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.

(Yes, I know it doesn't quite belong here, but there's no place better I can think of.)
I'm looking for an artist to work on a project that I'm doing primarily for fun, though it may end up making a little money in the long run. I don't have a lot of cash to put into it right now, but I'm willing to discuss payment. My main concern is that I need it soon, and I know a lot of the artists out there are already backud up 'till forever
So if you're an artist with time to commit to a (hopefully) small project and are interested discussing it further, drop me an e-mail (check my user info, there's a link on my homepage).
Thanks,
Offsides
Drunkard's Walk Forum Moderator and Prereader At Large

With tuppence for paper and strings
You can have your own set of wings
With your feet on the ground
You're a bird in a flight
With your fist holding tight
To the string of your kite
Oh, oh, oh!
Let's go fly a kite
Up to the highest height!
Let's go fly a kite and send it soaring
Up through the atmosphere
Up where the air is clear
Oh, let's go fly a kite!
When you send it flyin' up there
All at once you're lighter than air
You can dance on the breeze
Over 'ouses and trees
With your first 'olding tight
To the string of your kite
Oh, oh, oh!
Let's go fly a kite
Up to the highest height!
Let's go fly a kite and send it soaring
Up through the atmosphere
Up where the air is clear
Let's go fly a kite!
===
"Let's Go Fly a Kite", from Disney's version of "Mary Poppins".
Not much in the chorus, but those verses look interesting. I'm not entirely certain what this would do for Doug; it sounds like a kind of flight song, but the "feet on the ground" line might have some odd effects, at least perceptual ones. Maybe it takes his consciousness up flying in the visible form of a kite, while his body stays behind on the ground?

I don't know where this comes from, and Google didn't help:
"I Gave My Soul to Santa"
I gave my soul to Santa
He put it in his sack
And now that he has got it
He will not give it back.
I sent it in a letter
Addressed to the North Pole
...
And there my memory runs out. It might have been a monolog or blank verse, rather than song lyrics, but I am not at all sure... I think I heard it about 10+ years ago, maybe from one of the alternative humour shows (on radio?).
Still, if it _is_ a (rather black) song, I would like to know what Doug's talent would make of it! [grin]
--
"It is the business of the future to be dangerous" - Hawkwind

Apparently my muse just took an extra week in Myrtle Beach, and got back yesterday. I began revising my characterization problem today, and ended up with a net gain of 3K on the draft (as the subhead shows now). All is well.

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

"As Good as it Gets" by Grand Theft Audio (Gran Turismo 3 soundtrack) - all I can say is if his metagift locks onto the chorus, you've got a damned inspirational song.
"Mother Dawn" By Billy Idol (Cyberpunk) - umm...well, this one screams Sailor Moon to me.
"99 Red Balloons" Goldfinger Remix - well, that could be messy, depending on where his metagift kicks in.
"Alive" by POD - Resurrection, healing? I dunno.
and now, for some downright silly ones:
From the Arrogant Worms:
"The Last Saskatchewan Pirate" - if for no other reason than having a pirate ship as backup would be cool.
"Santa's going to kick your ass" - hey, he wanted safe Christmas songs, didn't he?
From the Animaniacs:
"I Am The Very Model of a Cartoon Individual" - oh come on, do I even need to explain?
"The Anvil Song" - again, fairly obvious
"A Quake! A Quake!" - wait, maybe he shouldn't try that one.
and finally, from Monty Python:
"Spam." - 'nuff said.
--
Christopher Angel
- who thinks the OMG Drunken Walk would be cooler in the OMB universe ^_^

While reviewing extant DW2 material, I raised a question for myself that I can't seem to answer for myself. Is the explanation of "gravity gun" for Largo's shockwave blast canon or fanon? Does anyone know?
Thanks.

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