I decided to take this week off from writing the serial, this being Christmas and all. The next chapter will be up next Sunday. I hope you are with your friends and loved ones on this sacred day.
Merry Christmas and Have a Happy New Year!
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Thank You, iTunes!
This may be old news, but it's new news for me.
Mother 3, the long-awaited sequel of Earthbound (Mother 2), has two official soundtracks made, both of which are available on iTunes. Mother 3i is about an hour's worth of music from the game, nicely polished up. 3i is only available on iTunes. Mother 3 + features mostly songs performed by DCMC, with a handful of BGM from the game, all of which contain themes from past Mother games. 3 + was released on CD, but the iTunes version has a bonus song.
If you're like me, then you have trouble finding anything in the iTunes store. To find 3i, just search Mother 3, and you'll find it all right, but 3 + is labeled Mother3 +, so it won't show up with 3i. Searching for DCMC usually will turn up 3 +.
As a bonus, to get wallpapers and a PDF of 3i's linear notes (in Japanese) click here.
Mother 3, the long-awaited sequel of Earthbound (Mother 2), has two official soundtracks made, both of which are available on iTunes. Mother 3i is about an hour's worth of music from the game, nicely polished up. 3i is only available on iTunes. Mother 3 + features mostly songs performed by DCMC, with a handful of BGM from the game, all of which contain themes from past Mother games. 3 + was released on CD, but the iTunes version has a bonus song.
If you're like me, then you have trouble finding anything in the iTunes store. To find 3i, just search Mother 3, and you'll find it all right, but 3 + is labeled Mother3 +, so it won't show up with 3i. Searching for DCMC usually will turn up 3 +.
As a bonus, to get wallpapers and a PDF of 3i's linear notes (in Japanese) click here.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Rick Daring and The Brilliant 5 – Chapter Twelve: The Collapsing Building
THE SPECTRE – Has put Dr Edwards into a fiendish device in hopes to learn the secrets in the doctor’s mind.
SARA – And Daring have snuck into the Spectre’s hideout only to be ambushed by his henchmen.
As Sara started to climb the stairs in the secret passage, Daring was still struggling with Davis. Two punches to the gut didn’t even slow Davis down. His large hands would not let go of Daring’s dark shirt.
“Say goodbye to your girlfriend, Daring,” mocked Davis. “Once she reaches the top of the stairs, she’s as good as dead.” Daring kicked out as hard he could, finally tearing Davis off of him. Daring did not let Davis have time to recover as he delivered punch after punch, until one final punch laid the thug out cold.
Daring took no time to celebrate his small victory. He quickly raced up the stairs after Sara. He reached the top of the stairs just as Sara was opening the door. Without thinking, Daring grabbed Sara and pulled her back down the stairs. They fell down half a dozen stairs. Seconds later, the harpoon fired, impaling itself on the wall opposite it.
Sara helped Daring up. “Thanks,” he said.
“I should be thanking you, from the looks of it,” she replied, examining the harpoon.
“We have plenty of time for explanations later,” said Daring. “Let’s go get Edwards.”
As they entered the room, Edwards was ranting. “I give up! I’ll tell you! I’ll tell you! Please don’t kill me!”
“Relax, Edwards,” said Sara. “We’re here to rescue you.” But before either of them could do anything, the chair that Edwards was strapped into fell through the floor. Daring and Sara watched helplessly as the chair fell into the back of a large truck. A mirthless laugh echoed the room as the Spectre made his getaway with Edwards in tow.
“So, he made off with Edwards yet again,” remarked Doctor Sergoff. Sara and Daring had regrouped at the top-secret installation where Sergoff and four colleagues were building a secret device. Daring was back in his double breasted suit, and Sara was wearing her white casual clothes. With them were Junior, Old Timer, and Johnny Highpitch.
“That varmint’s slipper than an old rattlesnake,” commented Old Timer.
“Pipe down,” said Junior. “You’ve never even seen a rattlesnake before.”
“Have so,” countered Old Timer. “Why, I…”
“Now’s not the time for bickering, gentlemen,” interrupted Sara with a quiet but firm voice.
“What are we going to do next?” asked Johnny.
“It seems like the Spectre has everything he needs,” said Daring. “We may just have to wait until he chooses to strike again.”
“How will we even know that when he has all these secret passages built into this facility?” asked Junior. “It’ll take days, maybe weeks for our guys to map the sections that we found when he was here last. We don’t know how many more there are.”
“How did he even make them in the first place?” asked Johnny.
“This building was designed by five scientists,” answered Sara. “Bryant, Jones, Scott, Edwards, and Sergoff.”
“Most of them are now dead,” reminded Sergoff.
“But still you believe that one of them is the Spectre,” stated Sara.
“Indeed.”
“Why only one? Two of them could be the Spectre. Taking turn as it were,” said Junior.
“If that were the case, even Sergoff could be the Spectre!” said Old Timer.
“I don’t think that’s the case,” replied Daring, calming Sergoff. “If it was, he certainly wouldn’t be here with us.”
“Why do you say that?” asked Johnny.
“Because he’d be with his partners in crime, celebrating. After all, the Spectre’s won. He’s got what he wanted.”
“There’s still a chance that Edwards might not talk!” said Sergoff.
“Unlikely,” dismissed Daring. “Whatever he was strapped into looked nasty. I’m willing to bet that the Spectre has broken him and, as we’re talking, he’s helping the Spectre finish the top secret project, whatever it is.”
“What is the doohickey anyway?” asked Old Timer. “I sure am itchin’ to find out.”
“I can’t tell you,” said Sergoff. “I was sworn to secrecy.”
“Don’t worry yourself about it,” replied Daring. “We’ll get back to your device in a minute.”
“Holy cow!” shouted Junior, standing up. “You know what it is, don’t you?”
“I don’t,” said Daring. “But Marissa and Teresa do. I’ve had them develop theories based on what we know about the device, and I think they’ve finally cracked it.”
“We’ll let them explain it,” said Sara. “They’re back at the Institute, which is where we should be. The Spectre’s already compromised the security of this building, and we’re not safe here.”
To punctuate what Sara had just said, the lights went out. “What happened?” asked Junior. An eerie silence pervaded the room.
“I think the whole building just lost power,” said Johnny. Sara looked nexted to her and saw Sergoff was visibly agitated.
“No one else did,” said Old Timer, staring out of the window.
“What’s wrong,” Sara asked Sergoff. He didn’t reply.
There was a low, groaning sound that rumbled throughout the building. It was directly followed by a large crack that ran down the window that Old Timer was standing at.
“I think we should evacuate the building immediately,” stated Daring, voicing what everyone else was thinking. The groaning continued as small tremors started to shake the building. The other members of the Brilliant 5 ran off to alert others still in the building. Daring turned to see Sara trying to drag Sergoff out of the room. Sergoff was frozen with an unexplained fear; his face was white like someone had bleached all of the color out of it.
“What’s gotten into him?” asked Sara. “You don’t think…?”
“It’s a possible theory,” replied Daring, helping her carry Sergoff. The rumbling became louder, while the tremors increased, now powerful enough to sweep Daring and Sara off their feet. When they got back onto their feet and helped up the terrified Sergoff, they discovered that the ceiling had collapsed, barring their exit.
They made their way back to the room they had just left. The walls had crumpled, crushing all of the windows, denying them any escape route.
“What now?” asked Sara.
“I’m thinking,” replied Daring. But before Daring could come up with something, the building shuddered, and the ceiling came down on their heads.
Click Here to Go To The Next Chapter
Written by J M Emmons. The story and all characters are copyrighted by J M Emmons.
SARA – And Daring have snuck into the Spectre’s hideout only to be ambushed by his henchmen.
As Sara started to climb the stairs in the secret passage, Daring was still struggling with Davis. Two punches to the gut didn’t even slow Davis down. His large hands would not let go of Daring’s dark shirt.
“Say goodbye to your girlfriend, Daring,” mocked Davis. “Once she reaches the top of the stairs, she’s as good as dead.” Daring kicked out as hard he could, finally tearing Davis off of him. Daring did not let Davis have time to recover as he delivered punch after punch, until one final punch laid the thug out cold.
Daring took no time to celebrate his small victory. He quickly raced up the stairs after Sara. He reached the top of the stairs just as Sara was opening the door. Without thinking, Daring grabbed Sara and pulled her back down the stairs. They fell down half a dozen stairs. Seconds later, the harpoon fired, impaling itself on the wall opposite it.
Sara helped Daring up. “Thanks,” he said.
“I should be thanking you, from the looks of it,” she replied, examining the harpoon.
“We have plenty of time for explanations later,” said Daring. “Let’s go get Edwards.”
As they entered the room, Edwards was ranting. “I give up! I’ll tell you! I’ll tell you! Please don’t kill me!”
“Relax, Edwards,” said Sara. “We’re here to rescue you.” But before either of them could do anything, the chair that Edwards was strapped into fell through the floor. Daring and Sara watched helplessly as the chair fell into the back of a large truck. A mirthless laugh echoed the room as the Spectre made his getaway with Edwards in tow.
“So, he made off with Edwards yet again,” remarked Doctor Sergoff. Sara and Daring had regrouped at the top-secret installation where Sergoff and four colleagues were building a secret device. Daring was back in his double breasted suit, and Sara was wearing her white casual clothes. With them were Junior, Old Timer, and Johnny Highpitch.
“That varmint’s slipper than an old rattlesnake,” commented Old Timer.
“Pipe down,” said Junior. “You’ve never even seen a rattlesnake before.”
“Have so,” countered Old Timer. “Why, I…”
“Now’s not the time for bickering, gentlemen,” interrupted Sara with a quiet but firm voice.
“What are we going to do next?” asked Johnny.
“It seems like the Spectre has everything he needs,” said Daring. “We may just have to wait until he chooses to strike again.”
“How will we even know that when he has all these secret passages built into this facility?” asked Junior. “It’ll take days, maybe weeks for our guys to map the sections that we found when he was here last. We don’t know how many more there are.”
“How did he even make them in the first place?” asked Johnny.
“This building was designed by five scientists,” answered Sara. “Bryant, Jones, Scott, Edwards, and Sergoff.”
“Most of them are now dead,” reminded Sergoff.
“But still you believe that one of them is the Spectre,” stated Sara.
“Indeed.”
“Why only one? Two of them could be the Spectre. Taking turn as it were,” said Junior.
“If that were the case, even Sergoff could be the Spectre!” said Old Timer.
“I don’t think that’s the case,” replied Daring, calming Sergoff. “If it was, he certainly wouldn’t be here with us.”
“Why do you say that?” asked Johnny.
“Because he’d be with his partners in crime, celebrating. After all, the Spectre’s won. He’s got what he wanted.”
“There’s still a chance that Edwards might not talk!” said Sergoff.
“Unlikely,” dismissed Daring. “Whatever he was strapped into looked nasty. I’m willing to bet that the Spectre has broken him and, as we’re talking, he’s helping the Spectre finish the top secret project, whatever it is.”
“What is the doohickey anyway?” asked Old Timer. “I sure am itchin’ to find out.”
“I can’t tell you,” said Sergoff. “I was sworn to secrecy.”
“Don’t worry yourself about it,” replied Daring. “We’ll get back to your device in a minute.”
“Holy cow!” shouted Junior, standing up. “You know what it is, don’t you?”
“I don’t,” said Daring. “But Marissa and Teresa do. I’ve had them develop theories based on what we know about the device, and I think they’ve finally cracked it.”
“We’ll let them explain it,” said Sara. “They’re back at the Institute, which is where we should be. The Spectre’s already compromised the security of this building, and we’re not safe here.”
To punctuate what Sara had just said, the lights went out. “What happened?” asked Junior. An eerie silence pervaded the room.
“I think the whole building just lost power,” said Johnny. Sara looked nexted to her and saw Sergoff was visibly agitated.
“No one else did,” said Old Timer, staring out of the window.
“What’s wrong,” Sara asked Sergoff. He didn’t reply.
There was a low, groaning sound that rumbled throughout the building. It was directly followed by a large crack that ran down the window that Old Timer was standing at.
“I think we should evacuate the building immediately,” stated Daring, voicing what everyone else was thinking. The groaning continued as small tremors started to shake the building. The other members of the Brilliant 5 ran off to alert others still in the building. Daring turned to see Sara trying to drag Sergoff out of the room. Sergoff was frozen with an unexplained fear; his face was white like someone had bleached all of the color out of it.
“What’s gotten into him?” asked Sara. “You don’t think…?”
“It’s a possible theory,” replied Daring, helping her carry Sergoff. The rumbling became louder, while the tremors increased, now powerful enough to sweep Daring and Sara off their feet. When they got back onto their feet and helped up the terrified Sergoff, they discovered that the ceiling had collapsed, barring their exit.
They made their way back to the room they had just left. The walls had crumpled, crushing all of the windows, denying them any escape route.
“What now?” asked Sara.
“I’m thinking,” replied Daring. But before Daring could come up with something, the building shuddered, and the ceiling came down on their heads.
Click Here to Go To The Next Chapter
Written by J M Emmons. The story and all characters are copyrighted by J M Emmons.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Comments on Chapter Eleven
I don't always envision certain actors when I write characters, but here is a list of actors I used for the illustrations and who I think would be great in certain roles.
Richard Darington...Mark Valley (Keen Eddie, Fringe)
Sara........................Maura Tierney (News Radio, ER)
Old Timer...............George "Gabby" Hayes (Countless Westerns)
Junior.....................River Phoenix (Indy 3)
Johnny Highpitch...James Earl Jones (Voice of Darth Vader, Numerous Movies)(Voice)
Edwards.................Tristan Coffin (Numerous serials)
The Spectre............Christopher Lee (Dracula,Star Wars) (Voice)
Richard Darington...Mark Valley (Keen Eddie, Fringe)
Sara........................Maura Tierney (News Radio, ER)
Old Timer...............George "Gabby" Hayes (Countless Westerns)
Junior.....................River Phoenix (Indy 3)
Johnny Highpitch...James Earl Jones (Voice of Darth Vader, Numerous Movies)(Voice)
Edwards.................Tristan Coffin (Numerous serials)
The Spectre............Christopher Lee (Dracula,Star Wars) (Voice)
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Rick Daring and The Brilliant 5 – Chapter Eleven: One Hour To Live
THE SPECTRE – Has snuck into the high-security laboratory and kidnapped Dr. Edwards.
DARING – Set out to stop the Spectre only to be caught in the headlights of his getaway van.
The Spectre pressed the nose of the gun into Edwards’s ribs. “Start the engine,” commanded the Spectre. Edwards reluctantly agreed. As he did so, Daring came into view, falling to the ground.
“Run him over,” commanded the Spectre. “Now!” The nose of the automatic buried itself into Edwards’ ribs. Edwards again complied, and the van started to move, picking up speed. Daring did not move, as if daring them to try and run over him.
At the last moment, Edwards veered away, missing Daring by inches.
“Fool!” shouted the Spectre.
“You won’t kill me,” said Edwards defiantly. “You need me to finish the blueprints.”
“True,” remarked the Spectre, pointing the gun at Edwards’s knee. “But if you disobey me a second time, you’ll never walk again.” Edwards knew by the way he said that, that the Spectre was dead serious. “Now, get us out of here.”
The van proceeded to the exit ramp. Old Timer and Johnny Highpitch entered the parking lot just as the van whizzed by. Daring chasing after the van on foot, shouted, “Stop that van!”
Both Old Timer and Johnny knew that they weren’t going to be able to stop the van by themselves. Johnny pulled out a small device. He kneeled and carefully took aim. The device fired a small projectile that attached itself to the van’s bumper.
“Is that what I think it is,” asked Daring as he tried to catch his breath.
“Yep,” replied Old Timer. “One of Teresa’s patented tracer bullets.”
Daring smiled. “First good news all day.”
Edwards awoke with a start. The back of his neck was throbbing with pain. The last thing he remembered was following the Spectre’s direction, and after he pulled up to an abandoned warehouse, the Spectre clubbed him with the gun’s handle. Edwards found himself strapped into an odd-looking chair. Silently, the Spectre slipped into the room via another secret passage. The only door in the room was covered by a large, sinister-looking harpoon cannon.
“You have one hour to live!” hissed the Spectre. “Tell me what I need to know and I will spare your life.”
“Never!”
“You’ll soon change your mind or die!” shouted the Spectre, pointing to the large clock on the wall across from Edwards. “This clock is directly wired into your chair. Every six minutes, the chair will give an electric shock. You’ll barely feel the first one. The second will just tingle a little, while the third will give you a jolt. But the shocks will get progressively worse, and the tenth will kill you. Whenever you choose to end this, feel free to shout. This room’s wired for sound, so I’ll hear every scream of agony.”
“You can’t do this,” muttered Edwards.
“Remember, one hour,” said the Spectre. “And don’t stall because you think Rick Daring’s on his way to rescue you. Even if he managed to somehow find where you are, he would still have to enter that door, and the first person to enter that door will be impaled by this harpoon.” His eerie laughter filled the room until the master criminal left via the secret passage.
Edwards felt a tiny shock as the clock on the wall started its slow, hour-long passage to midnight.
Meanwhile, outside, Sara and Daring crouched at the edge of the warehouse’s parking lot, waiting for the armed guards to pass.
“Black suits you, Sara,” whispered Daring as they hid among the bushes. This comment referred to their stealthy all-black outfits.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” replied Sara in an equally hushed tone. They dashed across the parking lot the second the guards passed around the corner. They stopped when they reached the warehouse, pausing to catch their breath. The warehouse did not look like it had been used in decades, and yet that was where Teresa’s tracer had led them.
“Door?” suggested Daring.
“Broken window,” replied Sara, pointing behind him. They climbed up and through the shattered remains of a large window frame. They kicked up a cloud of dust as their feet hit the ground of the warehouse. The inside was quiet and dark; the only lighting coming from the outside lampposts. Looking around, they could see no immediate guards or resistance of any type.
Daring glanced at his watch. 11:20. It taken precious time to sneak into the warehouse without alerting anyone to their presence. Hopefully, Edwards was being held in a room nearby, and they would make their escape without anyone noticing.
“Let’s split up and start checking these rooms. Maybe we’ll get lucky,” said Daring. They started looking around, but found nothing but cobweb-covered offices long abandoned.
Sara and Daring regrouped, confounded by their results. “He has to be here somewhere. But where?” Daring never got to finish his thought, as Watkins and Davis walked in on them from a secret passage in the wall.
“Intruders!” shouted Watkins. Davis rushed Daring, tackling him to the ground. Daring punched Davis once, twice, but the thug would not let go of him as they rolled around on the ground. Daring kicked at Davis, but it did not weaken his grip on Daring.
Watkins grabbed Sara on the shoulder, but Sara grabbed his wrist and sent him flying, thanks to a patented judo move. Watkins picked himself up, but Sara blocked each of his punches. She hit a nerve cluster in Watkins’s shoulder, and he collapsed to the ground. Looking back, Sara saw that Daring was still struggling with Davis. She quickly entered the secret passage and started to climb up the stairs.
Meanwhile, Edwards’s body was racked with pain. His muscles were sore from convulsing, and his mouth had the taste of rubber. He had endured nine shocks so far, and true to the Spectre’s word, each was worse than the previous, and Edwards knew that he would not survive the next one. He watched with weary eyes as the clocked counted down the final until midnight. He gritted his teeth, bracing himself for the inevitable.
Edwards wanted to be strong enough to face death, rather than surrender to the Spectre. But now tested, he found that he was not that type of man, and a minute before midnight, Edwards shouted, “You win! I’ll help you!”
Just then, the door opened, and Sara walked into the room. There was a whirr of machinery, and the harpoon was launched directly at her.
Click Here to Go To The Next Chapter
Written by J M Emmons. The story and all characters are copyrighted by J M Emmons.
DARING – Set out to stop the Spectre only to be caught in the headlights of his getaway van.
The Spectre pressed the nose of the gun into Edwards’s ribs. “Start the engine,” commanded the Spectre. Edwards reluctantly agreed. As he did so, Daring came into view, falling to the ground.
“Run him over,” commanded the Spectre. “Now!” The nose of the automatic buried itself into Edwards’ ribs. Edwards again complied, and the van started to move, picking up speed. Daring did not move, as if daring them to try and run over him.
At the last moment, Edwards veered away, missing Daring by inches.
“Fool!” shouted the Spectre.
“You won’t kill me,” said Edwards defiantly. “You need me to finish the blueprints.”
“True,” remarked the Spectre, pointing the gun at Edwards’s knee. “But if you disobey me a second time, you’ll never walk again.” Edwards knew by the way he said that, that the Spectre was dead serious. “Now, get us out of here.”
The van proceeded to the exit ramp. Old Timer and Johnny Highpitch entered the parking lot just as the van whizzed by. Daring chasing after the van on foot, shouted, “Stop that van!”
Both Old Timer and Johnny knew that they weren’t going to be able to stop the van by themselves. Johnny pulled out a small device. He kneeled and carefully took aim. The device fired a small projectile that attached itself to the van’s bumper.
“Is that what I think it is,” asked Daring as he tried to catch his breath.
“Yep,” replied Old Timer. “One of Teresa’s patented tracer bullets.”
Daring smiled. “First good news all day.”
Edwards awoke with a start. The back of his neck was throbbing with pain. The last thing he remembered was following the Spectre’s direction, and after he pulled up to an abandoned warehouse, the Spectre clubbed him with the gun’s handle. Edwards found himself strapped into an odd-looking chair. Silently, the Spectre slipped into the room via another secret passage. The only door in the room was covered by a large, sinister-looking harpoon cannon.
“You have one hour to live!” hissed the Spectre. “Tell me what I need to know and I will spare your life.”
“Never!”
“You’ll soon change your mind or die!” shouted the Spectre, pointing to the large clock on the wall across from Edwards. “This clock is directly wired into your chair. Every six minutes, the chair will give an electric shock. You’ll barely feel the first one. The second will just tingle a little, while the third will give you a jolt. But the shocks will get progressively worse, and the tenth will kill you. Whenever you choose to end this, feel free to shout. This room’s wired for sound, so I’ll hear every scream of agony.”
“You can’t do this,” muttered Edwards.
“Remember, one hour,” said the Spectre. “And don’t stall because you think Rick Daring’s on his way to rescue you. Even if he managed to somehow find where you are, he would still have to enter that door, and the first person to enter that door will be impaled by this harpoon.” His eerie laughter filled the room until the master criminal left via the secret passage.
Edwards felt a tiny shock as the clock on the wall started its slow, hour-long passage to midnight.
Meanwhile, outside, Sara and Daring crouched at the edge of the warehouse’s parking lot, waiting for the armed guards to pass.
“Black suits you, Sara,” whispered Daring as they hid among the bushes. This comment referred to their stealthy all-black outfits.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” replied Sara in an equally hushed tone. They dashed across the parking lot the second the guards passed around the corner. They stopped when they reached the warehouse, pausing to catch their breath. The warehouse did not look like it had been used in decades, and yet that was where Teresa’s tracer had led them.
“Door?” suggested Daring.
“Broken window,” replied Sara, pointing behind him. They climbed up and through the shattered remains of a large window frame. They kicked up a cloud of dust as their feet hit the ground of the warehouse. The inside was quiet and dark; the only lighting coming from the outside lampposts. Looking around, they could see no immediate guards or resistance of any type.
Daring glanced at his watch. 11:20. It taken precious time to sneak into the warehouse without alerting anyone to their presence. Hopefully, Edwards was being held in a room nearby, and they would make their escape without anyone noticing.
“Let’s split up and start checking these rooms. Maybe we’ll get lucky,” said Daring. They started looking around, but found nothing but cobweb-covered offices long abandoned.
Sara and Daring regrouped, confounded by their results. “He has to be here somewhere. But where?” Daring never got to finish his thought, as Watkins and Davis walked in on them from a secret passage in the wall.
“Intruders!” shouted Watkins. Davis rushed Daring, tackling him to the ground. Daring punched Davis once, twice, but the thug would not let go of him as they rolled around on the ground. Daring kicked at Davis, but it did not weaken his grip on Daring.
Watkins grabbed Sara on the shoulder, but Sara grabbed his wrist and sent him flying, thanks to a patented judo move. Watkins picked himself up, but Sara blocked each of his punches. She hit a nerve cluster in Watkins’s shoulder, and he collapsed to the ground. Looking back, Sara saw that Daring was still struggling with Davis. She quickly entered the secret passage and started to climb up the stairs.
Meanwhile, Edwards’s body was racked with pain. His muscles were sore from convulsing, and his mouth had the taste of rubber. He had endured nine shocks so far, and true to the Spectre’s word, each was worse than the previous, and Edwards knew that he would not survive the next one. He watched with weary eyes as the clocked counted down the final until midnight. He gritted his teeth, bracing himself for the inevitable.
Edwards wanted to be strong enough to face death, rather than surrender to the Spectre. But now tested, he found that he was not that type of man, and a minute before midnight, Edwards shouted, “You win! I’ll help you!”
Just then, the door opened, and Sara walked into the room. There was a whirr of machinery, and the harpoon was launched directly at her.
Click Here to Go To The Next Chapter
Written by J M Emmons. The story and all characters are copyrighted by J M Emmons.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Review: Clone Wars "Lair of Grievous"
In the most recent episode of Star Wars: Clone Wars, Kit Fisto and his former padawan are tricked into entering Grievous's home and are forced to face the evil general if they hope to leave. Count Dooku, tired of General Grievous' continual failure against the Jedi, tests the droid army general by allowing two Jedi to enter Grievous' home under the false pretenses. The episode is well-paced with action, suspense, and character development. I can't say that I was surprised how the episode played out, but it was entertaining to the end.
Dooku is portrayed as devious and manipulative as his master, pitting both sides against each other. If Grievous succeed, then there would be two less Jedi to bother Dooku, and if the Jedi won, Dooku would just find a new pawn to lead his army. Either way, Dooku wins. When Grievous returns home and finds his home invaded by Jedi, he attacks immediately, but the two Jedi cut him down to size. A weakened Grievous then has to rely on his home's array of booby traps and secret passages, while he is being repaired.
Writer Henry Gilroy stated that inspiration for the episode came from old serials where villains lived in elaborate lairs filled with monsters and deathtraps. I applaud the episode for attempting to flesh out the character of General Grievous. Most of the series, and Episode III, Grievous is just played as a two dimensional villain. Here, we see statues of Grievous back before he became a cyborg, and we meet the closest thing to a friend, his doctor droid.
My only complaint about the episode, aside from there could have been more booby traps used, is that Kit Fisto sliced the doctor droid in half. It just seems uncharacteristic of a Jedi to attack someone from behind, much less a noncombative, like the droid doctor. B+
Sunday, December 07, 2008
Rick Daring and The Brilliant 5 – Chapter Ten: The Spectre Strikes!
THE SPECTRE – Sets his sights on Dr. Edwards, who has the last piece of the mysterious project the Spectre wants.
DEKKER – Set free by the Spectre, opens free on his captors as they supposedly enter the room.
Daring and Sara had just left the interrogation room and went down the hallway. They entered a room at the corner as the hallway continued to the left. Inside were Old Timer and Dr. Sergoff, sitting by the table where a large monitoring keep tabs of the whole level.
“Get anything out of him?” asked Old Timer.
“Not yet,” admitted Sara.
“He probably won’t buy our bluff either,” remarked Daring.
“So, what do we do now?” asked Old Timer.
“Excuse me,” asked Sergoff. “Who or what is that?” They all turned to look at the security screen. There, a shadow of a man entered the interrogation room and handed Dekker something.
“The Spectre!” gasped Sergoff in horror.
“And now we know how he can get by our security,” said Daring. “Look!” They watched as the screen switched to the hallway camera, and the Spectre disappeared into a secret passage.
“That’s impossible!” shouted Sergoff. “It was the five of us who designed this building in the first place. Only one of us…”
“Are you saying one of your colleagues is the Spectre?” asked Old Timer.
“But three of them are dead,” said Sara.
“Are they?” asked Daring. “In any case, alert security. Lock down the building. We’re going to catch that Spectre, once and for all.” He pulled two guns out of a drawer. He handed one to Sara, but she declined. “Old Timer, find Junior and Dr. Edwards and get them to a secure location. Sara and I will secure our prisoner.”
But down in Dr. Edwards’s laboratory, it was already too late, because he was face to face with the Spectre! Edwards nervously looked down at the automatic leveled at him.
“We are going for a trip,” stated the Spectre.
“Why?” asked Edwards, stalling for time.
“I know how you work,” replied the Spectre. “By now, you will have destroyed your section of the plans, but only after memorizing them.”
“But how could you know that unless…”
Edwards was interrupted as a beaker smashed into the Spectre’s hand, disarming the super-foe. Turning, the Spectre caught sight of Junior, who had slipped into the room.
“I knew you weren’t the type to talk to yourself,” remarked Junior. “Give up, Spectre. I’m not letting you out of this room.” But the Spectre had already launched himself at Junior. The two crashed against a nearby table, sending test tubes to the ground. A lucky punch from Junior bought him some breathing room as the Spectre stumbled backwards.
It was time for Junior to spring into action, but the Spectre easily dodged his tackle. The villain grabbed a nearby chair and swung it madly at Junior. Junior tried to stay out of the reach of the makeshift weapon. He tossed a couple beakers at the Spectre, but the villain batted them away.
Glancing around him, Junior noticed the gun lying on the ground. He tried to make a dash for it, but the Spectre beat him to it, and the last thing Junior would remember was the hard chair crashing down onto his head. Tossing away the remains of the chair, the Spectre picked up the automatic and jabbed Edwards with it.
“Now, as I was saying…” said the Spectre.
Meanwhile, Daring and Sara approached the interrogation room. “How do you want to play it?” asked Daring; their backs to the wall.
“Cautiously,” replied Sara. Daring reached beside them and turned the doorknob. Using his elbow, he gave the door a slight push. No sooner did he do this, than Dekker opened fire. The bullets went through the doorway, past them, and into the opposite wall across from them.
After the firing stopped, Daring listened for the rushed footsteps approaching the doorway. Sara and Daring leapt onto Dekker as he pasted the door’s threshold. Sara took away the gun as Daring pinned him down. Sara helped hold him down as Daring put the cuffs on him.
As Sara finished securing the prisoner, Daring heard a familiar buzzing sound. He pulled out a small transmitter from his pocket.
“Daring here.”
“We found Junior,” came Old Timer’s voice. “He’s out like a light. No sign of Edwards. Looks like the Spectre beat us to him.”
“Thanks,” replied Daring. “Over and out.”
Daring raced down the hall, kicking open the door to the stairs. He went down them two at a time, level by level, until he reached the bottom. Opening the door, he found himself in the basement parking lot. He scanned the area, hoping he wasn’t too late. There, a few yards away, was the Spectre herding Edwards into a unmarked van.
Unfortunately, it was at this time that the Spectre noticed Daring. The sinister man started to fire at Daring. The gunshots reverberated in the small area. Daring ducked behind a concrete column for cover. He still had his own gun, but couldn’t risk firing upon the Spectre without risk hitting Edwards. He glanced around and noticed another column closer to the van. He waited for the shooting to end before making a dash for the other column.
Halfway there, Daring tripped and fell. He expected to be shot then and there, but no shot came. Instead, he heard the van’s engine roar to life. Its large headlights blinded Daring. It lurched forward, picking up speed, intent on running him over.
Click Here to Go To The Next Chapter
Written by J M Emmons. The story and all characters are copyrighted by J M Emmons.
DEKKER – Set free by the Spectre, opens free on his captors as they supposedly enter the room.
Daring and Sara had just left the interrogation room and went down the hallway. They entered a room at the corner as the hallway continued to the left. Inside were Old Timer and Dr. Sergoff, sitting by the table where a large monitoring keep tabs of the whole level.
“Get anything out of him?” asked Old Timer.
“Not yet,” admitted Sara.
“He probably won’t buy our bluff either,” remarked Daring.
“So, what do we do now?” asked Old Timer.
“Excuse me,” asked Sergoff. “Who or what is that?” They all turned to look at the security screen. There, a shadow of a man entered the interrogation room and handed Dekker something.
“The Spectre!” gasped Sergoff in horror.
“And now we know how he can get by our security,” said Daring. “Look!” They watched as the screen switched to the hallway camera, and the Spectre disappeared into a secret passage.
“That’s impossible!” shouted Sergoff. “It was the five of us who designed this building in the first place. Only one of us…”
“Are you saying one of your colleagues is the Spectre?” asked Old Timer.
“But three of them are dead,” said Sara.
“Are they?” asked Daring. “In any case, alert security. Lock down the building. We’re going to catch that Spectre, once and for all.” He pulled two guns out of a drawer. He handed one to Sara, but she declined. “Old Timer, find Junior and Dr. Edwards and get them to a secure location. Sara and I will secure our prisoner.”
But down in Dr. Edwards’s laboratory, it was already too late, because he was face to face with the Spectre! Edwards nervously looked down at the automatic leveled at him.
“We are going for a trip,” stated the Spectre.
“Why?” asked Edwards, stalling for time.
“I know how you work,” replied the Spectre. “By now, you will have destroyed your section of the plans, but only after memorizing them.”
“But how could you know that unless…”
Edwards was interrupted as a beaker smashed into the Spectre’s hand, disarming the super-foe. Turning, the Spectre caught sight of Junior, who had slipped into the room.
“I knew you weren’t the type to talk to yourself,” remarked Junior. “Give up, Spectre. I’m not letting you out of this room.” But the Spectre had already launched himself at Junior. The two crashed against a nearby table, sending test tubes to the ground. A lucky punch from Junior bought him some breathing room as the Spectre stumbled backwards.
It was time for Junior to spring into action, but the Spectre easily dodged his tackle. The villain grabbed a nearby chair and swung it madly at Junior. Junior tried to stay out of the reach of the makeshift weapon. He tossed a couple beakers at the Spectre, but the villain batted them away.
Glancing around him, Junior noticed the gun lying on the ground. He tried to make a dash for it, but the Spectre beat him to it, and the last thing Junior would remember was the hard chair crashing down onto his head. Tossing away the remains of the chair, the Spectre picked up the automatic and jabbed Edwards with it.
“Now, as I was saying…” said the Spectre.
Meanwhile, Daring and Sara approached the interrogation room. “How do you want to play it?” asked Daring; their backs to the wall.
“Cautiously,” replied Sara. Daring reached beside them and turned the doorknob. Using his elbow, he gave the door a slight push. No sooner did he do this, than Dekker opened fire. The bullets went through the doorway, past them, and into the opposite wall across from them.
After the firing stopped, Daring listened for the rushed footsteps approaching the doorway. Sara and Daring leapt onto Dekker as he pasted the door’s threshold. Sara took away the gun as Daring pinned him down. Sara helped hold him down as Daring put the cuffs on him.
As Sara finished securing the prisoner, Daring heard a familiar buzzing sound. He pulled out a small transmitter from his pocket.
“Daring here.”
“We found Junior,” came Old Timer’s voice. “He’s out like a light. No sign of Edwards. Looks like the Spectre beat us to him.”
“Thanks,” replied Daring. “Over and out.”
Daring raced down the hall, kicking open the door to the stairs. He went down them two at a time, level by level, until he reached the bottom. Opening the door, he found himself in the basement parking lot. He scanned the area, hoping he wasn’t too late. There, a few yards away, was the Spectre herding Edwards into a unmarked van.
Unfortunately, it was at this time that the Spectre noticed Daring. The sinister man started to fire at Daring. The gunshots reverberated in the small area. Daring ducked behind a concrete column for cover. He still had his own gun, but couldn’t risk firing upon the Spectre without risk hitting Edwards. He glanced around and noticed another column closer to the van. He waited for the shooting to end before making a dash for the other column.
Halfway there, Daring tripped and fell. He expected to be shot then and there, but no shot came. Instead, he heard the van’s engine roar to life. Its large headlights blinded Daring. It lurched forward, picking up speed, intent on running him over.
Click Here to Go To The Next Chapter
Written by J M Emmons. The story and all characters are copyrighted by J M Emmons.
Thursday, December 04, 2008
Review: Clone Wars C-3PO
I recently bought the C-3PO figure modeled off of the new animated series, The Clone Wars. This particular figure is a mixed bag. Let's start with what's good about the figure. Hasbro, as always, has done a good job capturing the animated look of the figure. Unlike Obi-Wan and Anakin, C-3PO has the same look as in the live-action films, only a little more streamlined and simplified. The figure has a ton of articulation: neck, shoulders, elbows, mid-chest, knees, ankles, etc.
The bad thing is that C-3PO doesn't come with anything. Nothing. He only has a "light-up" feature, thanks to a transparent spot in the back of his head, which will light up his eyes when a strong beam of light is directed through said spot. The figure also seemed small, but he's as tall as Hasbro's other C-3PO figures. His arms are very thin, and feel, at times, like they're fragile.
Hasbro also decided to make the animated C-3PO with a dark bronze finish, instead of their usual golden chrome finish. The pictures I've seen of C-3PO in the show has him as more of a bright yellow-orange sheen. I'm not sure why they did this. I'm not saying that I don't like it, but it makes the figure less accurate. C+
(The other C-3PO pictured is the 2006-2007 figure with the Ewok chair. It, in my opinion, is the best mold Hasbro has made for C-3PO. The second best would be 2005's ROTS figure which is very similar except for the lack of knee joints.)
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Music Review: X-Files I Want to Believe Soundtrack
With the X-Files movie coming out onto DVD soon, i thought I'd stop putting off the review to Mark Snow's score, and here it is.
I'd like to begin with saying how surprised I am to find so little X-Files soundtracks there was produced. For the television series, only one album and one score album were made, along with a soundtrack for each movie. (I think Fight the Future had both an album and score, but don't quote me on that.) A lot of science fiction/cult shows seem to have a lot of music released to appease their crazed fans (i.e. Star Trek), but X-Files does not seem to be one of them.
Which is a shame because Mark Snow's music has really grown on me, just as X-Files has over the last year or so. I Want to Believe is different kind of score compared to the previous Fight the Future, but this is because they're two different kinds of films. Fight the Future is more a straight action - suspense piece while I Want to Believe has more of the ambient feel of Snow's earlier seasons.
The title theme of X-Files is present, but Snow does not utilize it as much as in FTF. There are a couple nice hints of it in "Looking for Mulder" and "March and Dig," but it's not until "Home again" that we hear the biggest quote of the theme, and still it's mostly in fragments. Surprisingly, the remix after that is pretty good, It manages to stay true to Snow's theme while being original in its arrangement. Best of all, it still fits in with Snow's score.
There is a secondary theme, heard in "Ybara the Strange" and "The Surgery." It's a haunting and mournful tune that helps fill in for the absence of the main theme. "Box Them" has this theme, present on piano, playing into another short quote of the X-Files theme.
The rest of the score has a lot of tense moments with some quiet ones, but on the whole, nothing too remarkable. "Foot Chase" has some great energized string movement. "The Trip to DC" should sound very familiar to FTF fans. "Can't Sleep" sounds like something I've heard in the series. I enjoyed the music on the soundtrack, but it's too restrained to be put in the same category as Fight the Future. B-
Recommended Tracks:
2. No Cures/Looking for Fox
8. March and Dig/ Girl in the Box
10. The Surgery
13. Foot Chase
15. Photo Evidence
19. Box Them
20. Home Again
I'd like to begin with saying how surprised I am to find so little X-Files soundtracks there was produced. For the television series, only one album and one score album were made, along with a soundtrack for each movie. (I think Fight the Future had both an album and score, but don't quote me on that.) A lot of science fiction/cult shows seem to have a lot of music released to appease their crazed fans (i.e. Star Trek), but X-Files does not seem to be one of them.
Which is a shame because Mark Snow's music has really grown on me, just as X-Files has over the last year or so. I Want to Believe is different kind of score compared to the previous Fight the Future, but this is because they're two different kinds of films. Fight the Future is more a straight action - suspense piece while I Want to Believe has more of the ambient feel of Snow's earlier seasons.
The title theme of X-Files is present, but Snow does not utilize it as much as in FTF. There are a couple nice hints of it in "Looking for Mulder" and "March and Dig," but it's not until "Home again" that we hear the biggest quote of the theme, and still it's mostly in fragments. Surprisingly, the remix after that is pretty good, It manages to stay true to Snow's theme while being original in its arrangement. Best of all, it still fits in with Snow's score.
There is a secondary theme, heard in "Ybara the Strange" and "The Surgery." It's a haunting and mournful tune that helps fill in for the absence of the main theme. "Box Them" has this theme, present on piano, playing into another short quote of the X-Files theme.
The rest of the score has a lot of tense moments with some quiet ones, but on the whole, nothing too remarkable. "Foot Chase" has some great energized string movement. "The Trip to DC" should sound very familiar to FTF fans. "Can't Sleep" sounds like something I've heard in the series. I enjoyed the music on the soundtrack, but it's too restrained to be put in the same category as Fight the Future. B-
Recommended Tracks:
2. No Cures/Looking for Fox
8. March and Dig/ Girl in the Box
10. The Surgery
13. Foot Chase
15. Photo Evidence
19. Box Them
20. Home Again
Rick Daring and The Brilliant 5 – Chapter Nine: A Shot in the Dark
DEKKER – Silenced Thaddeus from talking to Daring and Sara. During the ensuing fight, Dekker sends the car lift down on top of Daring.
As the car lift came rushing down to crush him, Richard Darington rolled towards the lift, falling into the worker’s pit beneath it. Daring looked up from within the pit as the descending lift came to an abrupt stop.
Dekker tried to peered underneath the car, hoping to catch a glimpse of Daring so that he could shoot him. He turned around as someone tapped him on the shoulder. Sara socked him in the jaw. Dekker stumbled backwards, hitting his head on the wall.
“Let’s see how much he likes being unconscious,” she said, pushing the lever until the car lift was back in its upright position. “Honestly, Richard, I think I need to wear a helmet whenever I go out with you,” she said, rubbing her neck as she helped Daring out of the pit.
“Finally,” said Daring as he approached the unconscious Dekker. “Some answers at last.”
Dekker awoke with a piercing pain in the back of his skull. He was chained to his chair. Looking around, he found himself in a plain-looking room. The only door was across from him with the room’s single table between him and the door. There were no windows, so there was no way for him to know where he was.
The door opened and in came Daring and Sara. Daring plopped a large folder onto the table. “You’ve got quite a large rap sheet, Jason Dekker,” said Daring. “Enough to put you back in Sing Sing for a long, long time.”
“So?” spat back Dekker.
“You’re a known associate of the super criminal calling himself, the Spectre. Give us everything you know on him, and we’ll be able to commute your sentence,” stated Sara.
“I don’t have to tell you nothing,” shouted Dekker. “I got rights. Rights to a lawyer, in fact.”
“We are aware of the fact that you’ve been in and out of prison most of your life,” said Sara. “But this concerns the attempted thieft of government equipment.”
“And the government doesn’t like people who try and steal their secrets,” interrupted Daring. “In fact, there’s a pair of agents right outside that door. They think we’re wasting our time, ‘pussyfooting around with you.’ Do you think they’re right?”
“I ain’t talking,” insisted Dekker. “I’m a dead man if I talk. I just saw my partner get disintegrated. What could you possibly do to me that’s worst?”
“You’re right. We can’t do anything, but those government agents can do plenty,” replied Sara. “They can erase you from everyone’s records. You’d be a ghost, then.”
“I can’t. I can’t,” repeated Dekker.
“Looks like you need time to think it over,” said Daring. “We’ll be back in ten minutes.”
In the hallway, Daring asked, “What do you think?”
“He’s hard to read,” admitted Sara. “But if he calls our bluff, we’re done for.”
“What? We’ve got Old Timer and Junior here.”
“There’s no way we could pass them as government agents,” replied Sara.
“It’s worth a shot,” countered Daring. “We’ve got nothing to lose.”
Sara shook her head. “It’s not going to work. He’s too afraid of the Spectre. We could dangle him off a building, and he’d still not talk.”
“Then, how are we?” asked Daring.
Five minutes later, the door opened into the interrogation cell. Dekker was expecting Daring and Sara, but had the shock of his life. The Spectre had walked into his very room! But Dekker held no joy at this sight, for in the hands of his master was a .45 caliber automatic!
“Did you tell them anything?” asked the Spectre with menace beyond description.
“No, nothing. I swear,” blurted Dekker.
Apparently satisfied with his answer, the Spectre set the automatic down on the table and started to undo Dekker’s restrains. Dekker started to get up, but the Spectre motioned for him to sat in the seat.
“Your captors will be back at any moment,” stated the Spectre as he handed Dekker the automatic. “The instant they enter the room, kill them. When you’re sure you’ve eliminated them, then make your escape.”
“What are you going to do?” asked Dekker, but got no response. The Spectre went out of the room and stalked down the hall. He paused in the middle of the hall, at a most unremarkable section. Pressing a hidden button, a section of the wall opened, and the Spectre disappeared into the secret passage. He squeezed down the tight corridor that went between walls. The hooded man grasped at the shadows as he made his way through the maze of hidden corridors. Coming to the end, the Spectre pressed another switch and another door opened up, letting out into a different section of the facility.
The Spectre walked down the hallway, stopping at a particular door. Opening it, he produced a second automatic. He crept up to the lone man working in the laboratory. The Spectre poked the gun into the back of the unaware man. He turned with a start.
“Good evening Dr. Edwards,” said the Spectre. “We have a lot to talk about.”
Meanwhile, back in the interrogation room, Dekker waited nervously for Daring and Sara to return. The automatic felt heavy and cold in his sweaty hands. Without a clock present, it seemed like the whole world had stopped. He strained his ears, trying to listen for approaching footsteps.
Dekker knew that he had only one shot at this. The Spectre would reward him greatly, if he succeeded. Fail and he would die just like Ox. He pushed these thoughts aside as he heard a confident stride echoing the hallways outside. It must be Daring, returning to further their interrogation.
The door opened, and not waiting a second, Dekker stood up and started to empty the gun into the open doorway and whomever was standing there.
Click Here to Go To The Next Chapter
Written by J M Emmons. The story and all characters are copyrighted by J M Emmons.
As the car lift came rushing down to crush him, Richard Darington rolled towards the lift, falling into the worker’s pit beneath it. Daring looked up from within the pit as the descending lift came to an abrupt stop.
Dekker tried to peered underneath the car, hoping to catch a glimpse of Daring so that he could shoot him. He turned around as someone tapped him on the shoulder. Sara socked him in the jaw. Dekker stumbled backwards, hitting his head on the wall.
“Let’s see how much he likes being unconscious,” she said, pushing the lever until the car lift was back in its upright position. “Honestly, Richard, I think I need to wear a helmet whenever I go out with you,” she said, rubbing her neck as she helped Daring out of the pit.
“Finally,” said Daring as he approached the unconscious Dekker. “Some answers at last.”
Dekker awoke with a piercing pain in the back of his skull. He was chained to his chair. Looking around, he found himself in a plain-looking room. The only door was across from him with the room’s single table between him and the door. There were no windows, so there was no way for him to know where he was.
The door opened and in came Daring and Sara. Daring plopped a large folder onto the table. “You’ve got quite a large rap sheet, Jason Dekker,” said Daring. “Enough to put you back in Sing Sing for a long, long time.”
“So?” spat back Dekker.
“You’re a known associate of the super criminal calling himself, the Spectre. Give us everything you know on him, and we’ll be able to commute your sentence,” stated Sara.
“I don’t have to tell you nothing,” shouted Dekker. “I got rights. Rights to a lawyer, in fact.”
“We are aware of the fact that you’ve been in and out of prison most of your life,” said Sara. “But this concerns the attempted thieft of government equipment.”
“And the government doesn’t like people who try and steal their secrets,” interrupted Daring. “In fact, there’s a pair of agents right outside that door. They think we’re wasting our time, ‘pussyfooting around with you.’ Do you think they’re right?”
“I ain’t talking,” insisted Dekker. “I’m a dead man if I talk. I just saw my partner get disintegrated. What could you possibly do to me that’s worst?”
“You’re right. We can’t do anything, but those government agents can do plenty,” replied Sara. “They can erase you from everyone’s records. You’d be a ghost, then.”
“I can’t. I can’t,” repeated Dekker.
“Looks like you need time to think it over,” said Daring. “We’ll be back in ten minutes.”
In the hallway, Daring asked, “What do you think?”
“He’s hard to read,” admitted Sara. “But if he calls our bluff, we’re done for.”
“What? We’ve got Old Timer and Junior here.”
“There’s no way we could pass them as government agents,” replied Sara.
“It’s worth a shot,” countered Daring. “We’ve got nothing to lose.”
Sara shook her head. “It’s not going to work. He’s too afraid of the Spectre. We could dangle him off a building, and he’d still not talk.”
“Then, how are we?” asked Daring.
Five minutes later, the door opened into the interrogation cell. Dekker was expecting Daring and Sara, but had the shock of his life. The Spectre had walked into his very room! But Dekker held no joy at this sight, for in the hands of his master was a .45 caliber automatic!
“Did you tell them anything?” asked the Spectre with menace beyond description.
“No, nothing. I swear,” blurted Dekker.
Apparently satisfied with his answer, the Spectre set the automatic down on the table and started to undo Dekker’s restrains. Dekker started to get up, but the Spectre motioned for him to sat in the seat.
“Your captors will be back at any moment,” stated the Spectre as he handed Dekker the automatic. “The instant they enter the room, kill them. When you’re sure you’ve eliminated them, then make your escape.”
“What are you going to do?” asked Dekker, but got no response. The Spectre went out of the room and stalked down the hall. He paused in the middle of the hall, at a most unremarkable section. Pressing a hidden button, a section of the wall opened, and the Spectre disappeared into the secret passage. He squeezed down the tight corridor that went between walls. The hooded man grasped at the shadows as he made his way through the maze of hidden corridors. Coming to the end, the Spectre pressed another switch and another door opened up, letting out into a different section of the facility.
The Spectre walked down the hallway, stopping at a particular door. Opening it, he produced a second automatic. He crept up to the lone man working in the laboratory. The Spectre poked the gun into the back of the unaware man. He turned with a start.
“Good evening Dr. Edwards,” said the Spectre. “We have a lot to talk about.”
Meanwhile, back in the interrogation room, Dekker waited nervously for Daring and Sara to return. The automatic felt heavy and cold in his sweaty hands. Without a clock present, it seemed like the whole world had stopped. He strained his ears, trying to listen for approaching footsteps.
Dekker knew that he had only one shot at this. The Spectre would reward him greatly, if he succeeded. Fail and he would die just like Ox. He pushed these thoughts aside as he heard a confident stride echoing the hallways outside. It must be Daring, returning to further their interrogation.
The door opened, and not waiting a second, Dekker stood up and started to empty the gun into the open doorway and whomever was standing there.
Click Here to Go To The Next Chapter
Written by J M Emmons. The story and all characters are copyrighted by J M Emmons.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Comments on Chapter Eight
I must admit that it was a lot of fun writing the death trap in chapters six and seven. I didn't want it to be too outlandish, though most of the really good ones are. The death trap turned out to be simple and very effective, grounded in the reality of a plausible fire prevention device of the future. Also, now our villain has a name. The Spectre was chosen because. as you readers will learn, it's very apt for the villain. It seemed like a lot of the Republic's masked villains have colorful names like The Crimson Ghost.
The booby trapped safe was one element I was itching to use. I remember watching a number of serials employing this particular device, such as The Adventures of Captain Marvel. Though things like electrified safes are no match for someone like Captain Marvel, many of the more mortal heroes, including Rick Daring, seem doomed to die a grisly death via the tricked out safe.
Hopefully, my serial's been keeping everyone on edge, awaiting next week's chapter. Chapter Eight is filled with action: a last minute rescue, a car chase, and a fist fight before a nail-biting end. Now, that's a serial!
The booby trapped safe was one element I was itching to use. I remember watching a number of serials employing this particular device, such as The Adventures of Captain Marvel. Though things like electrified safes are no match for someone like Captain Marvel, many of the more mortal heroes, including Rick Daring, seem doomed to die a grisly death via the tricked out safe.
Hopefully, my serial's been keeping everyone on edge, awaiting next week's chapter. Chapter Eight is filled with action: a last minute rescue, a car chase, and a fist fight before a nail-biting end. Now, that's a serial!
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Rick Daring and The Brilliant 5 – Chapter Eight: Death From Above
DARING– Sets a trap of his own in an attempt to get closer to capturing the allusive menace known as the Spectre.
DEKKER – Turns the table on Daring and switches on the booby trap just as Daring reaches into the safe.
Sitting on hood of her car, Sara watched the cabin with a pair of binoculars from the darkness of the forest. Moments earlier, she watched a pair of men enter the cabin. They had gone for Daring’s bait, and any minute, the trap would be sprung. But minutes dragged by, and Sara started to worry.
Climbing off her car, she tossed the binoculars into the passenger’s seat. She made her way down the sloping hill and soon found herself at the cabin. She glanced into one of the windows and immediately went into action. The large henchman was on the ground, slowly recovering from the safe’s electric booby trap, while the other thug’s hand wrapped around the handle to the booby trap’s power switch.
Sara kicked open the door, grabbing the nearest thing she could find, that being a cup. She tossed it towards the safe. Daring withdrew his hand as the cup whizzed by, shattering on the back of the safe. Daring’s quick reflexes saved him from the full blunt of the electric blast. Still dazed, Daring felt himself get knocked to the ground by a recovering Ox. Dekker turned off the booby trap and rushed over to snatch the plans from the safe.
They jumped out of the window, while Sara helped Daring up.
“Sara?” he asked. “When?”
“You didn’t think we’d let you come up here by yourself did you?” she replied.
They went to the window, but threw themselves to the ground as they heard gunfire as the villains drove off. After a moment of silence, they quietly moved outside. They could still make out the car driving off in the distance. They turned to find that the crooks had shot out the tires in Daring’s roadster.
“Mine’s just up the way,” stated Sara, as she led them up to her car. They climbed into her sleek car, and soon, the engine hummed to life. The headlights burned into the darkness of night. The car skidded down the hill and pulled onto the nearby road. Sara gunned it as the forest around them became a blur as the car picked up speed.
They caught up with the crooks on the winding roads through the mountains. There was not much traffic on the isolated roads, giving Sara more room to maneuver. She tried to pass the crooks, but they swerved, blocking her way. She tried going around the outside. This time, they let her pull beside them, only for them to ram into her. As the crooks bashed themselves into Sara’s car, her car was being knocked against the railing. As the crooks’ car lurched sideways, making way for their next assault, Sara suddenly hit the brakes. Sara’s car slipped back behind their opponent, and the crooks’ momentum carried them across the road and crashed into the railing.
Sara turned to overtake them, but the crooks swerved and hit them, sending Sara’s car into a spin. Sara spun the wheel, trying to regain control of the vehicle. Hitting the brakes, she stopped the car from going over the edge. By the time Daring and Sara got their bearing, the two henchmen had disappeared into the night.
They returned to the secret installation and met up with Dr Sergoff along with Junior and Old Timer who had been watching over Dr Edwards. Daring related their misfortunes.
“I was so sure that they’d go after me,” stated Edwards, mopping his brow. “It’s a shame that got another part of our secret plans.”
“Yes,” replied Dr. Sergoff. “My part, that is.”
“It seems like you’re the last one,” said Junior.
“That doesn’t comfort me very much,” replied Edwards with a sigh.
“It’s a little disheartening that we keep getting trounced by these addle-brained buffoons,” remarked Junior.
“That’s because they’re just hired thugs. This Spectre fellow, whomever he is, is the brains behind the operation, and it’s he who wants these plans,” spoke Daring.
“But what does he need them for? What are the plans even for?” asked Junior.
“It’s unfortunate that we can’t answer that question, young man,” said Sergoff.
“Dem rattlesnakes always seem to be one step ahead of us,” muttered Old Timer.
“How about we change that?” asked Sara as she entered the room. She showed everyone a blurry picture of a license plate.
“What’s this?” asked Junior.
“Having similar episodes in the past,” explained Sara. “I took the liberty of rigging my car with surveillance equipment to capture license plates of pursuing vehicles.” She passed around the photo. “While there’s no clean shot of the plates, I’ve run what I could make out through the system. The closest match is a car that was recently stolen. It more than likely came from Mike’s Auto Shop, run by a Thaddeus Carter. Thaddeus had ties with several chop shops and could be supplying the Spectre’s gang with cars and other equipment.”
“Good work, Sara,” said Daring as he stood up. “We’ll check out the lead,” he continued as Old Timer and Junior started to get up. “While Old Timer and Junior stay here and guard the scientists.”
“Aw, phooey,” muttered Old Timer as he plopped back in his seat.
Meanwhile, in the remains of a laboratory used as the Spectre’s hidden base of operations, Ox and Dekker were surprised to find their master waiting for them when they arrived. It was the first time they had ever met face to face.
“Here’s the next piece of the plans,” said Dekker as he handed over the piece of paper.
“Excellent,” hissed the Spectre. “But I am disappointed in you, Ox. Yet again we would have failed if it had not been for Dekker’s quick thinking.”
“How was I supposed to know it was booby trapped?” asked Ox.
“Enough of your excuses,” shouted the Spectre. “You will not fail me another time. Prepare to die.”
“I ain’t going down without a fight,” said Ox. He charged at the Spectre. He swung his mighty fist at the Spectre. The second it impacted on the Spectre, there was a flash of light, a whisp of smoke, and Ox was gone.
“Please remember, Dekker, that I have a personal ion shield. Anyone who touches it will be disintegrated, and only I will know when it is on and off.”
“Yes, sir,” was all that Dekker could manage. He had felt the immense heat from across the room.
A buzzing sound came from one of the screens. The Spectre flipped on the monitor. They watched the video from a hidden camera within Mike’s Auto Shop.
“So, they were able to trace your car back to good old Thaddeus,” pondered the Spectre. “Quickly, Dekker, get over there and kill them before Thaddeus tells them anything of importance.” He paused. “While you’re there, eliminate Thaddeus. He’s nothing more than a liability now.”
Ten minutes later, Dekker was kicking in the door to the auto shop. He, along with Watkins and Davis, entered the store and found Daring and Sara grilling Thaddeus in the garage.
“Spill it,” demanded Daring. “Who is the Spectre?”
“I don’t know! I don’t know!” shouted Thaddeus. “But I know where they hang out. It’s –“
A shot rang out and silenced Thaddeus forever. Daring and Sara turned to see the three thugs come out from behind the car lift.
“We have to stop meeting like this,” remarked Daring as they approached.
“Any last words?” asked Dekker. Before Daring could reply, Sara kicked the gun out of Dekker’s hand, and Daring pushed Dekker into his men before they could react. A quick punch from Daring laid out Watkins. Sara tripped Davis, hitting him in the back of the neck as he fell.
Dekker picked up a stool and threw it at them. Daring barely dodged it, but Sara was not so lucky. She collapsed to the ground, out cold. The two men struggle, exchanging blows. They fell onto a table, crushing it. Dekker kicked Daring off of him. He ran for the door, but Daring tackled him. Daring grabbed at Dekker, but Dekker pushed him off again.
Daring stumbled to the ground, rolling with the punch. He found himself under the car lift. Dekker ran over and pulled a lever, sending the suspended car down on top of Daring.
Click Here to Go To The Next Chapter
Written by J M Emmons. The story and all characters are copyrighted by J M Emmons.
DEKKER – Turns the table on Daring and switches on the booby trap just as Daring reaches into the safe.
Sitting on hood of her car, Sara watched the cabin with a pair of binoculars from the darkness of the forest. Moments earlier, she watched a pair of men enter the cabin. They had gone for Daring’s bait, and any minute, the trap would be sprung. But minutes dragged by, and Sara started to worry.
Climbing off her car, she tossed the binoculars into the passenger’s seat. She made her way down the sloping hill and soon found herself at the cabin. She glanced into one of the windows and immediately went into action. The large henchman was on the ground, slowly recovering from the safe’s electric booby trap, while the other thug’s hand wrapped around the handle to the booby trap’s power switch.
Sara kicked open the door, grabbing the nearest thing she could find, that being a cup. She tossed it towards the safe. Daring withdrew his hand as the cup whizzed by, shattering on the back of the safe. Daring’s quick reflexes saved him from the full blunt of the electric blast. Still dazed, Daring felt himself get knocked to the ground by a recovering Ox. Dekker turned off the booby trap and rushed over to snatch the plans from the safe.
They jumped out of the window, while Sara helped Daring up.
“Sara?” he asked. “When?”
“You didn’t think we’d let you come up here by yourself did you?” she replied.
They went to the window, but threw themselves to the ground as they heard gunfire as the villains drove off. After a moment of silence, they quietly moved outside. They could still make out the car driving off in the distance. They turned to find that the crooks had shot out the tires in Daring’s roadster.
“Mine’s just up the way,” stated Sara, as she led them up to her car. They climbed into her sleek car, and soon, the engine hummed to life. The headlights burned into the darkness of night. The car skidded down the hill and pulled onto the nearby road. Sara gunned it as the forest around them became a blur as the car picked up speed.
They caught up with the crooks on the winding roads through the mountains. There was not much traffic on the isolated roads, giving Sara more room to maneuver. She tried to pass the crooks, but they swerved, blocking her way. She tried going around the outside. This time, they let her pull beside them, only for them to ram into her. As the crooks bashed themselves into Sara’s car, her car was being knocked against the railing. As the crooks’ car lurched sideways, making way for their next assault, Sara suddenly hit the brakes. Sara’s car slipped back behind their opponent, and the crooks’ momentum carried them across the road and crashed into the railing.
Sara turned to overtake them, but the crooks swerved and hit them, sending Sara’s car into a spin. Sara spun the wheel, trying to regain control of the vehicle. Hitting the brakes, she stopped the car from going over the edge. By the time Daring and Sara got their bearing, the two henchmen had disappeared into the night.
They returned to the secret installation and met up with Dr Sergoff along with Junior and Old Timer who had been watching over Dr Edwards. Daring related their misfortunes.
“I was so sure that they’d go after me,” stated Edwards, mopping his brow. “It’s a shame that got another part of our secret plans.”
“Yes,” replied Dr. Sergoff. “My part, that is.”
“It seems like you’re the last one,” said Junior.
“That doesn’t comfort me very much,” replied Edwards with a sigh.
“It’s a little disheartening that we keep getting trounced by these addle-brained buffoons,” remarked Junior.
“That’s because they’re just hired thugs. This Spectre fellow, whomever he is, is the brains behind the operation, and it’s he who wants these plans,” spoke Daring.
“But what does he need them for? What are the plans even for?” asked Junior.
“It’s unfortunate that we can’t answer that question, young man,” said Sergoff.
“Dem rattlesnakes always seem to be one step ahead of us,” muttered Old Timer.
“How about we change that?” asked Sara as she entered the room. She showed everyone a blurry picture of a license plate.
“What’s this?” asked Junior.
“Having similar episodes in the past,” explained Sara. “I took the liberty of rigging my car with surveillance equipment to capture license plates of pursuing vehicles.” She passed around the photo. “While there’s no clean shot of the plates, I’ve run what I could make out through the system. The closest match is a car that was recently stolen. It more than likely came from Mike’s Auto Shop, run by a Thaddeus Carter. Thaddeus had ties with several chop shops and could be supplying the Spectre’s gang with cars and other equipment.”
“Good work, Sara,” said Daring as he stood up. “We’ll check out the lead,” he continued as Old Timer and Junior started to get up. “While Old Timer and Junior stay here and guard the scientists.”
“Aw, phooey,” muttered Old Timer as he plopped back in his seat.
Meanwhile, in the remains of a laboratory used as the Spectre’s hidden base of operations, Ox and Dekker were surprised to find their master waiting for them when they arrived. It was the first time they had ever met face to face.
“Here’s the next piece of the plans,” said Dekker as he handed over the piece of paper.
“Excellent,” hissed the Spectre. “But I am disappointed in you, Ox. Yet again we would have failed if it had not been for Dekker’s quick thinking.”
“How was I supposed to know it was booby trapped?” asked Ox.
“Enough of your excuses,” shouted the Spectre. “You will not fail me another time. Prepare to die.”
“I ain’t going down without a fight,” said Ox. He charged at the Spectre. He swung his mighty fist at the Spectre. The second it impacted on the Spectre, there was a flash of light, a whisp of smoke, and Ox was gone.
“Please remember, Dekker, that I have a personal ion shield. Anyone who touches it will be disintegrated, and only I will know when it is on and off.”
“Yes, sir,” was all that Dekker could manage. He had felt the immense heat from across the room.
A buzzing sound came from one of the screens. The Spectre flipped on the monitor. They watched the video from a hidden camera within Mike’s Auto Shop.
“So, they were able to trace your car back to good old Thaddeus,” pondered the Spectre. “Quickly, Dekker, get over there and kill them before Thaddeus tells them anything of importance.” He paused. “While you’re there, eliminate Thaddeus. He’s nothing more than a liability now.”
Ten minutes later, Dekker was kicking in the door to the auto shop. He, along with Watkins and Davis, entered the store and found Daring and Sara grilling Thaddeus in the garage.
“Spill it,” demanded Daring. “Who is the Spectre?”
“I don’t know! I don’t know!” shouted Thaddeus. “But I know where they hang out. It’s –“
A shot rang out and silenced Thaddeus forever. Daring and Sara turned to see the three thugs come out from behind the car lift.
“We have to stop meeting like this,” remarked Daring as they approached.
“Any last words?” asked Dekker. Before Daring could reply, Sara kicked the gun out of Dekker’s hand, and Daring pushed Dekker into his men before they could react. A quick punch from Daring laid out Watkins. Sara tripped Davis, hitting him in the back of the neck as he fell.
Dekker picked up a stool and threw it at them. Daring barely dodged it, but Sara was not so lucky. She collapsed to the ground, out cold. The two men struggle, exchanging blows. They fell onto a table, crushing it. Dekker kicked Daring off of him. He ran for the door, but Daring tackled him. Daring grabbed at Dekker, but Dekker pushed him off again.
Daring stumbled to the ground, rolling with the punch. He found himself under the car lift. Dekker ran over and pulled a lever, sending the suspended car down on top of Daring.
Click Here to Go To The Next Chapter
Written by J M Emmons. The story and all characters are copyrighted by J M Emmons.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Save Spider-Girl!
I'd like to think that I'm in the know when it comes to comics, but only recently have I learned that Spider-Girl is due to be cancelled with issue 30. Now, cancellation's not a new thing for Spider-Girl and her fans, but I'm surprised the new series is in danger so soon. It was only a month ago that the newly re-launched "Amazing Spider-Girl" celebrated their 25th issue.
Being a faithful reader of "Amazing Spider-Girl," it saddens me that this series is on Marvel's chopping block. DeFalco and Frenz bring back the classic days of Lee and Romita every month, with solid writing and stylish art. More importantly, Spider-Girl is one of the rarest of rarities: a positive female lead in a comic book.
So, spread the word, and if you're not buying this book yet, do so before it's too late!
Being a faithful reader of "Amazing Spider-Girl," it saddens me that this series is on Marvel's chopping block. DeFalco and Frenz bring back the classic days of Lee and Romita every month, with solid writing and stylish art. More importantly, Spider-Girl is one of the rarest of rarities: a positive female lead in a comic book.
So, spread the word, and if you're not buying this book yet, do so before it's too late!
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Rick Daring and The Brilliant 5 – Chapter Seven: The Secret Safe
THE SPECTRE– Announces his plans of world domination after murdering Dr. Scott with a fiendish death trap.
DARING – And Sara are trapped inside the same death trap, slowly suffocating to death.
Sara, Daring, and Dr. Edwards are laid quietly on the floor; their breathing uneven and raspy. It would only be a few more minutes before the last of the oxygen would be sucked out of the room.
Meanwhile, Junior and Old Timer were walking down the hallway towards the room. They were arguing as usual.
“I can’t believe the doctor gave you a clean bill of health,” stated Junior. “Doesn’t he know about your condition?”
“My condition, eh?” retorted Old Timer. “My only problem is you flapping your gums all the time.” They stopped in front of the door, where Dr. Sergoff was desperately pounding on the sealed door.
“What’s the matter?” asked Old Timer. “Fergit yer key or something?”
“The receptionist told us you were all down here. Did the meeting start without us?”
“You must help me!” cried Dr. Sergoff. “They killed Dr. Scott, and now the room’s sealed off. I’m afraid my colleague and your friends are already die!”
“Not on our watch,” replied Junior, examining the metal door. As standard issue for all of the Brilliant 5, Old Timer and Junior both had a small tab of plastique tucked away in a secret compartment on their belts. The small explosives had little destructive power except to break down a wall or tear a door off its hinges.
After a few tense seconds of preparations, Old Timer and Junior pulled Sergoff around the corner. Fingers in their ears, they detonated the explosives, and the door collapsed with a loud roar. Junior and Old Timer rushed into the room, and admist the smoke, they found their partners and dragged them out of the death trap.
Dr. Edwards was the first to stir. “What happened?” He asked. Sergoff filled him in as Junior helped up a slightly shaken Sara.
Daring slowly opened his eyes and said, “Am I glad that you two showed up late!”
Later, they all gathered after the three of them had time to recover from their near-death experience. They quietly mulled over the grim fact that the Spectre had again left victorious in this current battle of wits.
“The Spectre, huh?” mused Old Timer. “So, that’s what’s he calling himself?”
“Did you happen to recognize the voice?” asked Daring.
“No,” replied Edwards hastily.
“And you don’t know who could be targeting you?” asked Sara.
“There’s any number of countries interested in our research,” replied Sergoff.
“So, we’re back to square one, huh?” asked Junior.
“Not necessarily,” stated Daring. “Though the Spectre does seem to be able move uninhibited to and from this secure location , despite our improvements to the security.”
“What are you thinking, Richard?” asked Sara.
“My thinking is that maybe we can get the Spectre to come to us…” With that, Daring laid out his plan.
In the middle of the night, a car pulled up onto a secluded road. It pulled off of the road and came to a stop. Two men climbed out into the darkness of night. They made their way to a small opening in the shrubbery. One of them produced a pair of binoculars and peered through them. After a moment, he passed them to his taller partner.
“The boss was right on the money as usual,” said Dekker as Ox observed the cabin in the distance. “After that scare with the death trap, them big wigs escort themselves off to their remote houses, in hopes that we’d never find them.”
“But how come our master always know these things?” asked Ox, handing Dekker back his binoculars.
“I dunno,” admitted Dekker. “But he’s the brains. We just do what we’re told.” With that, the two men started to make their way towards the cabin with a small light in the window.
As they approached the cabin, they noticed one car parked towards the back of the cabin, but no other signs of life. They quietly re-checked the perimeter before peering into the window. Through the window, they saw a spacious room, lit by a large fireplace. There was a single chair facing the fireplace; its back was to the door. A nearby table held the remnants of dinner.
Dekker reached out and tested the doorknob. The door was unlocked. The two men snuck into the cabin as quietly as they could muster.
“Don’t make yourself at home,” said an authoritative voice from the chair. “You wouldn’t be staying long.” The two men of crime had expected to face an elderly scientist. Instead, they had fallen into a trap set by the scourge of the underworld, Rick Daring!
Daring rose from the chair, a gun in his hand. “I don’t have much practice with one of these, but at this range, I don’t think I’ll miss,” said Daring.
Dekker and Ox started to raise their hands until Dekker lashed out, sending a lamp into Daring’s hand. The two thugs dove at Daring as the gun slipped from his hand. Daring’s fist impacted on Dekker’s chin, but Ox just grabbed Daring and threw him across the room. Daring barely had a second to roll out of the way of the flying chair tossed his way.
Daring was about strike back when the gun in Dekker’s hand made him stop in his place.
“Don’t try nothing funny,” said Dekker. “Now, where is it? The plans?”
Daring held up his hands and nodded towards the wall. Keeping their distance, Dekker and Ox watched as Daring pushed aside a painting and pressed a hidden button. This revealed a small opening in the wall, with a piece of paper lying in it.
Without saying anything, Ox moved towards the opening. When he reached inside, two things happened simultaneously. A large electrical current jumped through Ox body, rendering the large man unconscious while blinding Dekker. Daring knocked the gun from Dekker’s hand and socked the thug to the ground.
Daring went over to the wall and opened another secret panel. This one contained the switch for the booby trap within the secret safe. Turning it off, Daring felt confident as he went to retrieve the secret plans.
But Dekker was not unconscious as Daring thought. The criminal dived for the security switch just as Daring reached inside the safe. There was a crackle of electricity and the sound of a body falling to the ground.
Click Here to Go To The Next Chapter
Written by J M Emmons. The story and all characters are copyrighted by J M Emmons.
DARING – And Sara are trapped inside the same death trap, slowly suffocating to death.
Sara, Daring, and Dr. Edwards are laid quietly on the floor; their breathing uneven and raspy. It would only be a few more minutes before the last of the oxygen would be sucked out of the room.
Meanwhile, Junior and Old Timer were walking down the hallway towards the room. They were arguing as usual.
“I can’t believe the doctor gave you a clean bill of health,” stated Junior. “Doesn’t he know about your condition?”
“My condition, eh?” retorted Old Timer. “My only problem is you flapping your gums all the time.” They stopped in front of the door, where Dr. Sergoff was desperately pounding on the sealed door.
“What’s the matter?” asked Old Timer. “Fergit yer key or something?”
“The receptionist told us you were all down here. Did the meeting start without us?”
“You must help me!” cried Dr. Sergoff. “They killed Dr. Scott, and now the room’s sealed off. I’m afraid my colleague and your friends are already die!”
“Not on our watch,” replied Junior, examining the metal door. As standard issue for all of the Brilliant 5, Old Timer and Junior both had a small tab of plastique tucked away in a secret compartment on their belts. The small explosives had little destructive power except to break down a wall or tear a door off its hinges.
After a few tense seconds of preparations, Old Timer and Junior pulled Sergoff around the corner. Fingers in their ears, they detonated the explosives, and the door collapsed with a loud roar. Junior and Old Timer rushed into the room, and admist the smoke, they found their partners and dragged them out of the death trap.
Dr. Edwards was the first to stir. “What happened?” He asked. Sergoff filled him in as Junior helped up a slightly shaken Sara.
Daring slowly opened his eyes and said, “Am I glad that you two showed up late!”
Later, they all gathered after the three of them had time to recover from their near-death experience. They quietly mulled over the grim fact that the Spectre had again left victorious in this current battle of wits.
“The Spectre, huh?” mused Old Timer. “So, that’s what’s he calling himself?”
“Did you happen to recognize the voice?” asked Daring.
“No,” replied Edwards hastily.
“And you don’t know who could be targeting you?” asked Sara.
“There’s any number of countries interested in our research,” replied Sergoff.
“So, we’re back to square one, huh?” asked Junior.
“Not necessarily,” stated Daring. “Though the Spectre does seem to be able move uninhibited to and from this secure location , despite our improvements to the security.”
“What are you thinking, Richard?” asked Sara.
“My thinking is that maybe we can get the Spectre to come to us…” With that, Daring laid out his plan.
In the middle of the night, a car pulled up onto a secluded road. It pulled off of the road and came to a stop. Two men climbed out into the darkness of night. They made their way to a small opening in the shrubbery. One of them produced a pair of binoculars and peered through them. After a moment, he passed them to his taller partner.
“The boss was right on the money as usual,” said Dekker as Ox observed the cabin in the distance. “After that scare with the death trap, them big wigs escort themselves off to their remote houses, in hopes that we’d never find them.”
“But how come our master always know these things?” asked Ox, handing Dekker back his binoculars.
“I dunno,” admitted Dekker. “But he’s the brains. We just do what we’re told.” With that, the two men started to make their way towards the cabin with a small light in the window.
As they approached the cabin, they noticed one car parked towards the back of the cabin, but no other signs of life. They quietly re-checked the perimeter before peering into the window. Through the window, they saw a spacious room, lit by a large fireplace. There was a single chair facing the fireplace; its back was to the door. A nearby table held the remnants of dinner.
Dekker reached out and tested the doorknob. The door was unlocked. The two men snuck into the cabin as quietly as they could muster.
“Don’t make yourself at home,” said an authoritative voice from the chair. “You wouldn’t be staying long.” The two men of crime had expected to face an elderly scientist. Instead, they had fallen into a trap set by the scourge of the underworld, Rick Daring!
Daring rose from the chair, a gun in his hand. “I don’t have much practice with one of these, but at this range, I don’t think I’ll miss,” said Daring.
Dekker and Ox started to raise their hands until Dekker lashed out, sending a lamp into Daring’s hand. The two thugs dove at Daring as the gun slipped from his hand. Daring’s fist impacted on Dekker’s chin, but Ox just grabbed Daring and threw him across the room. Daring barely had a second to roll out of the way of the flying chair tossed his way.
Daring was about strike back when the gun in Dekker’s hand made him stop in his place.
“Don’t try nothing funny,” said Dekker. “Now, where is it? The plans?”
Daring held up his hands and nodded towards the wall. Keeping their distance, Dekker and Ox watched as Daring pushed aside a painting and pressed a hidden button. This revealed a small opening in the wall, with a piece of paper lying in it.
Without saying anything, Ox moved towards the opening. When he reached inside, two things happened simultaneously. A large electrical current jumped through Ox body, rendering the large man unconscious while blinding Dekker. Daring knocked the gun from Dekker’s hand and socked the thug to the ground.
Daring went over to the wall and opened another secret panel. This one contained the switch for the booby trap within the secret safe. Turning it off, Daring felt confident as he went to retrieve the secret plans.
But Dekker was not unconscious as Daring thought. The criminal dived for the security switch just as Daring reached inside the safe. There was a crackle of electricity and the sound of a body falling to the ground.
Click Here to Go To The Next Chapter
Written by J M Emmons. The story and all characters are copyrighted by J M Emmons.
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Rick Daring and The Brilliant 5 – Chapter Six: The Death Trap
DEKKER – Stole the canister of Compound X from Sara.
DARING – Pursues Dekker and his men in the hopes of retrieving the Compound X.
Daring looked over his shoulder just in time to see where the out of control car was heading. He slowly started to lower himself underneath the car. His feet dragged painfully against the pavement. When he gotten himself completely underneath the car, Daring let go, and the car zoomed over him. There was a loud explosion as the car slammed into the tanker. By the time Daring arose from the ground and got his bearings, Dekker and his men had vanished.
Meanwhile, in the burnout husk of an abandoned laboratory, Dekker and Ox entered the darkened room that housed the holographic transmitter. At the appropriate time, the hologram hummed to life, and the two henchmen were in the presence of their mysterious master.
“Success at last,” hissed their master.
“Yes,” replied Dekker. “We’ve obtained the materials to start building the machine.”
“You did well, Dekker,” said the hooded man. “You even succeeded where Ox had failed.” Ox cringed as their master spoke. “Remember, Ox, that I don’t tolerate failure easily. Next time, I will not be so forgiving.”
Both henchmen nodded their heads in mute agreement. “Neither of you know anything about me, but I know where you are at all times because of the tracers I have you wear. It would be quite easy for me to walk up to you and stab you, or to slip poison in your drink. Remember that the next time either of you fails me.”
The hologram hiccupped; static momentarily obscured the hooded man’s visage. “Now, we must proceed with my plans to obtain the rest of the blueprints. Here is what I need you to do…”
Rick Daring and Sara were walking the long hallways of a local hospital. They had just started to recover from Dekker’s recent attack where they heard the news of the saucer crash and rushed over to the hospital. Sara rubbed the back of her head.
“You don’t have to do this,” said Daring. “The guys and I can handle this one.”
“That Compound X was put under my protection,” replied Sara. “I’m not backing out of this until I retrieve it.”
“Fair enough,” said Daring as they entered Old Timer’s room. Old Timer was lying in the hospital bed. Surrounding him was Junior, Marissa, Johnny, and Teresa.
“Daring! Finally!” shouted Old Timer. “Tell these young whippersnappers that I’m fine. They got me all bound up like I’m in my deathbed.”
“It’s good to see you’re doing fine,” said Daring with a smile. “Old Timer, you remember Sara, don’t you?”
“Yer dern tootin’,” replied Old Timer. “Always a pleasure.”
“The same goes for you,” said Sara. “We were so worried when we all heard the news.”
“We were very lucky to walk away with some minor cuts and scrapes. The doctor wanted Old Timer to stay overnight for observation, since he had been unconscious for a long period of time,” stated Johnny.
“Well, phooey with that!” exclaimed Old Timer. “I’m fit as a fiddle!”
“Why don’t you listen to the doctor for a change?” asked Junior.
“You’d like me stuck in a hospital all day,” retorted Old Timer.
“Enough you two,” interrupted Daring. “It wouldn’t hurt to follow the doctor’s order, Old Timer.”
“Hah!” said Junior.
“It won’t be too bad,” said Sara. “Especially with Junior here keeping you company.”
“Huh?” said a bemused Junior. “But… but I got a date tonight!”
“She’ll understand,” said Sara. “You two behave, and we’ll see you in the morning.” Sara bent and kissed Old Timer on the forehead.
“Well, shucks,” was all Old Timer could say.
The next day, Sara and Daring drove to the secret laboratory where the remaining three scientists continued to work on their top secret project. Upon their arrival, the scientists went to meet with them, but only Sergoff and Edwards showed up.
“Where’s Doctor Scott?” asked Daring.
“I don’t know,” replied Sergoff. “Last time I saw him, he was in his private study.” The two scientists led Daring and Sara to Scott’s study. Edwards quietly knocked on the door, but there was no reply.
Daring cautiously opened the door, only to find Scott sitting quietly in his armchair. It was only when they approached him that they discovered that he was dead. Yet there was no sign of a struggle and no wounds found on Scott’s body. Sergoff quietly excused himself from the room, visibly shaken at the sight of the corpse.
“As far as I can tell,” said Sara, examining the body. “He died from asphyxiation.”
Daring nodded his head in agreement. “But what caused it?”
“It looked like he was listening to his radio,” said Edwards idly.
“Don’t touch that!” said both Sara and Daring, but it was already too late. Edwards had twisted the knob on the large stereo. A malevolent voice filled the room as steel door slammed down, covering the window and door.
“Welcome, fools, to your death!” said the eerie voice. “I am the Spectre, and you have stood in my way for long enough. I will have my revenge and show the world what true power is!” Sara and Daring were scanning the room, searching for some possible escape route.
“You will now share the same fate as poor Dr. Scott. It seems like when you activated the radio, it sent a signal to the main computer, telling it that there’s a fire in this room. First, it will seal off the room, and then, it will suck the oxygen out of the room in order to suffocate the fire.” The Spectre let out a maniacal laugh.
Daring and Sara were already taking the carpeting off the floor and pressing them against the room’s vents, trying to prevent the powerful fans from sucking all the air out. Daring signaled Edwards to come over to him. Daring let Edwards take over for him as Daring went and sized up the door.
Daring put his muscular shoulder into the door, but it did not budge. He tried again but knew that force wasn’t going to work. The air was already getting thin, and he was finding it hard to catch his breath. Daring started to pull something out of his watch, when he suddenly collapsed.
“Richard!” exclaimed Sara. Forgetting the vent, she rushed over to his prone body. Checking him, she found him breathing shallowly. Slowly, Sara started giving him mouth to mouth, reviving his lungs with fresh oxygen from hers. But soon, she felt lightheaded, and the room was swaying.
As she fell backwards, she caught Edwards out of the corner of her eyes. He was lying very still on the ground. The last thing she heard before she blacked out was the voice of the sinister Spectre.
“Death is the reward of all who stand in my way! Death!” His eerie laughter filled the quiet room.
Click Here to Go To The Next Chapter
Written by J M Emmons. The story and all characters are copyrighted by J M Emmons.
DARING – Pursues Dekker and his men in the hopes of retrieving the Compound X.
Daring looked over his shoulder just in time to see where the out of control car was heading. He slowly started to lower himself underneath the car. His feet dragged painfully against the pavement. When he gotten himself completely underneath the car, Daring let go, and the car zoomed over him. There was a loud explosion as the car slammed into the tanker. By the time Daring arose from the ground and got his bearings, Dekker and his men had vanished.
Meanwhile, in the burnout husk of an abandoned laboratory, Dekker and Ox entered the darkened room that housed the holographic transmitter. At the appropriate time, the hologram hummed to life, and the two henchmen were in the presence of their mysterious master.
“Success at last,” hissed their master.
“Yes,” replied Dekker. “We’ve obtained the materials to start building the machine.”
“You did well, Dekker,” said the hooded man. “You even succeeded where Ox had failed.” Ox cringed as their master spoke. “Remember, Ox, that I don’t tolerate failure easily. Next time, I will not be so forgiving.”
Both henchmen nodded their heads in mute agreement. “Neither of you know anything about me, but I know where you are at all times because of the tracers I have you wear. It would be quite easy for me to walk up to you and stab you, or to slip poison in your drink. Remember that the next time either of you fails me.”
The hologram hiccupped; static momentarily obscured the hooded man’s visage. “Now, we must proceed with my plans to obtain the rest of the blueprints. Here is what I need you to do…”
Rick Daring and Sara were walking the long hallways of a local hospital. They had just started to recover from Dekker’s recent attack where they heard the news of the saucer crash and rushed over to the hospital. Sara rubbed the back of her head.
“You don’t have to do this,” said Daring. “The guys and I can handle this one.”
“That Compound X was put under my protection,” replied Sara. “I’m not backing out of this until I retrieve it.”
“Fair enough,” said Daring as they entered Old Timer’s room. Old Timer was lying in the hospital bed. Surrounding him was Junior, Marissa, Johnny, and Teresa.
“Daring! Finally!” shouted Old Timer. “Tell these young whippersnappers that I’m fine. They got me all bound up like I’m in my deathbed.”
“It’s good to see you’re doing fine,” said Daring with a smile. “Old Timer, you remember Sara, don’t you?”
“Yer dern tootin’,” replied Old Timer. “Always a pleasure.”
“The same goes for you,” said Sara. “We were so worried when we all heard the news.”
“We were very lucky to walk away with some minor cuts and scrapes. The doctor wanted Old Timer to stay overnight for observation, since he had been unconscious for a long period of time,” stated Johnny.
“Well, phooey with that!” exclaimed Old Timer. “I’m fit as a fiddle!”
“Why don’t you listen to the doctor for a change?” asked Junior.
“You’d like me stuck in a hospital all day,” retorted Old Timer.
“Enough you two,” interrupted Daring. “It wouldn’t hurt to follow the doctor’s order, Old Timer.”
“Hah!” said Junior.
“It won’t be too bad,” said Sara. “Especially with Junior here keeping you company.”
“Huh?” said a bemused Junior. “But… but I got a date tonight!”
“She’ll understand,” said Sara. “You two behave, and we’ll see you in the morning.” Sara bent and kissed Old Timer on the forehead.
“Well, shucks,” was all Old Timer could say.
The next day, Sara and Daring drove to the secret laboratory where the remaining three scientists continued to work on their top secret project. Upon their arrival, the scientists went to meet with them, but only Sergoff and Edwards showed up.
“Where’s Doctor Scott?” asked Daring.
“I don’t know,” replied Sergoff. “Last time I saw him, he was in his private study.” The two scientists led Daring and Sara to Scott’s study. Edwards quietly knocked on the door, but there was no reply.
Daring cautiously opened the door, only to find Scott sitting quietly in his armchair. It was only when they approached him that they discovered that he was dead. Yet there was no sign of a struggle and no wounds found on Scott’s body. Sergoff quietly excused himself from the room, visibly shaken at the sight of the corpse.
“As far as I can tell,” said Sara, examining the body. “He died from asphyxiation.”
Daring nodded his head in agreement. “But what caused it?”
“It looked like he was listening to his radio,” said Edwards idly.
“Don’t touch that!” said both Sara and Daring, but it was already too late. Edwards had twisted the knob on the large stereo. A malevolent voice filled the room as steel door slammed down, covering the window and door.
“Welcome, fools, to your death!” said the eerie voice. “I am the Spectre, and you have stood in my way for long enough. I will have my revenge and show the world what true power is!” Sara and Daring were scanning the room, searching for some possible escape route.
“You will now share the same fate as poor Dr. Scott. It seems like when you activated the radio, it sent a signal to the main computer, telling it that there’s a fire in this room. First, it will seal off the room, and then, it will suck the oxygen out of the room in order to suffocate the fire.” The Spectre let out a maniacal laugh.
Daring and Sara were already taking the carpeting off the floor and pressing them against the room’s vents, trying to prevent the powerful fans from sucking all the air out. Daring signaled Edwards to come over to him. Daring let Edwards take over for him as Daring went and sized up the door.
Daring put his muscular shoulder into the door, but it did not budge. He tried again but knew that force wasn’t going to work. The air was already getting thin, and he was finding it hard to catch his breath. Daring started to pull something out of his watch, when he suddenly collapsed.
“Richard!” exclaimed Sara. Forgetting the vent, she rushed over to his prone body. Checking him, she found him breathing shallowly. Slowly, Sara started giving him mouth to mouth, reviving his lungs with fresh oxygen from hers. But soon, she felt lightheaded, and the room was swaying.
As she fell backwards, she caught Edwards out of the corner of her eyes. He was lying very still on the ground. The last thing she heard before she blacked out was the voice of the sinister Spectre.
“Death is the reward of all who stand in my way! Death!” His eerie laughter filled the quiet room.
Click Here to Go To The Next Chapter
Written by J M Emmons. The story and all characters are copyrighted by J M Emmons.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Comments on Chapter 5
The latest chapter introduces Sara, my serial's heroine. It's a shame that many serials don't have very strong female characters. Most female characters are relegated to the hero's girlfriend/secretary/lab assistant who always gets knocked out/kidnapped/tied up. There are a few serials with leading heroines, such as Perils of Nyoka, but sadly these are far and few between. Linda Stirling (Zorro's Black Whip) and Kay Aldridge (The Perils of Nyoka) were lucky enough to portray these strong female characters.
I know, I know. It may seem hypocritical to write about having strong female characters, when Sara didn't do much in Chapter 5 besides get knocked unconscious, though she did hold her own against Dekker. But in future chapters, she will be in the thick of it along with Daring, and will probably have more than one opportunity to save our hero for certain death.
I know, I know. It may seem hypocritical to write about having strong female characters, when Sara didn't do much in Chapter 5 besides get knocked unconscious, though she did hold her own against Dekker. But in future chapters, she will be in the thick of it along with Daring, and will probably have more than one opportunity to save our hero for certain death.
Saturday, November 01, 2008
Rick Daring and The Brilliant 5 – Chapter Five: The Woman in White
OX – Sabataged the saucer containing Old Timer, Teresa, and Johnny Highpitch, causing it to crash into the ground.
The giant saucer crashed into a vast farm field, tearing up the ground with a mighty roar. Flames erupted all over the saucer. Inside the cockpit, among the ruined controls, was the Emergency Safety System, which was luckily still intact when the saucer crashed.
Its on-board sensors detected something wrong and activated the emergency foam, spraying it all over the cockpit. The foam acted very similar to an airbag in that it provided cushion against the initial impact. In other words, it saved Johnny Highpitch’s life.
Johnny woke up among the foam; everywhere sirens blaring. His body was sore, but he would live. He limped his way through the wrecked hallways, until he came upon a groggy Teresa. Old Timer was safely strapped to his bed, but still unconscious. Johnny helped Teresa untie him, and they both carried the body out of the saucer.
There, in the mud, they saw large footprints, leading into the forest nearby. Ox had made his getaway. They laid Old Timer down as emergency vehicles appeared over the horizon.
“Daring’s not going to be happy,” said Johnny. “I wrecked his favorite saucer.”
Meanwhile, Daring and Junior were making their way back to the Institute in his roadster. Pulling up in a free parking space, Daring noticed a sleek, white car that wasn’t there when he had left. Daring knew who it belonged to and was curious as to why she was here.
Approaching the Institute’s sitting room, Daring heard Marissa’s melodious laugh. Daring entered to find Marissa entertaining Sara, the Woman in White. She stood beside a large fireplace, while Marissa sat in a nearby armchair. Sara wore her long, dark hair back in a bun, while stray strands danced before her eyes. A dark navy shirt peeked out of her white jacket and pants.
Her green eyes sparkled as she spotted Daring entering the ornate room. “We were just taking about you, Richard,” she said, using Daring’s full first name. “I was just telling dear Marissa about our misadventure in Tibet with the Yeti and that strange Doctor fellow.”
“Keeping out trouble lately, Sara?” asked Daring.
“That’s my line,” she replied. “Clearly, from what I’ve been hearing, you should be kept on a shorter leash. Imagine my surprise hearing that none other than Richard Darington and his Brilliant 5 was called in to investigate one of the most secure compounds on the planet. I have no idea what you turned up, but it wasn’t long before they contacted my people and asked to use our sample of Compound X, while ‘regular security measures’ were being examined.”
“Compound X? You brought it with you?” asked Daring.
“Yes, yes,” she said impatiently. “Where are your manners, Richard? Aren’t you even going to introduce me?”
“Of course,” said Daring. “Marissa, Junior. This is Sara, a top-rate negotiator I’ve worked with a number of times.”
“Pleasure to meet you both,” she said as she shook their hands. She gave Daring a smile.
“What?” he asked.
“I only count two,” she said. “Where are the other three?”
“They had to make a trip to the moon. They should be back any time now.”
“More Compound X?” she asked. “This gets more interesting every minute. By any chance, do you know what they need the Compound X for?”
“It’s the fuel that runs their secret project, whatever that is,” remarked Daring. “Where is your Compound X, Sara?”
“It’s in the other room. I’ll just pop over and get it, shall I?” She left Daring, Junior, and Marissa. In the next room, she went over to the desk where the polished metal briefcase lay. Her fingers had just wrapped themselves around the case’s plastic handle when she felt the familiar sensation of a gun being poked into her back.
“Don’t say anything or I’ll shoot,” said Dekker from behind her. She glanced to her left, noticing the ajar door leading to the balcony. “Open the case and give me the Compound X.”
“You’re a very well-informed man,” said Sara as the briefcase scanned her fingerprints. “How did you happen to know I was here?”
“We got people staked out all over, watching Daring’s every move,” said Dekker as the briefcase snapped open. “And we figured them lab guys need more of that Compound X stuff, and here you come with a big suitcase.”
“Very clever,” she said, pulling a canister out of a foam brace. “Did you think of that yourself or did you have help?”
“Naturally, our…” Dekker caught himself before he completed the sentence.
“So, you are working for someone. I’ll be sure to pass that on to Richard when I see him next,” she said. “By the way, put the gun down.”
“What?”
“Put down the gun, or I’ll smash this into the ground, and they’ll be picking up little pieces of ourselves for the next three weeks.” Dekker stared her in the eyes, trying to read her gambit. He slowly compiled, not because of her threat but because of Davis silently sneaking up behind her.
Davis slugged her in the back of the head with the butt of his gun, snatching the canister as she tumbled to the ground. They scurried to the door to balcony in order to make their getaway.
Moments later, Daring came into the room. “Sara!” he shouted when he saw the prone body on the floor. He rushed to her, checking her vitals. Noticing the empty briefcase, it didn’t take long for Daring to put two and two together. He ran to the open balcony doors and leapt off the balcony.
He landed on top of Davis. A quick punch and Davis was out like a light. Turning, he saw Dekker climbing into a car. He crossed the yard and climbed over the fence, just as the car started to drive away. Without thinking, Daring leapt up the back of a nearby parked car and jumped onto the top of the fleeing car’s roof.
His landing made a significant THUD, which alerted Dekker. Soon, he and Watkins started to ventilate the ceiling with their automatics. Feeling the bullets whiz by, Daring pushed himself forward off the roof and onto the hood of the car. He quickly perched himself onto the car’s front bumper, pressing his body against the car’s front grill.
With Daring hiding in the front of the car, Dekker and his men were finding it hard to get a bead on Daring. Dekker saw a nearby fuel tanker, and he told the driver to head right for it. One by one, Dekker and his men jumped from the car.
Daring looked over his shoulder just in time to see where the out of control car was heading. The car ran into the tanker, causing a large fireball. Fire everywhere, there was no way anyone could have survived.
Click Here to Go To The Next Chapter
Written by J M Emmons. The story and all characters are copyrighted by J M Emmons.
The giant saucer crashed into a vast farm field, tearing up the ground with a mighty roar. Flames erupted all over the saucer. Inside the cockpit, among the ruined controls, was the Emergency Safety System, which was luckily still intact when the saucer crashed.
Its on-board sensors detected something wrong and activated the emergency foam, spraying it all over the cockpit. The foam acted very similar to an airbag in that it provided cushion against the initial impact. In other words, it saved Johnny Highpitch’s life.
Johnny woke up among the foam; everywhere sirens blaring. His body was sore, but he would live. He limped his way through the wrecked hallways, until he came upon a groggy Teresa. Old Timer was safely strapped to his bed, but still unconscious. Johnny helped Teresa untie him, and they both carried the body out of the saucer.
There, in the mud, they saw large footprints, leading into the forest nearby. Ox had made his getaway. They laid Old Timer down as emergency vehicles appeared over the horizon.
“Daring’s not going to be happy,” said Johnny. “I wrecked his favorite saucer.”
Meanwhile, Daring and Junior were making their way back to the Institute in his roadster. Pulling up in a free parking space, Daring noticed a sleek, white car that wasn’t there when he had left. Daring knew who it belonged to and was curious as to why she was here.
Approaching the Institute’s sitting room, Daring heard Marissa’s melodious laugh. Daring entered to find Marissa entertaining Sara, the Woman in White. She stood beside a large fireplace, while Marissa sat in a nearby armchair. Sara wore her long, dark hair back in a bun, while stray strands danced before her eyes. A dark navy shirt peeked out of her white jacket and pants.
Her green eyes sparkled as she spotted Daring entering the ornate room. “We were just taking about you, Richard,” she said, using Daring’s full first name. “I was just telling dear Marissa about our misadventure in Tibet with the Yeti and that strange Doctor fellow.”
“Keeping out trouble lately, Sara?” asked Daring.
“That’s my line,” she replied. “Clearly, from what I’ve been hearing, you should be kept on a shorter leash. Imagine my surprise hearing that none other than Richard Darington and his Brilliant 5 was called in to investigate one of the most secure compounds on the planet. I have no idea what you turned up, but it wasn’t long before they contacted my people and asked to use our sample of Compound X, while ‘regular security measures’ were being examined.”
“Compound X? You brought it with you?” asked Daring.
“Yes, yes,” she said impatiently. “Where are your manners, Richard? Aren’t you even going to introduce me?”
“Of course,” said Daring. “Marissa, Junior. This is Sara, a top-rate negotiator I’ve worked with a number of times.”
“Pleasure to meet you both,” she said as she shook their hands. She gave Daring a smile.
“What?” he asked.
“I only count two,” she said. “Where are the other three?”
“They had to make a trip to the moon. They should be back any time now.”
“More Compound X?” she asked. “This gets more interesting every minute. By any chance, do you know what they need the Compound X for?”
“It’s the fuel that runs their secret project, whatever that is,” remarked Daring. “Where is your Compound X, Sara?”
“It’s in the other room. I’ll just pop over and get it, shall I?” She left Daring, Junior, and Marissa. In the next room, she went over to the desk where the polished metal briefcase lay. Her fingers had just wrapped themselves around the case’s plastic handle when she felt the familiar sensation of a gun being poked into her back.
“Don’t say anything or I’ll shoot,” said Dekker from behind her. She glanced to her left, noticing the ajar door leading to the balcony. “Open the case and give me the Compound X.”
“You’re a very well-informed man,” said Sara as the briefcase scanned her fingerprints. “How did you happen to know I was here?”
“We got people staked out all over, watching Daring’s every move,” said Dekker as the briefcase snapped open. “And we figured them lab guys need more of that Compound X stuff, and here you come with a big suitcase.”
“Very clever,” she said, pulling a canister out of a foam brace. “Did you think of that yourself or did you have help?”
“Naturally, our…” Dekker caught himself before he completed the sentence.
“So, you are working for someone. I’ll be sure to pass that on to Richard when I see him next,” she said. “By the way, put the gun down.”
“What?”
“Put down the gun, or I’ll smash this into the ground, and they’ll be picking up little pieces of ourselves for the next three weeks.” Dekker stared her in the eyes, trying to read her gambit. He slowly compiled, not because of her threat but because of Davis silently sneaking up behind her.
Davis slugged her in the back of the head with the butt of his gun, snatching the canister as she tumbled to the ground. They scurried to the door to balcony in order to make their getaway.
Moments later, Daring came into the room. “Sara!” he shouted when he saw the prone body on the floor. He rushed to her, checking her vitals. Noticing the empty briefcase, it didn’t take long for Daring to put two and two together. He ran to the open balcony doors and leapt off the balcony.
He landed on top of Davis. A quick punch and Davis was out like a light. Turning, he saw Dekker climbing into a car. He crossed the yard and climbed over the fence, just as the car started to drive away. Without thinking, Daring leapt up the back of a nearby parked car and jumped onto the top of the fleeing car’s roof.
His landing made a significant THUD, which alerted Dekker. Soon, he and Watkins started to ventilate the ceiling with their automatics. Feeling the bullets whiz by, Daring pushed himself forward off the roof and onto the hood of the car. He quickly perched himself onto the car’s front bumper, pressing his body against the car’s front grill.
With Daring hiding in the front of the car, Dekker and his men were finding it hard to get a bead on Daring. Dekker saw a nearby fuel tanker, and he told the driver to head right for it. One by one, Dekker and his men jumped from the car.
Daring looked over his shoulder just in time to see where the out of control car was heading. The car ran into the tanker, causing a large fireball. Fire everywhere, there was no way anyone could have survived.
Click Here to Go To The Next Chapter
Written by J M Emmons. The story and all characters are copyrighted by J M Emmons.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Comments on Chapter Four
Sorry for the delay in Chapter Five. It will be up on this coming Sunday, if not earlier. Be sure to read it since it introduces a new cast member.
Well, the moon mini-saga is almost at an end, and we'll soon be revisiting out hero on the Earth. One of the reasons I had them go to the moon was to invoke the classic sci-fi feel of the 1950s, which dominated movie theaters soon after serials were retired. The Commander Cody serials of 1950s were some of the first serials I ever saw.
The plummeting aircraft is another common cliffhanger. In this case, I changed it into a flying saucer, but the same principal nonetheless.
Well, the moon mini-saga is almost at an end, and we'll soon be revisiting out hero on the Earth. One of the reasons I had them go to the moon was to invoke the classic sci-fi feel of the 1950s, which dominated movie theaters soon after serials were retired. The Commander Cody serials of 1950s were some of the first serials I ever saw.
The plummeting aircraft is another common cliffhanger. In this case, I changed it into a flying saucer, but the same principal nonetheless.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Rick Daring and The Brilliant 5 – Chapter Four: Crash Landing
OLD TIMER – with Teresa and Johnny Highpitch go to the moon in order to secure the mysterious Compound X
OX – Is caught stealing Compound X, and in the resulting struggle, brought the ceiling down on top of everyone.
There was only darkness and silence.
Then, there was a slight hissing sound.
“Give me a light,” said Teresa. Johnny cracked open the emergency light on his suit’s belt. Looming over them was Ox; his fierce muscles the only thing preventing the large pile of boulders from crushing them all. Old Timer was lying by Ox’s feet. Teresa crawled over and pushed her hands on top of a small tear in Old Timer’s suit.
“Tape!” she shouted. “Hurry!” Johnny complied, pulling the sealant from his belt. After a few tense seconds, they mended the rip, but Old Timer was still unconscious.
“So, now what?” asked Johnny. “We only have so much air, and our large friend here has only so much strength.” He didn’t mention the fact that Ox could easily kill them both if they were not in this predicament.
Teresa picked up the ray gun. “Don’t lose hope yet,” she said. She started to take apart the gun and pulled out various items from her suit pockets. After fifteen minutes of tinkering in dim lights, Teresa presented them with a strange looking contraption.
“I’ve increased the output on the ray gun,” explained Teresa. “It may be abl to burn a tunnel through the rubble. Unfortunately, I don’t know how long it will last before the battery dies.”
“We’ve got no other choice but to try,” said Johnny. “We need to get Old Timer back to the saucer as fast as possible.”
“Please hurry,” rasped Ox. “It’s getting awfully heavy.”
“But which way should I start? I don’t remember which way was the entrance,” said Teresa.
Johnny pressed his helmeted head against the wall and pounded the wall. “There’s a hollow area, maybe 10 meters away.”
With that, Teresa turned on the device, and they watched as it started to shoot rays that melted through the rock. Teresa carefully aimed the device until it burned a hole just large enough for Ox to fit into. She ducked down into the hole in the wall and let the device burn further and further into the rumble.
When there was enough room, Johnny entered the makeshift tunnel, dragging along the unconscious Old Timer. That left Ox alone, carrying the weight of the ceiling on top of him. He hesitated, thinking of the two thugs crushed to death, before squeezing into the tunnel after Johnny; the collapsing rocks sealing the tunnel after him.
They slowly edged their way through the tunnel. They could feel the raw heat from Teresa’s device through their suits. It seemed like an eternity crawling in the cramp tunnel, until, suddenly, the device died. Teresa and Johnny grasped at the wall, trying to tear it down with their gloved hands. Johnny squeezed in front of Teresa and put his shoulder into breaking down the wall.
On his third try, the wall caved in, and they found themselves in tunnel leading to the entrance to the mine. They were soon met by the local authorities, who helped Johnny bind Ox before he could get away. Teresa immediately took Old Timer back to their saucer. Once inside, she took him out of the suit, and placed him in the medical bay. She placed an oxygen mask over his face and watched the sensors report that his condition was stable.
Johnny brought in Ox, sat him down, and stripped out of his spacesuit. He went into the cockpit and started the saucer’s engine. The craft lurched upward, and soon they were making their way back to the planet.
Ox sat quietly, staring at the heavy-duty handcuffs clamped onto his wrists. He had made no attempt at escape since the cave-in. He knew that he had failed his master in stealing the precious Compound X, and even if he did escape, there would be nothing but punishment awaiting his return. He was much safer in jail than he was a free man.
But as the saucer was completing re-entry into the planet’s atmosphere, Ox had a new thought. Clearly, his captors were extremely intelligent, far smarter than him at least. When they got back to their base, they would surely interrogate Ox, and sooner or later, Ox would incidentally mention something of importance that would lead them to his master.
This sort of mistake was unforgivable, and the only punishment was death. Ox realized with a fury that he had to get free. There was a small hope that his master would give him a second chance, but he had to act quickly before he compounded his troubles.
With a tug of his superior muscles, the handcuffs snapped into two. He silently stalked throughout the saucer until came about Teresa, still tending the unconscious Old Timer. Ox rushed her, and before she could open her mouth, he knocked her out. He then made his way to the front of the ship, towards the cockpit area.
Johnny Highpitch turned as the door behind him opened. Being agile, he was able to jump out of the way as Ox lunge towards him. Unfortunately, this was exactly what Ox wanted. His large hands ripped into the controls, tearing it apart.
“Stop!” shouted Johnny. “You don’t know what you’re doing!” Johnny tried to pull Ox away from the saucer’s control, but to no avail. He dodged one of Ox’s blows and punched him in the stomach. It felt like punching a wall.
Ox grabbed ahold of Johnny and threw him into the wall. Ox took one look back at the trashed controls and then fled the cockpit, leaving a unconscious Johnny as the ground behind grew larger and larger in the windshield as the saucer plummeted to the ground.
Click Here to Go To The Next Chapter
Written by J M Emmons. The story and all characters are copyrighted by J M Emmons.
OX – Is caught stealing Compound X, and in the resulting struggle, brought the ceiling down on top of everyone.
There was only darkness and silence.
Then, there was a slight hissing sound.
“Give me a light,” said Teresa. Johnny cracked open the emergency light on his suit’s belt. Looming over them was Ox; his fierce muscles the only thing preventing the large pile of boulders from crushing them all. Old Timer was lying by Ox’s feet. Teresa crawled over and pushed her hands on top of a small tear in Old Timer’s suit.
“Tape!” she shouted. “Hurry!” Johnny complied, pulling the sealant from his belt. After a few tense seconds, they mended the rip, but Old Timer was still unconscious.
“So, now what?” asked Johnny. “We only have so much air, and our large friend here has only so much strength.” He didn’t mention the fact that Ox could easily kill them both if they were not in this predicament.
Teresa picked up the ray gun. “Don’t lose hope yet,” she said. She started to take apart the gun and pulled out various items from her suit pockets. After fifteen minutes of tinkering in dim lights, Teresa presented them with a strange looking contraption.
“I’ve increased the output on the ray gun,” explained Teresa. “It may be abl to burn a tunnel through the rubble. Unfortunately, I don’t know how long it will last before the battery dies.”
“We’ve got no other choice but to try,” said Johnny. “We need to get Old Timer back to the saucer as fast as possible.”
“Please hurry,” rasped Ox. “It’s getting awfully heavy.”
“But which way should I start? I don’t remember which way was the entrance,” said Teresa.
Johnny pressed his helmeted head against the wall and pounded the wall. “There’s a hollow area, maybe 10 meters away.”
With that, Teresa turned on the device, and they watched as it started to shoot rays that melted through the rock. Teresa carefully aimed the device until it burned a hole just large enough for Ox to fit into. She ducked down into the hole in the wall and let the device burn further and further into the rumble.
When there was enough room, Johnny entered the makeshift tunnel, dragging along the unconscious Old Timer. That left Ox alone, carrying the weight of the ceiling on top of him. He hesitated, thinking of the two thugs crushed to death, before squeezing into the tunnel after Johnny; the collapsing rocks sealing the tunnel after him.
They slowly edged their way through the tunnel. They could feel the raw heat from Teresa’s device through their suits. It seemed like an eternity crawling in the cramp tunnel, until, suddenly, the device died. Teresa and Johnny grasped at the wall, trying to tear it down with their gloved hands. Johnny squeezed in front of Teresa and put his shoulder into breaking down the wall.
On his third try, the wall caved in, and they found themselves in tunnel leading to the entrance to the mine. They were soon met by the local authorities, who helped Johnny bind Ox before he could get away. Teresa immediately took Old Timer back to their saucer. Once inside, she took him out of the suit, and placed him in the medical bay. She placed an oxygen mask over his face and watched the sensors report that his condition was stable.
Johnny brought in Ox, sat him down, and stripped out of his spacesuit. He went into the cockpit and started the saucer’s engine. The craft lurched upward, and soon they were making their way back to the planet.
Ox sat quietly, staring at the heavy-duty handcuffs clamped onto his wrists. He had made no attempt at escape since the cave-in. He knew that he had failed his master in stealing the precious Compound X, and even if he did escape, there would be nothing but punishment awaiting his return. He was much safer in jail than he was a free man.
But as the saucer was completing re-entry into the planet’s atmosphere, Ox had a new thought. Clearly, his captors were extremely intelligent, far smarter than him at least. When they got back to their base, they would surely interrogate Ox, and sooner or later, Ox would incidentally mention something of importance that would lead them to his master.
This sort of mistake was unforgivable, and the only punishment was death. Ox realized with a fury that he had to get free. There was a small hope that his master would give him a second chance, but he had to act quickly before he compounded his troubles.
With a tug of his superior muscles, the handcuffs snapped into two. He silently stalked throughout the saucer until came about Teresa, still tending the unconscious Old Timer. Ox rushed her, and before she could open her mouth, he knocked her out. He then made his way to the front of the ship, towards the cockpit area.
Johnny Highpitch turned as the door behind him opened. Being agile, he was able to jump out of the way as Ox lunge towards him. Unfortunately, this was exactly what Ox wanted. His large hands ripped into the controls, tearing it apart.
“Stop!” shouted Johnny. “You don’t know what you’re doing!” Johnny tried to pull Ox away from the saucer’s control, but to no avail. He dodged one of Ox’s blows and punched him in the stomach. It felt like punching a wall.
Ox grabbed ahold of Johnny and threw him into the wall. Ox took one look back at the trashed controls and then fled the cockpit, leaving a unconscious Johnny as the ground behind grew larger and larger in the windshield as the saucer plummeted to the ground.
Click Here to Go To The Next Chapter
Written by J M Emmons. The story and all characters are copyrighted by J M Emmons.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Rick Daring and The Brilliant 5 – Chapter Three: Buried Alive
DEKKER – Is caught stealing a large amount of tertainium for a local warehouse.
DARING – Is shot while trying to prevent Dekker’s getaway.
The sounds of gunfire attracted Junior’s attention. He raced toward the offices, letting the two battered cronies escape. Upon entering the room, he glimpsed Dekker jumping out of the window. He started to pursue the villain, when he came upon Daring’s body.
“Daring! Are you okay?” he asked, crouching over the prone hero.
“It’s a good thing we came prepared,” coughed Daring. Junior ripped open Daring’s shirt, revealing a bulletproof vest. “Still hurts, though.”
“You just rest here, boss,” said Junior as he heard the truck’s engine roar to life. “I’ll go after those guys.” Junior leapt out of the window, just in time to see the truck pull out of the parking lot. He ran over to the roadster, jumping into the vehicle and quickly started off after them. Putting the pedal to the floor, the car zoomed after the truck. Luckily, the large truck was conspicuous, and soon, Junior caught up with the truck as they raced around the twisting roads.
The two thugs appeared out of the back of the truck and started to fire upon Junior. Junior was safe as long as he stayed behind the roadster’s bulletproof windshield. He tried to get beside the truck, but the truck would swerve from side to side, blocking his every attempt. Junior was just about to open the roadster’s hidden compartment of switches, when he noticed the two thugs had stopped firing. He glanced up to see the two men were lugging one of the large crates.
His foot hit the brakes just as they threw the crate out onto the road in front of him. The crate shattered open, spilling out its contents all over the road. Junior frowned as he watched the truck disappear over the hill.
“Old Timer’s got to have better luck than me,” he muttered.
“What do you mean, we’re late!?” hollered Old Timer through his spacesuit’s speaker. He, along with Johnny Highpitch and Teresa, stood in front of the Compound X mine, speaking with the mine’s overseer. Their giant space saucer was parked in the distance. Earth hung over them in the sky.
“All I’m saying is that there was a group of individuals with the exact same paperwork that came through here about an hour ago,” he explained. “I assumed that you were with them.”
“Good sir,” interrupted Johnny. “Are you insinuating that these men are still down there?”
“Unless there’s some back way out that I don’t know about,” replied the overseer.
“Thank you for your time,” replied Johnny. He ushered his two companions to the entrance of the mine.
“Doggone rattlesnakes,” muttered Old Timer. “They beat us here!”
“But they don’t know we’re here,” stated Teresa. “The element of surprise is ours!” They continued inward, until they came to a fork in the tunnel.
“Which way?” asked Teresa.
“Wish I knew,” muttered Old Timer.
Johnny Highpitch shushed his compatriots, attuning his super-hearing to the passageways ahead. There was dead silence as Johnny listened intently. After a long pause, he said, “This way.”
They followed him down the right tunnel, and soon enough, they came across a light in the distance. There, they came upon three men working the wall of the mine. One of the three men was mammoth, tossing aside boulders as if they were pebbles. On the table was a small cylinder filled with a glowing substance. This substance was the unstable mineral known as Compound X.
The trio slowly crept up on Ox and his men. Ox turned at the sound of Johnny’s voice as he said, “Put down your tools and come with us. We have some questions needing answered.”
Instead of complying with johnny’s order, Ox shouted, “Get them!” His two minions rushed Johnny and Old Timer. Each member of the Brilliant 5 are trained in 5 forms of self-defense, but wearing bulky spacesuit greatly diminished their fighting form. The result was a pair of men tossing around the ground, their fists glancing off of each other’s helmet.
Fortunately, Teresa had anticipated this. She had brought along a pneumatic gun, no bigger than a derringer. It contained a small capsule of knock out gas. While the thugs were busy tussling with Johnny and Old Timer, Teresa came up behind them and injected the gas directly into the thug’s air hose. Within seconds, they were out cold, leaving Ox to fend for himself.
Ox didn’t mind the three-to-one odds, but even he needed to breathe, and Teresa’s knock out gas gun would work just as well on him as it did his minions. But Ox’s master had planned for every eventuality. Ox pulled the ray gun from his belt, but before he could fire it, Old Timer tossed a stone at him. The stone knocked the ray gun out of his hand.
Angry, Ox grabbed the thing closest to him and threw it back at them. The item, in this case, was the canister of Compound X. The unstable mineral exploded upon impact, bringing the whole ceiling down on their heads.
Click Here to Go To The Next Chapter
Written by J M Emmons. The story and all characters are copyrighted by J M Emmons.
DARING – Is shot while trying to prevent Dekker’s getaway.
The sounds of gunfire attracted Junior’s attention. He raced toward the offices, letting the two battered cronies escape. Upon entering the room, he glimpsed Dekker jumping out of the window. He started to pursue the villain, when he came upon Daring’s body.
“Daring! Are you okay?” he asked, crouching over the prone hero.
“It’s a good thing we came prepared,” coughed Daring. Junior ripped open Daring’s shirt, revealing a bulletproof vest. “Still hurts, though.”
“You just rest here, boss,” said Junior as he heard the truck’s engine roar to life. “I’ll go after those guys.” Junior leapt out of the window, just in time to see the truck pull out of the parking lot. He ran over to the roadster, jumping into the vehicle and quickly started off after them. Putting the pedal to the floor, the car zoomed after the truck. Luckily, the large truck was conspicuous, and soon, Junior caught up with the truck as they raced around the twisting roads.
The two thugs appeared out of the back of the truck and started to fire upon Junior. Junior was safe as long as he stayed behind the roadster’s bulletproof windshield. He tried to get beside the truck, but the truck would swerve from side to side, blocking his every attempt. Junior was just about to open the roadster’s hidden compartment of switches, when he noticed the two thugs had stopped firing. He glanced up to see the two men were lugging one of the large crates.
His foot hit the brakes just as they threw the crate out onto the road in front of him. The crate shattered open, spilling out its contents all over the road. Junior frowned as he watched the truck disappear over the hill.
“Old Timer’s got to have better luck than me,” he muttered.
“What do you mean, we’re late!?” hollered Old Timer through his spacesuit’s speaker. He, along with Johnny Highpitch and Teresa, stood in front of the Compound X mine, speaking with the mine’s overseer. Their giant space saucer was parked in the distance. Earth hung over them in the sky.
“All I’m saying is that there was a group of individuals with the exact same paperwork that came through here about an hour ago,” he explained. “I assumed that you were with them.”
“Good sir,” interrupted Johnny. “Are you insinuating that these men are still down there?”
“Unless there’s some back way out that I don’t know about,” replied the overseer.
“Thank you for your time,” replied Johnny. He ushered his two companions to the entrance of the mine.
“Doggone rattlesnakes,” muttered Old Timer. “They beat us here!”
“But they don’t know we’re here,” stated Teresa. “The element of surprise is ours!” They continued inward, until they came to a fork in the tunnel.
“Which way?” asked Teresa.
“Wish I knew,” muttered Old Timer.
Johnny Highpitch shushed his compatriots, attuning his super-hearing to the passageways ahead. There was dead silence as Johnny listened intently. After a long pause, he said, “This way.”
They followed him down the right tunnel, and soon enough, they came across a light in the distance. There, they came upon three men working the wall of the mine. One of the three men was mammoth, tossing aside boulders as if they were pebbles. On the table was a small cylinder filled with a glowing substance. This substance was the unstable mineral known as Compound X.
The trio slowly crept up on Ox and his men. Ox turned at the sound of Johnny’s voice as he said, “Put down your tools and come with us. We have some questions needing answered.”
Instead of complying with johnny’s order, Ox shouted, “Get them!” His two minions rushed Johnny and Old Timer. Each member of the Brilliant 5 are trained in 5 forms of self-defense, but wearing bulky spacesuit greatly diminished their fighting form. The result was a pair of men tossing around the ground, their fists glancing off of each other’s helmet.
Fortunately, Teresa had anticipated this. She had brought along a pneumatic gun, no bigger than a derringer. It contained a small capsule of knock out gas. While the thugs were busy tussling with Johnny and Old Timer, Teresa came up behind them and injected the gas directly into the thug’s air hose. Within seconds, they were out cold, leaving Ox to fend for himself.
Ox didn’t mind the three-to-one odds, but even he needed to breathe, and Teresa’s knock out gas gun would work just as well on him as it did his minions. But Ox’s master had planned for every eventuality. Ox pulled the ray gun from his belt, but before he could fire it, Old Timer tossed a stone at him. The stone knocked the ray gun out of his hand.
Angry, Ox grabbed the thing closest to him and threw it back at them. The item, in this case, was the canister of Compound X. The unstable mineral exploded upon impact, bringing the whole ceiling down on their heads.
Click Here to Go To The Next Chapter
Written by J M Emmons. The story and all characters are copyrighted by J M Emmons.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Comments on Chapter Two
Rick Daring and the Brilliant 5 are more or less based on the Doc Savage archetype. Our hero, being a man who has no special abilities other than his highly trained mind and muscles, is backed by his assistants, each a specialist in their own field. junior and Old Timer could be considered the "Ham" and "Monk," the two main sidekicks. Their age difference was more of an homage to old westerns, particularly Hopalong Cassidy, that used an old and young sidekick whose arguments would provide a comedic atmosphere among the tense drama.
The resolution of last week's cliffhanger was the use of a safe to protect our hero from an explosion. I'm pretty sure that this is a pretty commonly used device, but i can't think of any serials off the top of my head that used this. The most recent example of this can be seen in the latest Indiana Jones movie, where Indy climbed into a lead-lined refrigerator to escape from the aftershocks of a nuclear detontation miles away.
The resolution of last week's cliffhanger was the use of a safe to protect our hero from an explosion. I'm pretty sure that this is a pretty commonly used device, but i can't think of any serials off the top of my head that used this. The most recent example of this can be seen in the latest Indiana Jones movie, where Indy climbed into a lead-lined refrigerator to escape from the aftershocks of a nuclear detontation miles away.
Sunday, October 05, 2008
Rick Daring and The Brilliant 5 – Chapter Two: Doorway to Disaster
DEKKER – Assigned by his Mysterious Master to obtain secret plans from Professor Jones.
DARING – Stumbled upon Dekker in the act of stealing the documents and caught the fire caused by the ensuing fight.
Old Timer and Junior slowly got to their feet. The explosion had consumed all of the oxygen, suffocating the flames that were ravaging the laboratory. As they entered the remains of the room, they could find no sign of their friend, Rick Daring. The explosion had hurled Jones’s safe through the window and was lying on the lawn, burnt but intact. In the distance, they heard the sound of tires screeching. Whoever killed Professor Jones and attacked Daring had escaped.
There was a faint knocking coming from the safe. Neither man said anything. They busied themselves prying off the safe’s door. Inside, cramp and crowded but alive, was Richard Darington, AKA Rick Daring.
After dusting himself off, Daring met with the security detail and related his tale of the intruder. Once they got his statement, Daring gathered the late Professor Jones’s colleagues, so that he could question them.
The three scientists sat in lounge chairs in the building’s rec room. Doctor Terrance Sergoff was a middle-aged man with grey hair and a bushy beard. Professor Walter Scott was a stout man who spoke little unless needed to. Doctor Paul Edwards was a well-groomed man with a distinct voice.
“By God,” muttered Sergoff. “Jones was right. I wouldn’t believe it.”
“What my colleague is saying is that we agreed with Jones for additional security,” said Edwards. “But we didn’t totally believe that there were people out there, after us.”
“Of course, there’s always a possibility of espionage, but still…,” stated Sergoff.
“They killed him,” added Scott.
“I am sorry we weren’t able to save him,” said Daring. “I need to know what was on the plans that got stolen.”
“Fortunately, we broke up the plans into four parts, so that no one man have the complete plans to the project,” stated Sergoff.
“I believe that Jones had the list of construction parts for the machine,” remarked Edwards.
“And what are those?” asked Junior.
“The, er, machine is mainly composed of tertainium, which is supply to us by a local shipping company. The other element is Compound X, the unstable material from the moon that fuels our creation,” explained Sergoff.
Daring signaled Junior and Old Timer that he wanted to speak to them alone.
“What’s the plan, boss?” asked Junior.
“I think we should start taking the offensive,” replied Daring. “There’s a good chance that whoever stole Jones’ part of the plans will go after these materials. Junior and I will check out the warehouse where the tertainium’s being kept. Old Timer, you go back to the Institute and use the saucer to go to the moon and check out the Compound X mine. Better yet, take Johnny and Teresa with you.”
Old Timer said nothing. He was quietly stroking his beard.
“What’s eating you, old man?” asked Junior.
“I don’t like it, Daring,” said Old Timer. “We wuz submitted to every kind of inspection before we could even breathe the same air as those scientist folks. So, yer telling me some dang blasted man, got by all of that, all by himself?”
“You think it’s an inside job?” asked Daring.
“Yer durn tootin’!” replied Old Timer.
“Unfortunately, we don’t have enough information to go on your hunch, Old Timer. Right now, we’ll stake out these locations, and if we’re lucky enough we might just catch someone who can fill us in on what’s going on.”
Sometime later, Daring’s roadster pulled up to the warehouse in question. Daring and Junior leapt out of the vehicle, when they noticed that a large, nondescript truck had been pulled up to one of the warehouse’s docks. Sneaking into the warehouse, they soon confirmed their worst fear. The man Daring identified as his attacker was standing near the back-end of the truck. A number of boxes were already loaded into the truck. The guards were bound and unconscious.
Daring pulled out a gun from his inside breast pocket and slowly approached Dekker.
“Hands where we can see them,” commanded Daring. Dekker did as he was told. “Not so tough when you aren’t ambushing people, huh?” Dekker didn’t reply. “Let’s start with who you’re working for, and then work our way towards why you’re stealing top secret government documents.”
“Should we drill them now?” came a voice behind them. Watkins and Davis, two of Dekker’s cronies, stepped into the warehouse, guns drawn. Daring and Junior looked each other with resignation. Daring tossed the gun to the ground. As the men approached, he pressed a hidden button on his watch. The “gun” exploded with a loud flare, blinding the evil men. Daring and Junior both came prepared with specialized contacts and earplugs that made them immune to the effects.
Junior grabbed the nearest thug by his lapels and slugged him in the face. The punch spun Davis in his place, quickly collapsing into a pile of crates. Dekker staggered off towards a cluster of offices. Daring started to pursue, but Watkins managed to grabbed ahold of him. Daring struggled to break his hold. Watkins pushed Daring off balance, and they both fell to the ground. Daring managed to kick Watkins off of him. Getting to his feet, Daring gave the thug a solid punch right to the jaw. Watkins slumped to the ground.
Daring ran after Dekker. He stopped at the doorway where he saw Dekker halfway out of a window. Daring already started to move towards Dekker, hoping to close the gap between them. In those precious seconds, Dekker drew his gun and fired at Daring.
Three slugs impacted Daring in the chest. He stumbled backwards, collapsing to the ground.
Click Here to Go To The Next Chapter
Written by J M Emmons. The story and all characters are copyrighted by J M Emmons.
DARING – Stumbled upon Dekker in the act of stealing the documents and caught the fire caused by the ensuing fight.
Old Timer and Junior slowly got to their feet. The explosion had consumed all of the oxygen, suffocating the flames that were ravaging the laboratory. As they entered the remains of the room, they could find no sign of their friend, Rick Daring. The explosion had hurled Jones’s safe through the window and was lying on the lawn, burnt but intact. In the distance, they heard the sound of tires screeching. Whoever killed Professor Jones and attacked Daring had escaped.
There was a faint knocking coming from the safe. Neither man said anything. They busied themselves prying off the safe’s door. Inside, cramp and crowded but alive, was Richard Darington, AKA Rick Daring.
After dusting himself off, Daring met with the security detail and related his tale of the intruder. Once they got his statement, Daring gathered the late Professor Jones’s colleagues, so that he could question them.
The three scientists sat in lounge chairs in the building’s rec room. Doctor Terrance Sergoff was a middle-aged man with grey hair and a bushy beard. Professor Walter Scott was a stout man who spoke little unless needed to. Doctor Paul Edwards was a well-groomed man with a distinct voice.
“By God,” muttered Sergoff. “Jones was right. I wouldn’t believe it.”
“What my colleague is saying is that we agreed with Jones for additional security,” said Edwards. “But we didn’t totally believe that there were people out there, after us.”
“Of course, there’s always a possibility of espionage, but still…,” stated Sergoff.
“They killed him,” added Scott.
“I am sorry we weren’t able to save him,” said Daring. “I need to know what was on the plans that got stolen.”
“Fortunately, we broke up the plans into four parts, so that no one man have the complete plans to the project,” stated Sergoff.
“I believe that Jones had the list of construction parts for the machine,” remarked Edwards.
“And what are those?” asked Junior.
“The, er, machine is mainly composed of tertainium, which is supply to us by a local shipping company. The other element is Compound X, the unstable material from the moon that fuels our creation,” explained Sergoff.
Daring signaled Junior and Old Timer that he wanted to speak to them alone.
“What’s the plan, boss?” asked Junior.
“I think we should start taking the offensive,” replied Daring. “There’s a good chance that whoever stole Jones’ part of the plans will go after these materials. Junior and I will check out the warehouse where the tertainium’s being kept. Old Timer, you go back to the Institute and use the saucer to go to the moon and check out the Compound X mine. Better yet, take Johnny and Teresa with you.”
Old Timer said nothing. He was quietly stroking his beard.
“What’s eating you, old man?” asked Junior.
“I don’t like it, Daring,” said Old Timer. “We wuz submitted to every kind of inspection before we could even breathe the same air as those scientist folks. So, yer telling me some dang blasted man, got by all of that, all by himself?”
“You think it’s an inside job?” asked Daring.
“Yer durn tootin’!” replied Old Timer.
“Unfortunately, we don’t have enough information to go on your hunch, Old Timer. Right now, we’ll stake out these locations, and if we’re lucky enough we might just catch someone who can fill us in on what’s going on.”
Sometime later, Daring’s roadster pulled up to the warehouse in question. Daring and Junior leapt out of the vehicle, when they noticed that a large, nondescript truck had been pulled up to one of the warehouse’s docks. Sneaking into the warehouse, they soon confirmed their worst fear. The man Daring identified as his attacker was standing near the back-end of the truck. A number of boxes were already loaded into the truck. The guards were bound and unconscious.
Daring pulled out a gun from his inside breast pocket and slowly approached Dekker.
“Hands where we can see them,” commanded Daring. Dekker did as he was told. “Not so tough when you aren’t ambushing people, huh?” Dekker didn’t reply. “Let’s start with who you’re working for, and then work our way towards why you’re stealing top secret government documents.”
“Should we drill them now?” came a voice behind them. Watkins and Davis, two of Dekker’s cronies, stepped into the warehouse, guns drawn. Daring and Junior looked each other with resignation. Daring tossed the gun to the ground. As the men approached, he pressed a hidden button on his watch. The “gun” exploded with a loud flare, blinding the evil men. Daring and Junior both came prepared with specialized contacts and earplugs that made them immune to the effects.
Junior grabbed the nearest thug by his lapels and slugged him in the face. The punch spun Davis in his place, quickly collapsing into a pile of crates. Dekker staggered off towards a cluster of offices. Daring started to pursue, but Watkins managed to grabbed ahold of him. Daring struggled to break his hold. Watkins pushed Daring off balance, and they both fell to the ground. Daring managed to kick Watkins off of him. Getting to his feet, Daring gave the thug a solid punch right to the jaw. Watkins slumped to the ground.
Daring ran after Dekker. He stopped at the doorway where he saw Dekker halfway out of a window. Daring already started to move towards Dekker, hoping to close the gap between them. In those precious seconds, Dekker drew his gun and fired at Daring.
Three slugs impacted Daring in the chest. He stumbled backwards, collapsing to the ground.
Click Here to Go To The Next Chapter
Written by J M Emmons. The story and all characters are copyrighted by J M Emmons.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Dune of Dune
Then: Frank Herbert created a series of novels focused on a futuristic geo-political society. This is known as Dune.
Now: Son, Brian Herbert and Kevin J Anderson created trilogy after trilogy of prequel based on Herbert Senior's series.
Trilogy 1: Three novels taking place before the first Dune book.
Trilogy 2: Three novels taking place thousands of years before the first prequel trilogy.
Trilogy 3: The conclusion of the Dune series based on notes written by Herbert Senior.
So, what's there left to write again? Enter Paul of Dune. This novel will depict the years between the first and second Dune novels. Seriously, you guys haven't taken this thing too far. By the time Herbert Junior and Anderson are finished, the Dune saga will be the most documented series ever.
Now: Son, Brian Herbert and Kevin J Anderson created trilogy after trilogy of prequel based on Herbert Senior's series.
Trilogy 1: Three novels taking place before the first Dune book.
Trilogy 2: Three novels taking place thousands of years before the first prequel trilogy.
Trilogy 3: The conclusion of the Dune series based on notes written by Herbert Senior.
So, what's there left to write again? Enter Paul of Dune. This novel will depict the years between the first and second Dune novels. Seriously, you guys haven't taken this thing too far. By the time Herbert Junior and Anderson are finished, the Dune saga will be the most documented series ever.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Comments on Chapter One
Yes, it's a serial. If you haven't seen one yet, I highly recommend one, especially a Republic. Chapter One has many hallmarks of the Republic serial. First of all, there's the masked villain. The identity of the main villain is often kept a secret until the last chapter. There's a few exceptions, such as Fu Manchu and Dr. Satan, but these villains are such characters they are usually more interesting than the protagonists. Second, there are the henchman. With the villain preserving his identity, he needs gofers for his evil deeds to succeed. Enter the henchmen. Usually, there's a main henchman, who survives all of the chapters, followed by a bunch of expendable, lesser henchmen. In my serial, I decided to create two main henchmen, Dekker and Ox. Dekker's the typical right-hand man, while Ox is the all-muscle, no brains thug.
But let's get to what's important: the cliffhanger. The cliffhanger of Chapter One is a fairly common one. During a struggle, nearby flammable material catches on fire, and soon our hero is left, unconscious, as the flames close in. Hopefully, next week, the resolution will not disappoint.
But let's get to what's important: the cliffhanger. The cliffhanger of Chapter One is a fairly common one. During a struggle, nearby flammable material catches on fire, and soon our hero is left, unconscious, as the flames close in. Hopefully, next week, the resolution will not disappoint.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Rick Daring and The Brilliant 5 – Chapter One: Chemical Flames
Two men walked with purpose through the inky darkness of the abandoned laboratory. The first, Dekker, was tall, slim, sharply dressed, and most importantly, utterly dangerous. Behind his slicked back hair and curt mustache lurked a devious mind of crime. The other, Ox, needed no thoughts for he was pure muscle, towering over Dekker.
They entered the darkened remains of an office, ruined by some horrible fire. There, in the middle, where a desk used to be, was a hologram projector. The evil men checked their watches. A quarter till Midnight. Any moment now…
On cue, the hologram hummed to life; an apparition rising from it. They had never met this man, their master, in person. But his money was real, and that’s all that mattered to men such as these. They could not make out much of the fog-like figure except for a pair of eyes that bore into them like sharp knives.
“This world will burn, this I swear!” hissed their master. “Mankind has always survived through adversary, not complacency! While the pathetic men in power live off their status, I shall take what I want, and that is the world! Under my control, we shall not live with our neighbors; we shall conquer them!” The mysterious master paused, considering his two henchmen for the first time.
“Dekker! Ox!” he rasped. “For my plans to succeed, I need the device being designed by Professor Jones and his team. You will acquire the plans for me and eliminate the dear professor. Do you understand?”
“Perfectly, sir.”
Far away from the burnt out lab and the plotting villains was the Institute of the Brilliant 5, a shining example of modern architecture amid the busy skyline of Monument City. The building was one of many, spread out throughout the galaxy, used as impromptu facilities for the Brilliant 5, a team of 5 specialists known the world over. “Old Timer,” the living historian, had lived for over half a century and remembers ever minute of it, expect for his real name. Johnny Highpitch, amphibious alien and sonics expert, had remarkable hearing that can not only detect a pin dropping but could tell what type of pin it was and what height it was dropped from. Maximilian Sebastian Orwell Maddock AKA “Junior” may be young, but he was the top of his field in linguistics. Teresa Becker was the team’s technician and inventor. Marissa Tulvak, a alien with an insect-like exoskeleton, was the world’s leading authority in biology and the application of technology to living tissue.
Their unofficial leader was a man called Richard Darington, known to most as Rick Daring. Daring got his nickname while recklessly boarding a wrecked spaceship that crashed on the Earth and helping the injured aliens repair their ship. As a reward, the aliens took him with them to the outreaches of the Milky Way. There, he met the five intrepid geniuses and helped them form the Brilliant 5.
Daring was a tall man with broad shoulders. His face was long with a sloping brow and square jaw. His blonde hair was trimmed short. Even after leaving the military, he kept his body in peak physical shape. Daring never preferred to use guns, especially when his double-breasted suit had a number of hidden gadgets made by Teresa to his specifications.
On this particular morning, Daring had just received a message from an old colleague, Professor William Jones. He was sharing the contents of the message with the rest of his team.
“As you know, Professor Jones is working with a team of scientist on a top secret project for the government. A month ago, one of the five scientist, a Doctor Bryant, was killed in a lab accident that burned down the entire building.”
“There were some rumors that it wasn’t an accident,” stated Junior, combing back some of his unruly hair. “Not that there’s any solid evidence to back that supposition.”
“Don’t go on showing off yer fancy ten cent words,” remarked Old Timer, scratching at his grey beard. “Try using words ya know the meaning to.”
“Sure,” remarked Junior. “I’ll talk nice and slow so that you’ll understand me next time.” Old Timer scowled at this and was about to make a rebuttal, when he was interrupted.
“What exactly are they working on?” asked Teresa, attired in a modest three-piece suit. Its bright colors set off her naturally dark skin. “A death ray, perhaps?”
“How horrible!” exclaimed Marissa, holding her hand to her mouth. “Couldn’t they be working on a new electron smasher or a DNA replicator?”
“Unfortunately, we don’t have the clearance to know,” replied Daring. “But the good professor and his colleagues feel that their lives are in danger. That Doctor Bryant was just the beginning.”
“Why now?” asked Johnny Highpitch, sitting comfortably in his Victorian outfit.
“Apparently, over the last week, they swear that they’ve seen people following them, watching their every move.”
“Simple paranoia,” replied Junior. “They’ve been in their labs too long.”
“Rocket Scientists? Pisshaw!” muttered Old Timer. “Why, they ain’t no more than a bunch of babies, needing their hands held in the dark.”
“Nevertheless,” stated Daring. “He asked for our help, and given the sensitivity of their work, it wouldn’t hurt to check things out.” He looked at Junior and Old Timer. “Since the two of you are so keen on the idea, you two will accompany me on nice afternoon drive to his laboratory.”
Neither man said anything. They just crossed their arms and sulked a bit. The other three were relieved that they could go back to their work.
“If you need anything before you go, just call,” said Teresa before she left.
The trip in Daring’s open top roadster was pretty uneventfully. Daring focused on the driving, while Junior and Old Timer playfully bickered about random, trivial matter. In fact, getting through the five layers of security clearances, strip searches, and interrogations took longer than the trip itself.
Once inside the actual facility, Daring and his men strolled the hallway leading to Professor Jones’s lab.
“You’d think at least one of them varmints would have the decency of at least greeting us,” muttered Old Timer. “We’re only here for their safety, after all.”
“Your ugly mug probably scared them all off,” remarked Junior.
“Is that so, huh? Is it?” shouted a flabbergasted Old Timer.
“Cool your heels, gents,” intervened Daring. “We’re here.” He knocked on the door once. No reply. “Professor Jones, it’s Rick Daring. I’m here in response to your letter.” Still nothing.
Daring tried the doorknob. It was unlocked. Opening the door revealed a mess of overturned bookshelves and notebooks littering the ground. On the far wall, against the windowpanes, was a large steel safe, opened, and lying next to it was the very still body of Professor Jones. Blood was pooling underneath it.
The door slammed shut behind Daring, cutting him off from his comrades. A tall man with a weasel smile had been hiding behind the door and was currently pointing a gun in his face. Daring eyed the beakers on the table behind him. A loud thud on the door, followed by shouts from Junior and Old Timer, distracted Daring’s attacker for a moment. In that moment, Daring grabbed the beaker and threw it at the attacker’s gun hand. The beaker shattered, and the glass cut into the man’s hand.
Daring leapt at the man even as the gun started falling to the ground. He swung his powerful fists, knocking his attacker off of his feet. But his attacker persisted, kicking out at Daring. He was soon on his feet again. This time, he grabbed a nearby stool and threw it at Daring. Daring dodged it, but the stool crashed into a set of breakers, spilling chemicals all over the room.
Daring raced across the room, but was too late in stopping the attacker from retrieving his gun. Daring’s hands latched onto the man’s wrists, and the attacker fired wildly. Sparks from the revolver landed on the chemicals, igniting them. Within seconds, the room was a full-blown inferno. Daring was determined that Jones’s murderer not get away, but a lucky blow from the assailant sent him back into the burning rumble as the attacker escaped through the window.
Outside, in the hallway, Old Timer and Junior struggled to break down the door, until a large explosion knocked them both off their feet, catapulting the door into the hallway after them.
Click Here to Go To The Next Chapter
Written by J M Emmons. The story and all characters are copyrighted by J M Emmons.
They entered the darkened remains of an office, ruined by some horrible fire. There, in the middle, where a desk used to be, was a hologram projector. The evil men checked their watches. A quarter till Midnight. Any moment now…
On cue, the hologram hummed to life; an apparition rising from it. They had never met this man, their master, in person. But his money was real, and that’s all that mattered to men such as these. They could not make out much of the fog-like figure except for a pair of eyes that bore into them like sharp knives.
“This world will burn, this I swear!” hissed their master. “Mankind has always survived through adversary, not complacency! While the pathetic men in power live off their status, I shall take what I want, and that is the world! Under my control, we shall not live with our neighbors; we shall conquer them!” The mysterious master paused, considering his two henchmen for the first time.
“Dekker! Ox!” he rasped. “For my plans to succeed, I need the device being designed by Professor Jones and his team. You will acquire the plans for me and eliminate the dear professor. Do you understand?”
“Perfectly, sir.”
Far away from the burnt out lab and the plotting villains was the Institute of the Brilliant 5, a shining example of modern architecture amid the busy skyline of Monument City. The building was one of many, spread out throughout the galaxy, used as impromptu facilities for the Brilliant 5, a team of 5 specialists known the world over. “Old Timer,” the living historian, had lived for over half a century and remembers ever minute of it, expect for his real name. Johnny Highpitch, amphibious alien and sonics expert, had remarkable hearing that can not only detect a pin dropping but could tell what type of pin it was and what height it was dropped from. Maximilian Sebastian Orwell Maddock AKA “Junior” may be young, but he was the top of his field in linguistics. Teresa Becker was the team’s technician and inventor. Marissa Tulvak, a alien with an insect-like exoskeleton, was the world’s leading authority in biology and the application of technology to living tissue.
Their unofficial leader was a man called Richard Darington, known to most as Rick Daring. Daring got his nickname while recklessly boarding a wrecked spaceship that crashed on the Earth and helping the injured aliens repair their ship. As a reward, the aliens took him with them to the outreaches of the Milky Way. There, he met the five intrepid geniuses and helped them form the Brilliant 5.
Daring was a tall man with broad shoulders. His face was long with a sloping brow and square jaw. His blonde hair was trimmed short. Even after leaving the military, he kept his body in peak physical shape. Daring never preferred to use guns, especially when his double-breasted suit had a number of hidden gadgets made by Teresa to his specifications.
On this particular morning, Daring had just received a message from an old colleague, Professor William Jones. He was sharing the contents of the message with the rest of his team.
“As you know, Professor Jones is working with a team of scientist on a top secret project for the government. A month ago, one of the five scientist, a Doctor Bryant, was killed in a lab accident that burned down the entire building.”
“There were some rumors that it wasn’t an accident,” stated Junior, combing back some of his unruly hair. “Not that there’s any solid evidence to back that supposition.”
“Don’t go on showing off yer fancy ten cent words,” remarked Old Timer, scratching at his grey beard. “Try using words ya know the meaning to.”
“Sure,” remarked Junior. “I’ll talk nice and slow so that you’ll understand me next time.” Old Timer scowled at this and was about to make a rebuttal, when he was interrupted.
“What exactly are they working on?” asked Teresa, attired in a modest three-piece suit. Its bright colors set off her naturally dark skin. “A death ray, perhaps?”
“How horrible!” exclaimed Marissa, holding her hand to her mouth. “Couldn’t they be working on a new electron smasher or a DNA replicator?”
“Unfortunately, we don’t have the clearance to know,” replied Daring. “But the good professor and his colleagues feel that their lives are in danger. That Doctor Bryant was just the beginning.”
“Why now?” asked Johnny Highpitch, sitting comfortably in his Victorian outfit.
“Apparently, over the last week, they swear that they’ve seen people following them, watching their every move.”
“Simple paranoia,” replied Junior. “They’ve been in their labs too long.”
“Rocket Scientists? Pisshaw!” muttered Old Timer. “Why, they ain’t no more than a bunch of babies, needing their hands held in the dark.”
“Nevertheless,” stated Daring. “He asked for our help, and given the sensitivity of their work, it wouldn’t hurt to check things out.” He looked at Junior and Old Timer. “Since the two of you are so keen on the idea, you two will accompany me on nice afternoon drive to his laboratory.”
Neither man said anything. They just crossed their arms and sulked a bit. The other three were relieved that they could go back to their work.
“If you need anything before you go, just call,” said Teresa before she left.
The trip in Daring’s open top roadster was pretty uneventfully. Daring focused on the driving, while Junior and Old Timer playfully bickered about random, trivial matter. In fact, getting through the five layers of security clearances, strip searches, and interrogations took longer than the trip itself.
Once inside the actual facility, Daring and his men strolled the hallway leading to Professor Jones’s lab.
“You’d think at least one of them varmints would have the decency of at least greeting us,” muttered Old Timer. “We’re only here for their safety, after all.”
“Your ugly mug probably scared them all off,” remarked Junior.
“Is that so, huh? Is it?” shouted a flabbergasted Old Timer.
“Cool your heels, gents,” intervened Daring. “We’re here.” He knocked on the door once. No reply. “Professor Jones, it’s Rick Daring. I’m here in response to your letter.” Still nothing.
Daring tried the doorknob. It was unlocked. Opening the door revealed a mess of overturned bookshelves and notebooks littering the ground. On the far wall, against the windowpanes, was a large steel safe, opened, and lying next to it was the very still body of Professor Jones. Blood was pooling underneath it.
The door slammed shut behind Daring, cutting him off from his comrades. A tall man with a weasel smile had been hiding behind the door and was currently pointing a gun in his face. Daring eyed the beakers on the table behind him. A loud thud on the door, followed by shouts from Junior and Old Timer, distracted Daring’s attacker for a moment. In that moment, Daring grabbed the beaker and threw it at the attacker’s gun hand. The beaker shattered, and the glass cut into the man’s hand.
Daring leapt at the man even as the gun started falling to the ground. He swung his powerful fists, knocking his attacker off of his feet. But his attacker persisted, kicking out at Daring. He was soon on his feet again. This time, he grabbed a nearby stool and threw it at Daring. Daring dodged it, but the stool crashed into a set of breakers, spilling chemicals all over the room.
Daring raced across the room, but was too late in stopping the attacker from retrieving his gun. Daring’s hands latched onto the man’s wrists, and the attacker fired wildly. Sparks from the revolver landed on the chemicals, igniting them. Within seconds, the room was a full-blown inferno. Daring was determined that Jones’s murderer not get away, but a lucky blow from the assailant sent him back into the burning rumble as the attacker escaped through the window.
Outside, in the hallway, Old Timer and Junior struggled to break down the door, until a large explosion knocked them both off their feet, catapulting the door into the hallway after them.
Click Here to Go To The Next Chapter
Written by J M Emmons. The story and all characters are copyrighted by J M Emmons.
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