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Excerpts
from Novel Chronicle of Angels and Men
– Publish Date 6.30.2011
Chapter
Seven, “Angels and Men” [Excerpt]
Bea was a maiden of perhaps seventeen or
eighteen, glorious in her beauty, and beautiful to look upon, with raven black
hair set in tremendous curls, skin as pure as olives, and a smile as sweeping
as a stream…or so the stories were told. She was the pride of her father,
the joy of her mother, and the bright, shining star of an otherwise nameless
town. And she was in love with an Other – a Half-Other, to be exact.
He was called Den (His given name was Draden), and he was a third generation
product of a Human and Other coupling. While it was rare for it to be
spoken of, such were certainly not uncommon pairings, whether for pleasure or
romance. Being heaven-born, our ancestors were, if nothing else,
beautiful. Were it not for their ignorance of the world and their
initially waning numbers (not all had survived the banishment), they could
certainly have ruled it.
Nonetheless, Den was an Other, and the clear result of an interracial mix. (As mentioned before, the Others themselves, until their expulsion, had no use or need of sex.) As it was then, such relationships, particularly on open display, were not only discouraged, they were shunned. And for a Human father to have his only, most beautiful daughter in pledged love to a creature who was discarded from heaven was, to him, beyond any reasonable concession.
It should be mentioned at this point that Den also was beautiful. His hair was sandy brown, medium length, with a three-quarter split. His body was well-built of strength and volume, and his face was dashing. On his eyes and skin…As it turned out, the mixing of Human and Other blood produced certain genetic irregularities, which were outside the typical spectrum of normal Human biology. For instance, his skin was white…not the pure white of his fallen ancestors (it had been some generations since that), but fair, like powder. Its luminous quality was easily recognizable as off. Also, were his eyes – they were a fantastic deep forest green, and when caught by the sun, they would glow a burning red. There were other differences but nothing that could have been easily identified by sight.
While they were in love or at least in that doting teenage definition of nighttime star gazing and evening elopements, it was less than a father who begat a girl of such stunning charm and unmatched allure wanted for his daughter. And so that evening, after learning the place and appointment of one such moonlight tryst, he forbade his daughter’s exit. Rather, he assembled a group of like-minded peoples, and together they made their way to the rendezvous point. The results went almost without saying. Den, a boy himself of not much more than eighteen or nineteen, fought back but was unable ultimately to resist his attackers. Though he knew of his father’s heritage, both his mother and father had agreed to raise him as Human. By all intents and purposes, Den was a Human child. Only those few features from his Other lineage gave evidence of his ancestry. He was not the beast his father would become upon learning of his only son’s brutal murder and desecration at the site of their romance. His father, likewise, was not the kind-hearted, cheek-turned spirit that was his son. He was, or would become, the very hell-destined reprobate that the Humans already saw him and his kind as, and he’d become it outright.
As legend would have it, Den’s father – called Gareni – discovered the bloodied, beaten, and largely unrecognizable body of his son when searching for him later that next night. The boy had not come home. It was said the scene was so gruesome, Gareni did not initially recognize his discovery as his son. In fact, it was only due to his son’s Otherly features that the thought even crossed his mind. And in the end, it was the luminous, powdered skin, now thickly stained in coagulated crimson, that brought the realization to life. Much of his hair was likewise stained – clumped together, and his eyes were missing.
Here was where the stories largely diverted depending on the Human or Other heritage of the teller. (There were, of course, other liberties taken in different retellings of the story, but in general the facts until now were all largely agreed upon by both sides.) Gareni was inconsolable. His son, his only son, had not only been deprived of love and life, but the condition in which his son’s body – or more accurately remains – had been discovered was beyond forgiveness. According to the Others, it was at this point Gareni chose to confront the Human father of his son’s beau. According to the Humans, this was only after he had killed his wife. (Both sides agree that his wife was murdered.) Nevertheless, Gareni’s distress was evident. He sought out Bea’s father – called Cassius – and met him openly. As the Human stories go, it was with little explanation that Gareni, a pillar of heartbreak and fury, caught Bea by her arm and tore her head from her shoulders there before her father. As the Others’ stories would go, there was a harsh confrontation before the beheading.
Gareni thundered into the town hall, where a Human assembly was in session and demanded the name of the beast who had slain his son and who had, as the Others told it, desecrated and mocked his death. (Other legend said his body had been found on a hillside cliff with the likeness of wings carved into his back and a halo etched around his forehead.) Cassius was unapologetic, claiming it was Den who had brought this upon himself by threatening his daughter and bringing shame to his family and the townspeople with this blatant violation of natural and Human law. (In truth, both Gareni and his wife’s union also stood in violation of Human law, a fact quite likely dismissed through their many years of communion and commitment to the township and because they had originally come together as outsiders.) The confrontation reached its boiling point and erupted into violence. Gareni and Cassius, both with indignant flames of love of their children, physically engaged one another. And it was only when Bea, the only clear voice of reason within the hall having been born of Human parents and loved of Other love, entered the contest that the stage was set for war.
As the stories go, Bea’s interference was an unexpected one as Gareni lunged at her father. And though it was never claimed to be an accident, his momentary insanity lent him to attacking the only one in this world both his son and his enemy held dear. According to the Humans, Gareni’s onslaught was preceded by a question. When Bea interrupted their struggle in protection of both her own and her dead lover’s fathers, Gareni stood back with eyes full of tears and rage and asked of her,
“—Why didn’t you go to him!…You knew of your father’s evil – why did you not go to him with warning of this plot!?” It was only after she gave no response that he wrenched her head from her body and flung it, black spiraled curls and all, across the concession hall.
I was prone to believe the Human account of this session. The Others had become a passionate people, where we should not have been. It was a Human ill we had learned in our foregone years of consorting and mimicry. Nevertheless, both sides conceded the beheading.
Nonetheless, Den was an Other, and the clear result of an interracial mix. (As mentioned before, the Others themselves, until their expulsion, had no use or need of sex.) As it was then, such relationships, particularly on open display, were not only discouraged, they were shunned. And for a Human father to have his only, most beautiful daughter in pledged love to a creature who was discarded from heaven was, to him, beyond any reasonable concession.
It should be mentioned at this point that Den also was beautiful. His hair was sandy brown, medium length, with a three-quarter split. His body was well-built of strength and volume, and his face was dashing. On his eyes and skin…As it turned out, the mixing of Human and Other blood produced certain genetic irregularities, which were outside the typical spectrum of normal Human biology. For instance, his skin was white…not the pure white of his fallen ancestors (it had been some generations since that), but fair, like powder. Its luminous quality was easily recognizable as off. Also, were his eyes – they were a fantastic deep forest green, and when caught by the sun, they would glow a burning red. There were other differences but nothing that could have been easily identified by sight.
While they were in love or at least in that doting teenage definition of nighttime star gazing and evening elopements, it was less than a father who begat a girl of such stunning charm and unmatched allure wanted for his daughter. And so that evening, after learning the place and appointment of one such moonlight tryst, he forbade his daughter’s exit. Rather, he assembled a group of like-minded peoples, and together they made their way to the rendezvous point. The results went almost without saying. Den, a boy himself of not much more than eighteen or nineteen, fought back but was unable ultimately to resist his attackers. Though he knew of his father’s heritage, both his mother and father had agreed to raise him as Human. By all intents and purposes, Den was a Human child. Only those few features from his Other lineage gave evidence of his ancestry. He was not the beast his father would become upon learning of his only son’s brutal murder and desecration at the site of their romance. His father, likewise, was not the kind-hearted, cheek-turned spirit that was his son. He was, or would become, the very hell-destined reprobate that the Humans already saw him and his kind as, and he’d become it outright.
As legend would have it, Den’s father – called Gareni – discovered the bloodied, beaten, and largely unrecognizable body of his son when searching for him later that next night. The boy had not come home. It was said the scene was so gruesome, Gareni did not initially recognize his discovery as his son. In fact, it was only due to his son’s Otherly features that the thought even crossed his mind. And in the end, it was the luminous, powdered skin, now thickly stained in coagulated crimson, that brought the realization to life. Much of his hair was likewise stained – clumped together, and his eyes were missing.
Here was where the stories largely diverted depending on the Human or Other heritage of the teller. (There were, of course, other liberties taken in different retellings of the story, but in general the facts until now were all largely agreed upon by both sides.) Gareni was inconsolable. His son, his only son, had not only been deprived of love and life, but the condition in which his son’s body – or more accurately remains – had been discovered was beyond forgiveness. According to the Others, it was at this point Gareni chose to confront the Human father of his son’s beau. According to the Humans, this was only after he had killed his wife. (Both sides agree that his wife was murdered.) Nevertheless, Gareni’s distress was evident. He sought out Bea’s father – called Cassius – and met him openly. As the Human stories go, it was with little explanation that Gareni, a pillar of heartbreak and fury, caught Bea by her arm and tore her head from her shoulders there before her father. As the Others’ stories would go, there was a harsh confrontation before the beheading.
Gareni thundered into the town hall, where a Human assembly was in session and demanded the name of the beast who had slain his son and who had, as the Others told it, desecrated and mocked his death. (Other legend said his body had been found on a hillside cliff with the likeness of wings carved into his back and a halo etched around his forehead.) Cassius was unapologetic, claiming it was Den who had brought this upon himself by threatening his daughter and bringing shame to his family and the townspeople with this blatant violation of natural and Human law. (In truth, both Gareni and his wife’s union also stood in violation of Human law, a fact quite likely dismissed through their many years of communion and commitment to the township and because they had originally come together as outsiders.) The confrontation reached its boiling point and erupted into violence. Gareni and Cassius, both with indignant flames of love of their children, physically engaged one another. And it was only when Bea, the only clear voice of reason within the hall having been born of Human parents and loved of Other love, entered the contest that the stage was set for war.
As the stories go, Bea’s interference was an unexpected one as Gareni lunged at her father. And though it was never claimed to be an accident, his momentary insanity lent him to attacking the only one in this world both his son and his enemy held dear. According to the Humans, Gareni’s onslaught was preceded by a question. When Bea interrupted their struggle in protection of both her own and her dead lover’s fathers, Gareni stood back with eyes full of tears and rage and asked of her,
“—Why didn’t you go to him!…You knew of your father’s evil – why did you not go to him with warning of this plot!?” It was only after she gave no response that he wrenched her head from her body and flung it, black spiraled curls and all, across the concession hall.
I was prone to believe the Human account of this session. The Others had become a passionate people, where we should not have been. It was a Human ill we had learned in our foregone years of consorting and mimicry. Nevertheless, both sides conceded the beheading.
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A writing test for the EA Partners title Outernauts is provided below.
A writing test for the EA Partners title Outernauts is provided below.
(Character, Description, Voice, and Assignment (Quest Title, Quest Hint, and Quest Description) were provided.) Sample Dialog is highlighted in italicized, blue text.
Character: "THE MAJOR"
Description
Even though we're on the far reaches of space, "The Major" is an anachronistic throwback to 19th
Century British explorers.
Voice
He's all "Eh what?" and "Tally ho!". Sample line: "Hail, Outernaut! I'm off to Rogues Peak. Aptly
named, I daresay, for it's been infested by pirates! I shall fight these rapscallions with tooth and claw!"
Assignment 1
Rewrite the quest descriptions in the Major's voice.
Quest Title "Punking Pirates"
Quest Hint Defeat three pirates on The Major's home planet.
Quest Description The pirates are raiding my home. Help me fight them off.
Sample Dialog [written by Shari Bryant]
Egad! Pirates have invaded my home! Those uncouth vermin are crawling all over the place,
and I need your help to get them sorted! Believe you me, they shall rue the day they tangled with
The Major and…eh, goodness me, what's your name again? Oh, never mind that, man! Just help me to vanquish them!
Assignment 2
Rewrite the quest descriptions in the Major's voice.
Quest Title "The Life Aquatic"
Quest Hint Defeat the two pirates on Aqualos.
Quest Description Two pirates are attacking the Aqualos Planet. Defeat them.
Sample Dialog [written by Shari Bryant]
Now I'm quite read on interplanetary diplomacy, and clearly the only language uncivilized
riffraff such as this responds to is a good thrashing!
Once more I need your help! Those scaley blokes are gallivanting about, disturbing all the peace
and calm of Aqualos -- Only you can stop them! Have at it, and let's send those bloody scallies
crying home to their mums!
Character: "DICE"
Description
"Dice" thinks he's the best beast tamer in the galaxy, and he spends his life trying to prove it to himself
and everyone else. He's aggressive, combative, and prone to put-downs.
Voice
Sample line: "You've done alright so far, now it's time for a lesson in humility! You'll be schooled by
yours truly. Get ready to rumble, it's just me and you."
Assignment 3
Rewrite the quest descriptions in Dice's voice, as if he's challenging you. Throw in taunts.
Quest Title "Legend My Butt"
Quest Hint Dice is waiting for you in Blister Canyon
Quest Description Dice has come to Blister Canyon to challenge you. Beat Dice with the beast of
legend pet in your party.
Sample Dialog [written by Shari Bryant]
Seriously, dude? You wanna challenge me? Flattered, but I'm waaay outta yer league. Do you
like being humiliated? Because you're about to get your pants handed to ya.
You think I'd let a scrawny neophyte like you cramp my style? Have you seen this hair? I don't
even use gel!
Well, fine. Someone's obviously lookin' to pad his resume by flashing my name around, so let's do
this. Be warned though, if yer fightin' skills are anything like your hygiene, this canyon won't be
the only thing nursin' blisters!
Assignment 4
Rewrite the quest descriptions in Dice's voice, as if he's challenging you. Throw in taunts.
Quest Description Dice is impressed. He wants you to show off your skills to your friends. Defeat
three friends in duels using your legendary beast pet.
Sample Dialog [written by Shari Bryant]
Tell ya what. Why don'cha show me what ya can really do? You got friends who are <duelers>,
right? Well, how 'bout showing them whose boss by beating 'em and takin' their <Duel Creds>!
Win? Well, of course you gotta win! Hmm, let's say about three. Yeah, show me proof of three
successful matches with your friends, and we'll talk. Bring me their <Duel Creds>.
So whaddya say, hot shot? With your skills it shouldn't be too tough, right? Like takin' candy
from anyone but me!
Well, what're ya waitin' here for, champ? Get goin'!
-----------------------------------------
Character: "THE MAJOR"
Description
Even though we're on the far reaches of space, "The Major" is an anachronistic throwback to 19th
Century British explorers.
Voice
He's all "Eh what?" and "Tally ho!". Sample line: "Hail, Outernaut! I'm off to Rogues Peak. Aptly
named, I daresay, for it's been infested by pirates! I shall fight these rapscallions with tooth and claw!"
Assignment 1
Rewrite the quest descriptions in the Major's voice.
Quest Title "Punking Pirates"
Quest Hint Defeat three pirates on The Major's home planet.
Quest Description The pirates are raiding my home. Help me fight them off.
Egad! Pirates have invaded my home! Those uncouth vermin are crawling all over the place,
and I need your help to get them sorted! Believe you me, they shall rue the day they tangled with
The Major and…eh, goodness me, what's your name again? Oh, never mind that, man! Just help me to vanquish them!
Assignment 2
Rewrite the quest descriptions in the Major's voice.
Quest Title "The Life Aquatic"
Quest Hint Defeat the two pirates on Aqualos.
Quest Description Two pirates are attacking the Aqualos Planet. Defeat them.
By the crown, those pirate nasties are at it again! I pop out for a moment, and they're back
causing havoc over all of Aqualos. It's madness, I tell you!
Now I'm quite read on interplanetary diplomacy, and clearly the only language uncivilized
riffraff such as this responds to is a good thrashing!
Once more I need your help! Those scaley blokes are gallivanting about, disturbing all the peace
and calm of Aqualos -- Only you can stop them! Have at it, and let's send those bloody scallies
crying home to their mums!
Character: "DICE"
Description
"Dice" thinks he's the best beast tamer in the galaxy, and he spends his life trying to prove it to himself
and everyone else. He's aggressive, combative, and prone to put-downs.
Voice
Sample line: "You've done alright so far, now it's time for a lesson in humility! You'll be schooled by
yours truly. Get ready to rumble, it's just me and you."
Assignment 3
Rewrite the quest descriptions in Dice's voice, as if he's challenging you. Throw in taunts.
Quest Title "Legend My Butt"
Quest Hint Dice is waiting for you in Blister Canyon
Quest Description Dice has come to Blister Canyon to challenge you. Beat Dice with the beast of
legend pet in your party.
Sample Dialog [written by Shari Bryant]
Seriously, dude? You wanna challenge me? Flattered, but I'm waaay outta yer league. Do you
like being humiliated? Because you're about to get your pants handed to ya.
You think I'd let a scrawny neophyte like you cramp my style? Have you seen this hair? I don't
even use gel!
Well, fine. Someone's obviously lookin' to pad his resume by flashing my name around, so let's do
this. Be warned though, if yer fightin' skills are anything like your hygiene, this canyon won't be
the only thing nursin' blisters!
Assignment 4
Rewrite the quest descriptions in Dice's voice, as if he's challenging you. Throw in taunts.
Quest Title "Showing Off"
Quest Hint Beat 3 friends in duels with the beast of legend in your party. Quest Description Dice is impressed. He wants you to show off your skills to your friends. Defeat
three friends in duels using your legendary beast pet.
Hmmph! Not bad... Ehh, you might have what it takes to roll with me. I let you win, just so you
know, so don’t get all cocky yet. You still gotta ways to go if ya wanna throw down on my level.
Tell ya what. Why don'cha show me what ya can really do? You got friends who are <duelers>,
right? Well, how 'bout showing them whose boss by beating 'em and takin' their <Duel Creds>!
Win? Well, of course you gotta win! Hmm, let's say about three. Yeah, show me proof of three
successful matches with your friends, and we'll talk. Bring me their <Duel Creds>.
So whaddya say, hot shot? With your skills it shouldn't be too tough, right? Like takin' candy
from anyone but me!
Well, what're ya waitin' here for, champ? Get goin'!
-----------------------------------------
Adapted
Excerpt from Novel Chronicle of Angels
and Men – Publish Date 6.30.2011
EXT. BELOW WORLD – CITY OF NAYRETH – EARLY EVENING
Nayreth is a city in the
Below World and where the king resides. During the day, the city is often
bustling with activity, as people greet one another and tend to their homes and
small businesses. To Humans, the city might have a historical feel. There are
no towering skyscrapers, and homes are modest, often more colonial in style.
The largest structure is the
palace of the king, which rests at the north end of the city on the edge of a
stunning underground lake. The area surrounding the lake itself has been encapsuled
by the massive tree roots pushing through from the soil above and forming a
sort of lovely enclosure. While Nayreth is easily as large as Augusta City in
expanse, it is in no way comparable to Augusta’s complexity.
INT. NAYRETH PALACE – ARAMEUS’ CHAMBERS – EARLY
EVENING
Having finished his meeting
with Kouna, MATSU returns from the Above World to bring the news to ARAMEUS.
Arameus is reclined, with a nearby attendant seeing to his condition.
As Matsu enters, Arameus
turns and attempts to sit himself up. Arameus looks visibly weary from the
effort.
ARAMEUS
Ma-… Matsu…
MATSU
(bowing)
My liege…
ARAMEUS
How did it…go…?
MATSU
(approaching)
Not well…
ARAMEUS
No…?
MATSU
(visibly sneering)
He
is sending the supplies, but… he refuses to deal
with any but you again. He refused me outright today.
with any but you again. He refused me outright today.
ARAMEUS
Well…
I suppose we’ve little choice… but to deal
with him on his terms…
with him on his terms…
MATSU
I
struggled at every moment not to tear his throat
from his neck.
from his neck.
ARAMEUS
–Matsu…
MATSU
I
am sorry, Sire, but he is a devious man, this
Kouna. I do not trust him.
ARAMEUS
You don't trust anyone - least of all Humans.
MATSU (V.O.)
I could not contest it.
Kouna. I do not trust him.
ARAMEUS
You don't trust anyone - least of all Humans.
MATSU (V.O.)
I could not contest it.
The attendant finishes
rewrapping Arameus’ arm. Arameus is visibly in discomfort, catching and holding
his breath with each movement, as he shifts slightly.
Matsu notices the pained
expression in Arameus’ face, and Matsu too grits his teeth alongside each
wince.
MATSU
You don’t look well. You should get your rest.
ARAMEUS
I
have… been resting. The plague is indiscriminate,
friend. It attacks whether weak or rested.
friend. It attacks whether weak or rested.
MATSU
(catches
Arameus by the arm, helping to
reposition him)
reposition him)
It
discriminates greatly. It cripples only Others
and leaves Humans in peace. That’s a fine definition
of bigotry, I would say.
and leaves Humans in peace. That’s a fine definition
of bigotry, I would say.
ARAMEUS
Of your logic, I once again can’t disagree…
MATSU (V.O.)
The
plague had struck us without warning.
HISTORY OF THE PLAGUE
MONTAGE
EXT. BELOW WORLD – VILLAGE – 30 YEARS AGO
INTERTITLE: NAYRETH, 30
YEARS AGO
Flashback to 30 years prior.
The setting is similar to a Colonial America. The Below World consists of
several townships and a handful of villages. In an Other village, people are
going about their daily lives – tending to fields, walking with their families
through the town square, etc.
MATSU (V.O.)
As
a people, we prided ourselves in our
self-sufficiency, but in this we were wholly
without response. Sickness was not a trouble
we’d dealt with in our former lives, even on
the simplest of levels. And to our despair,
this was far from a simple ill.
self-sufficiency, but in this we were wholly
without response. Sickness was not a trouble
we’d dealt with in our former lives, even on
the simplest of levels. And to our despair,
this was far from a simple ill.
-One by one, people
COLLAPSE, falling sick from the plague.
-The affected populous is
small at first but grows steadily.
The affliction manifests
itself initially with open sores, but these soon fade as the victim’s limbs
become stiff and paralyzed, appearing to dry up.
-All the beds in the LOCAL
SANATORIUM are filled, with new patients entering daily.
MATSU (V.O.)
The
plague was devastating, crippling our
organs, one by one, robbing us of use of
our limbs, and eventually killing us. It
was not a discreet assassin, and we had no
evidence as to its cause beyond a few very
thin working hypotheses.
As it was, the plague had not struck every
one of us, though probably a good thirty
percent or so had been affected. I was of
the other seventy.
organs, one by one, robbing us of use of
our limbs, and eventually killing us. It
was not a discreet assassin, and we had no
evidence as to its cause beyond a few very
thin working hypotheses.
As it was, the plague had not struck every
one of us, though probably a good thirty
percent or so had been affected. I was of
the other seventy.
-Matsu ENTERS the NAYRETH
PALACE LIBRARY to find Arameus COLLAPSED, seemingly a victim of the plague.
-Matsu RUSHES over to
Arameus and CALLS out for help.
MATSU (V.O.)
Arameus
had been hit particularly hard with
the illness, losing his left hand at the
wrist, and his right arm at the shoulder.
It was at this point that we were advised
into dealings with a Human benefactor by
the name of Hiroyuki Kouna.
the illness, losing his left hand at the
wrist, and his right arm at the shoulder.
It was at this point that we were advised
into dealings with a Human benefactor by
the name of Hiroyuki Kouna.
INT. ABOVE WORLD – OFFICES OF KOUNA HEAVY
INDUSTRIES – NIGHT
-Arameus and Matsu WAIT in a
darkly-lit room.
-Hiroyuki Kouna ENTERS. He
comes alone but carries a BRIEFCASE bearing details of his business and
available offices.
MATSU (V.O.)
His
arms were far-reaching in the Above
World, and he was sympathetic to our plight.
He opened to us his offices of construct,
commissioning prosthetic limbs by way of his
metal and mechanica businesses in order to
replace the crippled or discarded ones taken
by the plague.
World, and he was sympathetic to our plight.
He opened to us his offices of construct,
commissioning prosthetic limbs by way of his
metal and mechanica businesses in order to
replace the crippled or discarded ones taken
by the plague.
WEEKS LATER
-Arameus and Matsu meet with
Kouna again. As they enter the dimly-lit room, they find Kouna standing in
wait.
-Beside Kouna are four large
METAL CASES sitting on the floor, presumably containing experimental CURATIVE
AGENTS.
-The CURATIVE AGENTS are
successful is repressing some of the more painful qualities of the plague, but
they cannot cure the condition.
MATSU (V.O.)
He
was, quite honestly and to our people,
a Godsend.
a Godsend.
MANY WEEKS LATER
-Arameus and Matsu again
meet with Kouna.
-Kouna eagerly DISCUSSES
more of the details on their agreement and exchange.
-Also in attendance is a
colleague of Kouna’s, who shows off some of the MECHANICA LIMBS to
Arameus.
-Matsu takes custody of more
CASES of the CURATIVE AGENTS.
MATSU (V.O.)
At
first, he requested very little in
return, only information – knowledge of
our history and culture, our ancestry
before us, the Angels and their story. His
curiosity was endless. Rumor had it he had
even taken an Other mistress. Nevertheless,
it seemed harmless and a small price to pay
for salvation. However, the time came when
he requested of us something more.
return, only information – knowledge of
our history and culture, our ancestry
before us, the Angels and their story. His
curiosity was endless. Rumor had it he had
even taken an Other mistress. Nevertheless,
it seemed harmless and a small price to pay
for salvation. However, the time came when
he requested of us something more.
SEVERAL MONTHS LATER
-As Kouna comes to meet with
Arameus and Matsu this time, Kouna brings with him four associates.
-The two dressed in suits
are business aides, each carrying two METAL CANISTERS with the CURING AGENTS.
-The other two are research
scientists, dressed accordingly, and each carrying a BRIEFCASE with research
MATERIALS and TOOLS.
MATSU (V.O.)
Hiroyuki
was an ambitious man, kind to our
people, but he craved power – supernatural
power. It was, in my opinion, something a
man as resourceful as he should never have
been allowed. But with his people suffering,
Arameus could not stand idly by and commit
to their demise. We were his new bride,
after all.
people, but he craved power – supernatural
power. It was, in my opinion, something a
man as resourceful as he should never have
been allowed. But with his people suffering,
Arameus could not stand idly by and commit
to their demise. We were his new bride,
after all.
LATER THAT NIGHT
-Kouna’s associates TAKE
NOTES and RUN PHYSICALS on Arameus and Matsu.
MATSU (V.O.)
But
this man, Kouna, was a tinkerer. He
spoke so much of life and his interest in
its very nature – what defined it, what
defined death, what constituted sentient
thought, how life was built – answers
which escaped us now, but were theoretically
all locked within the genetic codes of our
Angel heritage. For any other man, I would
have thought his inquiries only the
philosophical musings of a starstruck
student. But for this man, it seemed
something more.
spoke so much of life and his interest in
its very nature – what defined it, what
defined death, what constituted sentient
thought, how life was built – answers
which escaped us now, but were theoretically
all locked within the genetic codes of our
Angel heritage. For any other man, I would
have thought his inquiries only the
philosophical musings of a starstruck
student. But for this man, it seemed
something more.
-One of the research
scientists produces a SYRINGE in the hopes of taking a BLOOD SAMPLE.
-Matsu and Arameus are
immediately skeptical but eventually COMPLY.
MATSU (V.O.)
And
there came a time that he asked for a
sampling of our blood – both plagued and
healthy – he said to commit some resources
toward devising a proper vaccine. While we
had no reason to doubt him – Kouna Heavy
Industries did have a division of good
repute devoted solely to medical research –
the request struck as odd. Arameus and I
were prime candidates and so we complied,
despite our suspicion of it all.
sampling of our blood – both plagued and
healthy – he said to commit some resources
toward devising a proper vaccine. While we
had no reason to doubt him – Kouna Heavy
Industries did have a division of good
repute devoted solely to medical research –
the request struck as odd. Arameus and I
were prime candidates and so we complied,
despite our suspicion of it all.
-The researchers TAKE BLOOD
SAMPLES, carefully placing each VIAL into a PADDED CASE as they complete the
procedure.
DAYS LATER
-Arameus and Matsu meet once
more with Kouna.
-Kouna has again brought his
researchers and aides in tow.
MATSU (V.O.)
However, it was only after he begged
disclosure of the location of the Angel
colony, information it had been agreed
generations past would be kept in confidence
despite the separation of our peoples,
that we offered our first resistance toward him.
disclosure of the location of the Angel
colony, information it had been agreed
generations past would be kept in confidence
despite the separation of our peoples,
that we offered our first resistance toward him.
-Arameus REFUSES to give up
the location of the Above World ANGEL COLONY.
-Kouna looks ENRAGED and
THREATENS to end their contract and cease aid.
MATSU
(V.O.)
Kouna
threatened to withhold from us his
structured relief and aids.
structured relief and aids.
-Arameus STANDS FIRM in his
refusal.
MATSU
(V.O.)
But
Arameus, caught between a centuries-old
pact and love of his people, chose to trust
his ancestry and called his bluff. It was
not a bluff.
pact and love of his people, chose to trust
his ancestry and called his bluff. It was
not a bluff.
-We end on Kouna’s men
closing up the CANISTERS containing of the CURATIVE AGENTS and taking them
away.
END MONTAGE
Excerpt from blog Hypothetical
Particle and other strange matter – Post Date 06.20.2012
The speed of now
Social media is an
incredible tool, connecting us instantly to our favorite celebrities, job
recruiters, high school sweethearts, and complete and total strangers. I'm
sure I missed a few in there, but suffice it to say, with the pervasiveness
of social media outlets like Facebook, Twitter, tumblr, etc., now more than
ever the internet can create or destroy more quickly than ever
before. But social media can also be an incredible source of misinformation.
And with the speed at which the internet moves, it can be difficult to sift
through all the hoaxes and lies swimming about, and even more difficult if
your goal is to correct them.
Take for instance, the case of Spike Lee retweeting the address he believed to be of one Mr. George Zimmerman earlier this year, except...it was the wrong address. Never mind the inherently insidious and retaliatory nature of tweeting anybody's home address to some quarter million followers (essentially, the world) and then having others retweet the wrong address, but correcting these mistakes or bits of misinformation is now often nigh-impossible once they've been immortalized on the internet. |
Of
course, this is not to blame the internet itself. The internet is just the
mechanism by which we communicate ubiquitously nowadays. Forget waiting until
6pm or 11pm for your local newscast -- get all those details now with click of
a button (or the flick of a finger for all you tablet-users). Better yet, become the source
yourself, and send in tips and pictures and iReports to the news agencies.
That's the information-sharing of today. For old fogies like me who can
actually still remember the first time she went online with this new fangled-y
service called America On-Line, it sometimes takes some adjusting.
After all, there is power in this sword we wield, and the internet is often a force for good -- where people can find a cause worth fighting for or make one of their own. A place where like-minded individuals sync up, form grassroots efforts, and embark on selfless conquests for the betterment of society... or for money. Whatever. There are many amazing stories no one perhaps would ever have heard of were it not for the magic of the Interwebs, some consequential to our world at large, some less so – like the story of the ten year-old girl who was bullied for taking a Star Wars lunchbox to school and the incredible outpouring of support that came roaring in from people around the world.
But when the internet is against you, it can seem like an unstoppable force.
Consider the case of the Kickstarter project of Anita Sarkeesian, a self-described "feminist pop culture media critic," who was recently the target of one such internet slash-and-burn campaign all from proposing to create a Tropes vs. Women in Video Games project. For any fans of gaming, you've likely noticed certain characteristics that seem to regularly be ascribed to female characters. Whether it's the damsel-in-distress, or the femme fatale, or the sexy window-dressing, many of these images are so prevalent in gaming that they've become stereotypes, i.e., "tropes," within the medium. Ms. Sarkeesian's project sought to shine a light on these recurrent character types and examine the impact these portrayals of female characters had on our culture and society as a whole. Sounds like a daunting, albeit worthwhile endeavor, right? Well, not to everybody.
For proposing her project, Ms. Sarkeesian came face-to-face with the ire of the internet hate machine, which succeeded in covering her blog and YouTube page with vial, hate-filled commentary, viciously vandalizing her Wikipedia page, and attempting to shut down her project. The goal was to silence her before she'd even spoken, and this is unfortunately the worst of the internet – where the language of shorthand and inbred memes is readily employed to denigrate and intimidate. The internet gives a voice to heroes and villains alike.
Thankfully, an even greater internet force threw its support behind the Tropes vs. Women In Games kickstarter, and Sarkeesian was able to raise funding for her project which far exceeded her original ask. So good won out this time it seems. This, of course, doesn't silence the trolls who began the campaign against the project in the first place, but perhaps it does identify who is truly the vocal minority. But it's both the benefit and the consequence of the 24/7 world we live in. It's technology with power to create, destroy, divide, unite, intimidate, or reward – all at the speed of now.
After all, there is power in this sword we wield, and the internet is often a force for good -- where people can find a cause worth fighting for or make one of their own. A place where like-minded individuals sync up, form grassroots efforts, and embark on selfless conquests for the betterment of society... or for money. Whatever. There are many amazing stories no one perhaps would ever have heard of were it not for the magic of the Interwebs, some consequential to our world at large, some less so – like the story of the ten year-old girl who was bullied for taking a Star Wars lunchbox to school and the incredible outpouring of support that came roaring in from people around the world.
But when the internet is against you, it can seem like an unstoppable force.
Consider the case of the Kickstarter project of Anita Sarkeesian, a self-described "feminist pop culture media critic," who was recently the target of one such internet slash-and-burn campaign all from proposing to create a Tropes vs. Women in Video Games project. For any fans of gaming, you've likely noticed certain characteristics that seem to regularly be ascribed to female characters. Whether it's the damsel-in-distress, or the femme fatale, or the sexy window-dressing, many of these images are so prevalent in gaming that they've become stereotypes, i.e., "tropes," within the medium. Ms. Sarkeesian's project sought to shine a light on these recurrent character types and examine the impact these portrayals of female characters had on our culture and society as a whole. Sounds like a daunting, albeit worthwhile endeavor, right? Well, not to everybody.
For proposing her project, Ms. Sarkeesian came face-to-face with the ire of the internet hate machine, which succeeded in covering her blog and YouTube page with vial, hate-filled commentary, viciously vandalizing her Wikipedia page, and attempting to shut down her project. The goal was to silence her before she'd even spoken, and this is unfortunately the worst of the internet – where the language of shorthand and inbred memes is readily employed to denigrate and intimidate. The internet gives a voice to heroes and villains alike.
Thankfully, an even greater internet force threw its support behind the Tropes vs. Women In Games kickstarter, and Sarkeesian was able to raise funding for her project which far exceeded her original ask. So good won out this time it seems. This, of course, doesn't silence the trolls who began the campaign against the project in the first place, but perhaps it does identify who is truly the vocal minority. But it's both the benefit and the consequence of the 24/7 world we live in. It's technology with power to create, destroy, divide, unite, intimidate, or reward – all at the speed of now.
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