Hey all, I guess this is my cue to do the introduction thing.
Some might recognize a portion of my handle from the Eyrie forums, and I had to change it as when I tried to set up my account with ezboard I got the much beloved "your screen name has already been taken" text. After some failed attempts to get around this, I just threw up a the Herr as a nod to my german side of the family tree.
I've been watching anime since I was a kid, with Voltron and Robotech being the two biggies, though I do remember being enraptured by Unico to my chagrin. I didn't really get into it until about 1996 I think, when I was channel surfing and I landed Urusei Yatsura II: Beautiful Dreamer on the SciFi channel when they showed still showed anime at night. It was one of those serendipitous moments I'll always remember. One look at that flying girl in the bikini shooting lightning and it was all over.
I used to play DnD and Mechwarrior in junior high with my neighborhood friends but gradually quit in high-school due to lack of interest. We had fun but never had any serious campaigns so there wasn't anything to keep our interest. Now I'd wished I stayed into gaming, since I've been wanting to be a part of a group but can't find anybody I know in my local area to play with.
I found Drunkard's Walk after it was mentioned on the Eyrie boards and did some search engining till I found it. One weekend and eleven chapters later I thought it was safe to say I'd found another story to add to my all time favorites list. Doug's powers is one of the most creative and flat out fun things I've read in any series.
Now back to your regular boarding.Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in
waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the
frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a total mses
and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid
deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe."
---
Jon
"And that must have caused my dad's brain to break in half, replaced by a purely mechanical engine of revenge!"

The opening to the anime 'Popotan' (sorry, but I don't know the title of the opening theme) is something that would almost certainly give Doug a power... the question, of course, being *WHAT* that power is. Honestly, it would probably depend on the circumstances under which Doug first heard the song. More on that later -- first, the lyrics.
Ai, Ai, Ai, I love you,
Mai, Mai, Mai, My darling,
Mii, Mii, Mii, Help me,
Popotan, popotan, popotan,
Moshimo genki wo nakushite tohou ni kureta toki ni wa,
popotan no koe wo kikuno.
Souyo anata ga sunao ni natte kokoro wo hirakeba,
popotan wa oshiete kureru.
Ano hito ga kuru konai.
Watashi wo suki kirai.
Kono koi wa uso honto.
Donna koto mo shitteruno.
Moudame popopo, moudame popopo.
Wakatterukedo yamerarenaino.
Mou muri popopo, mou muri popopo.
Yume no yume demo akiramenaide,
Popotan.
Note that this is the short version -- while I have the lyrics for the long version, as well as the long version itself, I *DON'T* have a translation for it. Anyway, the English translation, partially taken from a fansub and partially done by myself, is as follows (stars indicate points in the translation that require comments.):
Ai, Ai, Ai, I love you,
Mai, Mai, Mai, My darling,
Mii, Mii, Mii, Help me*,
Popotan*, Popotan, Popotan,
When you're feeling down and lost,
Listen to the voices of the dandelions*.
That's right; if be yourself and open your heart,
the dandelions* will tell you.
He* will come, won't come,
(he) likes me, hates me,
This love is real, is fake,
They* know everything.
I can't stand it, popopo, I can't stand it, popopo,
I know I shouldn't, but I can't stop myself.
No more, popopo, no more, popopo.
Even if it's a dream of a dream, don't give up,
Popotan.
While my first thought was that this song would give Doug Ai's power from the anime in question (she can speak to dandelions; while they're often quite knowledgeable about certain matters, they tend to gossip a lot, which means that it often takes her quite a bit of conversation to get anything *USEFUL*), something that is quite appropriate, the idea has a few flaws, which should become apparent when I get to the translation notes.
In the opening lines, I was left with something of a translation dillema: they're puns on the names of the three sisters in the anime: Ai, Mai, and Mii. Moreover, the video features shots of the girls in question to accompany their lines. Hence, I decided that leaving the names intact was a better option than simply interpreting them as repeated English words.
Secondly, the name of the anime itself has meaning within the song. Where it does, I translated it; otherwise, I left it as is. That being said, the name's meaning leads into the main difficulty with the power I suggested. The anime's name, 'popotan', comes from the Japanese word for 'dandelion', 'tanpopo'. The main characters in the show, Ai, Mai, and Mii, insist, however, on reversing the characters and saying it 'popotan'. If Doug first heard this song outside of the context of the anime, though, he wouldn't neccessarily know that, and the song uses the same odd term for dandelions.
Next, 'he' one of the lines is something of a mistranslation -- 'he' is really 'ano hito' or 'that person', but from context and the video, it's pretty obvious that 'that person' is male, and the expression's not nearly as awkward in Japanese as the literal translation is in English.
Finally, 'they' on another of the lines is translated in the singular by the fansub I used for portions of the translation, and happens to be on one of the lines I couldn't translate myself, but as Japanese doesn't have a distinction between singular and plural, and the line was referring to dandelions, I feel fairly confident in tweaking that line to match in number.-------------------
I dove through the hailstorm of plasma and laser bolts, ignoring the instantly regenerating wounds I took from the occasional projectile, and focused on my target. Using my flame to sear through the reinforced window of Quincy's office, I plunged into the surprised executive's domain like a guided missile that, after using a small amount of flame to insure that the office's inhabitant wasn't an android double, promptly discharged its payload.
"WEDGIE!!"

I have just discovered this board and am ovejoyed to hear that DW II is going to be continued soon.
I really liked the teasers and glimpses of the planned future steps, but I am a bit puzzled by the rule about 'active franchises' that prevents DW I or a future Sailormoon step from being published. Don't you consider A!MG or EVA to be active franchises? Last time I looked they had both still a Manga running.

Unter glieben glauten globen
Give it to me baby, uh huh, uh huh
Give it to me baby, uh huh, uh huh
Give it to me baby, uh huh, uh huh
And all the girlies say I'm pretty fly for a white guy
Uno dos tres cuatro cinco cinco seis
You know it's kind of hard
Just to get along today
Our subject isn't cool
But he fakes it anyway
He may not have a clue
And he may not have style
But everything he lacks
Well he makes up in denial
So don't debate, a player straight
You know he really doesn't get it anyway
He's gonna play the field, and keep it real
For you no way, for you no way
So if you don't rate, just overcompensate
At least you'll know you can always go on ricki lake
The world needs wannabe's
So do that brand new thing
Give it to me baby, uh huh, uh huh
Give it to me baby, uh huh, uh huh
Give it to me baby, uh huh, uh huh
And all the girlies say I'm pretty fly for a white guy

He needs some cool tunes
Not just any will suffice
But they didn't have ice cube
So he bought vanilla ice
Now cruising in his pinto, he sees homies as he pass
But if he looks twice
They're gonna kick his lily ass
So don't debate, a player straight
You know he really doesn't get it anyway
He's gonna play the field, and keep it real
For you no way, for you no way
So if you don't rate, just overcompensate
At least you'll know you can always go on ricki lake
The world loves wannabe's
So Hey, hey, do that brand new thing
Now he's getting a tattoo
He's gettin' ink done
He asked for a '13', but they drew a '31'
Friends say he's trying too hard
And he's not quite hip
But in his own mind
He's the dopest trip
Give it to me baby, uh huh, uh huh
Give it to me baby, uh huh, uh huh
Give it to me baby, uh huh, uh huh
Uno dos tres cuatro cinco cinco seis
So don't debate, a player straight
You know he really doesn't get it anyway
He's gonna play the field, and keep it real
For you no way, for you no way
So if you don't rate, just overcompensate
At least you'll know you can always go on ricki lake
The world needs wannabe's
The world loves wannabe's
So let's get some more wannabe's
And do that brand new thing
-- The Offspring, Pretty Fly For A White Guy
-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.

... until the chapter.
I just wanted to say that. Oh, and no teaser this week, for what really ought to be obvious reasons. I'll start on Chapter 14 teasers next week, maybe. But given that I chose all the previous teasers in no particular order, some of them are already for chapter 14...
And no, I'm not going to be annoying and run a countdown until Friday.

-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.

After much thought and consideration, I have made the deciison to split chapter 13 into two parts. As a result, the new chapter 13 is now complete and has been sent to my prereaders for final checkover. If all goes as planned, I should make it available in various venues next Friday, October 17.
The remaining chapters in DW2 are now:
13: Eh... I Wonder What The *Poor* Robots Are Doin' This Season...
14: What For You Bury Me In The Cold, Cold Ground?
15: Pronoun Trouble
That is all.

-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.

Linna settled into the lush, leather armchair and positionedherself so that she could watch the glass door to the employeelounge. At the moment the room was empty except for her, forwhich she was thankful. Most of her co-workers, seeing her therewith her cellphone to her ear, would let her have her privacy.Not all, though, and she had to keep an eye out for the few whowould barge in irregardless. She didn't want to risk anyoneoverhearing this conversation."Okay, Nene, we can talk now," she said into the cellphone afteractivating the scrambler. "What's up? Why aren't you at work?""I called in sick," the quiet voice all but whispered across thephone line. "I needed... I needed some time by myself."Concern creased Linna's forehead. "Are you okay? The Loon didn't hurt you worse than we initially thought, did he?""No, no!" Her denial was sharp and loud, in contrast to herearlier softness. "I just... needed to think.""About what he said?""Yeah. And some things Sylia said." Linna heard Nene draw a deep breath. "You think he's right, don't you?"Linna scratched her left temple just below her headband. "Yeah.Yeah, I do. And so do you, if you think about it.""How can you say that?" Nene shrieked across the connection."Was Sylvie a person or a thing?" Linna asked quietly. "Howabout Anri?""That's different!"Linna shook her head, even though it went unseen by Nene. "Notat all. They were people. You can't even deny it yourself. Butif *they* were more than machines, other boomers can be, too.It's simple -- *one* could be a fluke, but two means there couldbe more. A fluke that happens twice isn't a fluke. It's apattern.""Then you already thought the Loon was right.""Yeah, kinda. I've been thinking about this since Largo; theLoon just made it a little more immediate." She chuckled. "Dumbmachines just do *not* act like Largo did.""Then how..." Nene began."How can I keep doing... what we do?""Yeah." Complete confusion was evident in her tone."The same way a cop or a soldier does what he does." Linnapursed her lips for a moment and thought of how to phrase whatshe wanted to say next. "I've killed boomers to protect othersor defend myself. I'll certainly kill more in the future. But Idon't do so lightly. I remember each one I kill. And I honoreach life taken. I recognize the need, but I regret it at thesame time.""That's very... I thought you said you hadn't been religioussince you were a teenager," Nene said after a moment, withsomething that sounded like the beginnings of a smile in hervoice.Linna shrugged. "I haven't practiced *Shinto* since I was 15.Doesn't mean I'm not *spiritual*."Nene snorted. "You, spiritual? You're the most materialisticperson I know!""They're not necessarily incompatible, you know.""If you say so," Nene replied doubtfully.
-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.

While Doug is a Bugs Bunny fan, I imagine he likes to give his pursuers the bird...

Barenaked Ladies Road Runner lyrics
You're on a highway and roadrunner goes Beep, beep
Just step aside or you might end up in a heap
Roadrunner roadrunner runs on the road all day
Even the coyote can't make him change his ways
Roadrunner, that coyote's after you
Roadrunner, if he catches you, you're through
That coyote's really a crazy clown
When will he learn that he never can hold you down?
Roadrunner roadrunner never bothers anyone
Runnin' down the road is his idea of havin' fun
Roadrunner, that coyote's after you
Roadrunner, if he catches you, you're through
Roadrunner, that coyote's after you
Roadrunner, if he catches you, you're through
If he catches you, you're through
If he catches you, you're through

From my heart and from my hand
Why don't people understand
My intentions
(She's alive....Alive!)
(Weird science)
Weird....ooo!
Weird Science
Plastic tubes and pots and pans
Bits and pieces and
Magic from my hands
We're makin'
(Weird science)
Things I've never seen before
Behind bolted doors
Talent and imagination
(Weird science)
Not what teacher said to do
Makin' dreams come true
Living tissue, warm flesh
(Weird science)
Plastic tubes and pots and pans
Bits and pieces (and)
Bits and pieces (and)
(Bits of) my creation -- Is it real?
It's my creation...my creation
It's my creation
Weird Science
Weird.....ooo!
(Weird science)
Magic and technology
Voodoo dolls and chants
Electricity
We're makin'
(Weird science)
Fantasy and microchips
Shooting from the hip
Something different
We're makin'
(Weird science)
Pictures from a magazine
Diagrams and charts
Mending broken hearts (and makin')
(Weird science)
Something like a recipe
Bits and pieces (and)
Bits and pieces (and)
(Bits of) my creation -- Is it real?
It's my creation -- I do not know
No hesitation -- No heart of gold
Just flesh and blood -- I do not know
I do not know
From my heart and from my hand
Why don't people understand
My intentions . . . . Oooh, weird science
Magic and technology
Voodoo dolls and chants
Weird Science
Things we never seen before
Behind bolted doors
Weird Science
Not what teacher said to do
Bits and pieces (and)
Bits and pieces (and)
(Bits of) my creation -- Is it real?
It's my creation -- I do not know
No hesitation -- No heart of gold
Just flesh and blood -- I do not know
It's my creation
It's my creation...ooo!
my creation
It's my creation
It's my creation
From my heart and from my hand
Why don't people understand
My intentions . . . .
Oooh, weird science
Weird ooooooo
weird science ooo!
Weird
Bits and pieces
-- Oingo Boingo, Weird Science
-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.

Chris Angel (aka "jpub") and I have tentatively agreed to set DW5 in his variant of the O!MG world, originally developed in his fic series Oh My Brother. Use that link to check it out if you've never heard of it or read it before now -- I highly recommend it.
More on this as it develops.

-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.