, trying to dodge attacks while frantically activating abilities on the action bar to discover what they did. He settled on a hit-and-run strategy using a ranged sword ability until he found something better. Halfway through the fight, he summoned a dog to his side and armed himself with a very long pole. Jack's character dodged fire waves and flashing swords as he slowly wore down his foes. Things seemed to be going well, and Jack began to think he might actually make it. Every once in a while he would pause the action to consult the Wikipedia article, just in case there were any surprises in store near the end of the fight.
"Do you want an abbreviated cutscene, or the full version?" a voice asked.
"I'll take the full version, I suppose...that is, if I beat it."
After a long and grueling battle, Jack emerged victorious. Six more competitors appeared: Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and three kids in plain clothes. Jack was at a gas station. The competitors were gone.
"I was worried I'd have to fight upgraded versions, but I guess not. Seems strange," pondered Jack aloud.
Burger Joint
Jack nibbled at his chicken sandwich as he took in the crowded scene. The Burger King was full of patrons and the long line at the counter indicated the staff was having a hard time keeping up. Across the way, Montano, Moptop, Pov, and Bangknox sat a separate table. Although Jack had arrived with the group, he hadn't wanted to force himself upon them and so had sat by himself to see how things would play out. It seemed he would be dining alone.
Jack finished his sandwich and decided to order something else. He stood in front of the counter and waited for an employee to make eye contact with him. Bangknox appeared at his side. After gazing at the menu for a bit, she turned to Jack and asked, "What's that thing Riattz always used to get?"
"Pffft," shrugged Jack. Bangknox returned her attention to the menu. Eventually, it was Jack's turn to order.
"I'll have a Whopper Jr., no mayo," said Jack. As he waited, the crowd around him was becoming more and more upset, and it wasn't long before a manager came over and started handing out vouchers to try and placate them.
"I'd rather have you all satisfied with a free drink," he explained.
Soon, an Asian woman appeared at the counter and signaled that she would take Jack's order.
"Could I get a Whopper Jr., no mayo?" he said. She stared at him.
"A Whopper Jr., no mayo?" repeated Jack more loudly. Again, a blank stare.
"A Whopper Jr.?.....A WHOPPER JR.?!" shouted Jack.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I think we're phasing those out tomorrow," she said apologetically.
"Uh, do you have any more?"
"I'll check." While she walked away to talk to the manager, Jack considered getting a full-blown Whopper.
She returned and said, "We've got one more. This is the last one in the country. Well, not all the Burger Kings, they..."
Jack finished his sandwich and decided to order something else. He stood in front of the counter and waited for an employee to make eye contact with him. Bangknox appeared at his side. After gazing at the menu for a bit, she turned to Jack and asked, "What's that thing Riattz always used to get?"
"Pffft," shrugged Jack. Bangknox returned her attention to the menu. Eventually, it was Jack's turn to order.
"I'll have a Whopper Jr., no mayo," said Jack. As he waited, the crowd around him was becoming more and more upset, and it wasn't long before a manager came over and started handing out vouchers to try and placate them.
"I'd rather have you all satisfied with a free drink," he explained.
Soon, an Asian woman appeared at the counter and signaled that she would take Jack's order.
"Could I get a Whopper Jr., no mayo?" he said. She stared at him.
"A Whopper Jr., no mayo?" repeated Jack more loudly. Again, a blank stare.
"A Whopper Jr.?.....A WHOPPER JR.?!" shouted Jack.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I think we're phasing those out tomorrow," she said apologetically.
"Uh, do you have any more?"
"I'll check." While she walked away to talk to the manager, Jack considered getting a full-blown Whopper.
She returned and said, "We've got one more. This is the last one in the country. Well, not all the Burger Kings, they..."
Thursday, October 07, 2010
Memoir Ship
Jack was tense. Starbuck was working hard on starting the engine while another young male was working on the encryption. If they both didn't succeed, their escape attempt would fail and they would be recaptured.
A dinging noise signaled that the encryption was cracked, while the heavy whine from the bowels of the enormous ship signaled that Starbuck had succeeded as well. Brimming with confidence and energy, Jack addressed his fellow escapees.
"Guys, I'm really proud of you. Excellent work, you got it running!" said Jack. He opened his arms wide and gave them both a hug.
The ship was a giant, multi-layered craft with many windows and a plush interior. The sleek, outer surface was broken only by a slim fin on the top and rear, and it was shaped much like a torpedo but with a bulge just aft of center, such that there were more floors there than in front. At the very top floor was a large window, which Jack assumed was a bridge or control room of some kind.
The ship moved slowly out of the dock and drifted over the massive trees. It was then that Jack realized their major vulnerability.
"I'm concerned about visual identification," he said.
"We can hide when they come by," suggested Starbuck. Sure enough, before long there were small recon patrols drifting outside the windows. The escapees hid by the benches that ran along the windows as each patrol passed, and they were soon in the clear.
Jack ascended to the top level and found a memory capsule. It contained records and memoirs of Jagrey's time with Melodica, and Jack decided that he aught to include some recordings of the group's first season.
A dinging noise signaled that the encryption was cracked, while the heavy whine from the bowels of the enormous ship signaled that Starbuck had succeeded as well. Brimming with confidence and energy, Jack addressed his fellow escapees.
"Guys, I'm really proud of you. Excellent work, you got it running!" said Jack. He opened his arms wide and gave them both a hug.
The ship was a giant, multi-layered craft with many windows and a plush interior. The sleek, outer surface was broken only by a slim fin on the top and rear, and it was shaped much like a torpedo but with a bulge just aft of center, such that there were more floors there than in front. At the very top floor was a large window, which Jack assumed was a bridge or control room of some kind.
The ship moved slowly out of the dock and drifted over the massive trees. It was then that Jack realized their major vulnerability.
"I'm concerned about visual identification," he said.
"We can hide when they come by," suggested Starbuck. Sure enough, before long there were small recon patrols drifting outside the windows. The escapees hid by the benches that ran along the windows as each patrol passed, and they were soon in the clear.
Jack ascended to the top level and found a memory capsule. It contained records and memoirs of Jagrey's time with Melodica, and Jack decided that he aught to include some recordings of the group's first season.
School Tragedy
The large construction started rolling shakily across the small classroom. Almost immediately it struck a desk and collapsed in a pile of wood and wheels, bringing the young riders along with it. A teacher ran over to a girl and felt around for her pulse.
"I think she's dead," said the teacher grimly. Jack dashed to the phone and dialed 911.
"Hello?" said a bored voice on the other end of the line.
"I need someone over at Roody," said a panicked Jack.
"Ok," replied the operator. There was a silence.
"Roody!" repeated Jack.
"Ok, sir," said the operator tiredly. Jack hung up the phone and ran out of the small school building into the night air to meet the police. They were already out of their squad cars and advancing on the building next to Roody. Upon seeing Jack running towards them, they pulled their guns and trained them on Jack, who threw up his hands and fell to the ground in alarm.
"The girl is over here, at the school!" shouted Jack.
"This better not be a trick," said a policeman.
"No, no, it's real!"
"Where is the body?" asked another.
Jack led the police into the small, crowded corridors of the school. When they reached the room where the girl had fallen, they were informed by a teacher that her body had been taken to another room. Jack and the police searched the three bottom floors before they found help from a woman.
"Do you know where the body is?"
"Try nunnery 3," replied the woman. "It's on the fourth floor. I'll unlock it for you."
The woman led the way upstairs and unlocked an archaic door. The fourth floor was old and dusty, for it had not been used in some time. Finally, they entered a classroom and found the girl's body lying across an ancient desk. The police loaded her into an old-fashioned, open air elevator, even though it was already overcrowded with people. One policeman offered Jack his place on the elevator, and Jack crammed into the small, unoccupied area in front. The doors closed, the elevator began descending, and Jack wished it would hurry for the sake of Petunia and The Father, who were working hard to contain their claustrophobia.
"I think she's dead," said the teacher grimly. Jack dashed to the phone and dialed 911.
"Hello?" said a bored voice on the other end of the line.
"I need someone over at Roody," said a panicked Jack.
"Ok," replied the operator. There was a silence.
"Roody!" repeated Jack.
"Ok, sir," said the operator tiredly. Jack hung up the phone and ran out of the small school building into the night air to meet the police. They were already out of their squad cars and advancing on the building next to Roody. Upon seeing Jack running towards them, they pulled their guns and trained them on Jack, who threw up his hands and fell to the ground in alarm.
"The girl is over here, at the school!" shouted Jack.
"This better not be a trick," said a policeman.
"No, no, it's real!"
"Where is the body?" asked another.
Jack led the police into the small, crowded corridors of the school. When they reached the room where the girl had fallen, they were informed by a teacher that her body had been taken to another room. Jack and the police searched the three bottom floors before they found help from a woman.
"Do you know where the body is?"
"Try nunnery 3," replied the woman. "It's on the fourth floor. I'll unlock it for you."
The woman led the way upstairs and unlocked an archaic door. The fourth floor was old and dusty, for it had not been used in some time. Finally, they entered a classroom and found the girl's body lying across an ancient desk. The police loaded her into an old-fashioned, open air elevator, even though it was already overcrowded with people. One policeman offered Jack his place on the elevator, and Jack crammed into the small, unoccupied area in front. The doors closed, the elevator began descending, and Jack wished it would hurry for the sake of Petunia and The Father, who were working hard to contain their claustrophobia.
Vida Poll
As Jack read the poll results, he could tell that Ryan was becoming very upset. He was finally realizing that nobody in the office much cared for him.
Jack looked down and read, "Nope." Ryan's head fell with the weight of grief, his eyes swimming with pent-up tears. Frustrated, Jack decided that enough was enough.
"Alright, does anyone here want Ryan to, you know..." said Jack with exasperation. Everyone shook their heads slightly. Though they were ashamed to openly admit it, each had voted in the negative.
"Ach, fine, here," grunted Jack, grabbing a pen and beginning to write. The room was silent for the duration of Jack's labors, which were further delayed by the pen running dry. Finally Jack finished writing and looked at the finished product:
"I want you to live.
-Jack"
Jack looked down and read, "Nope." Ryan's head fell with the weight of grief, his eyes swimming with pent-up tears. Frustrated, Jack decided that enough was enough.
"Alright, does anyone here want Ryan to, you know..." said Jack with exasperation. Everyone shook their heads slightly. Though they were ashamed to openly admit it, each had voted in the negative.
"Ach, fine, here," grunted Jack, grabbing a pen and beginning to write. The room was silent for the duration of Jack's labors, which were further delayed by the pen running dry. Finally Jack finished writing and looked at the finished product:
"I want you to live.
-Jack"
Floating Pov
It appeared the summer holiday was in full swing, as the lake was bustling with people engaged in various beachy activities. Despite the crowds, Jack decided to take a stroll along the path that rimmed the large body of water.
The path curved around a small, pond-like inlet. In the middle of the pond there was a large pontoon boat, and on top of this boat sat two RV's stacked one on top of the other. Perched high atop this tower was a small, wooden dingy, and in the dingy sat Pov.
"Hi, Jack!" shouted Pov, waving happily.
"Hi, Pov!" replied Jack, equally delighted. Jack saw the Pov held a fishing pole whose line fed downward through a ring on the bow of yet another watercraft, this one a small, inflatable whitewater raft. It appeared that Pov was using the raft as a sort of tugboat; its small outboard motor whirred, pulling the floating tower away from the bank. Pov continued to wave as he drifted heavily towards deeper waters.
The path curved around a small, pond-like inlet. In the middle of the pond there was a large pontoon boat, and on top of this boat sat two RV's stacked one on top of the other. Perched high atop this tower was a small, wooden dingy, and in the dingy sat Pov.
"Hi, Jack!" shouted Pov, waving happily.
"Hi, Pov!" replied Jack, equally delighted. Jack saw the Pov held a fishing pole whose line fed downward through a ring on the bow of yet another watercraft, this one a small, inflatable whitewater raft. It appeared that Pov was using the raft as a sort of tugboat; its small outboard motor whirred, pulling the floating tower away from the bank. Pov continued to wave as he drifted heavily towards deeper waters.
Flower Party
The long serving cart rolled slowly up the path from table to table. Near the top of the hill, Jack poured some expensive vodka into similarly expensive shot glasses, followed by a healthy portion of water, which overflowed onto the table. The snooty party guests seemed not to mind. Somewhere to the side of Jack's field of vision, the ypnaok flower became bookmarked.
As Jack prepared another round of drinks, Emilio motioned to him from the other side of the rolling serving table. The two got up from the cart and Jack followed him a short distance away.
Looking around conspiratorially, Emilio leaned in and said quietly, "I can't really stay where I've been past when I stayed, longer than a day."
"Does that mean the weekend is out?" asked Jack, slightly puzzled. Emilio stared blankly back.
"Saturday, Sunday..." offered Jack.
"No...I just can't stay here for more than one day," clarified Emilio.
"Oh, oh," Jack nodded.
As Jack prepared another round of drinks, Emilio motioned to him from the other side of the rolling serving table. The two got up from the cart and Jack followed him a short distance away.
Looking around conspiratorially, Emilio leaned in and said quietly, "I can't really stay where I've been past when I stayed, longer than a day."
"Does that mean the weekend is out?" asked Jack, slightly puzzled. Emilio stared blankly back.
"Saturday, Sunday..." offered Jack.
"No...I just can't stay here for more than one day," clarified Emilio.
"Oh, oh," Jack nodded.
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