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.

(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?