This week's prompt is brought to you by Robbie Williams... bodies

Hmmm, have to give this one some thought! Good choice TJ

Originally posted by KT1972 Hmmm, have to give this one some thought! Good choice TJ

I was listening to the song, which gave a number of different 'interpretations' for the word, and figured this would be great for the prompt!

Hmmm....bodies of water. Heavenly bodies. Dead bodies... Why is my 'muse,' thinking the latter? Good choice TJ!

Oh, this should be challenging. Thank you, TJ!

Originally posted by k2p2 Hmmm....bodies of water. Heavenly bodies. Dead bodies... Why is my 'muse,' thinking the latter? Good choice TJ!

Or naked bodies... But I can see my muse going:

I'm already looking forward to what comes out of this!

I'll bet... as close as you can get to putting smut, without actually putting smut eh!!

[unrecoverable text]

Ah, a killing machine... like Joe gone to the dark side... perhaps one of the first Blackbirds, or even the most promising Blackbird...

Originally posted by Transmute Jun Ah, a killing machine... like Joe gone to the dark side... perhaps one of the first Blackbirds, or even the most promising Blackbird...

4 and 20 Blackbirds ... (yeesh for an off the cuff comment I had to go look up the right number of blackbirds ...)

This Raven is interesting, Chris. The question is, whose side is he on?

[unrecoverable text]

Poor Joe, denied the ability to find peace with the others.

Ooo...nice prompt! Gotta read some of these posts now!!

Chris, that is a perfect out-take from Raven's story. I could easily see it as both a stand-alone story as it is or blended into the story itself. TJ, that was powerful and an interesting look at the final outcome. I've only read a few stories where Joe is the sole survivor (though it does make sense).

Originally posted by amethyst Chris, that is a perfect out-take from Raven's story. I could easily see it as both a stand-alone story as it is or blended into the story itself.

I'm considering adding it to the Raven origin story somewhere. Or, on the flip side, keeping it as a little vignette and calling it "Raven: The Musical." Hehe.

Poor Joe. I wouldn't want to be the sole survivor, either. Poignant, TJ..

Intriguing!

Originally posted by Becky Rock This Raven is interesting, Chris. The question is, whose side is he on?

I'm thinking that might hinge on knowing who the "Master" is here. If it isn't Katse or Sosai X, then I could see him being someone with an agenda of his own, and not one that's in synch with Galactor's!

TJ, that's very powerful, as it's so very plausible that he, the cyborg, would survive when the others didn't. And so ironic too, as he was long the one who seemed marked for death. No one wants to die, but now I'm thinking that it could be better than being the only one left alive of such a closely-bonded group of fighters who'd been together for so many years and endured so much together.

Oops, double post.

Originally posted by lborgia88 Intriguing! I'm thinking that might hinge on knowing who the "Master" is here. If it isn't Katse or Sosai X, then I could see him being someone with an agenda of his own, and not one that's in synch with Galactor's!

Very much enjoying the speculation.

Wow- Chris, Raven definitely sounds like a killing machine, and I am also wondering whose side he is on...I'd hate to meet him in a dark alley! And TJ...*sniff* that was so sad and so powerful...poor Joe seems destined to be alone...it's like a curse. If this was the true ending of Gatchaman, my heart would be broken!

Originally posted by ChrisW Have to open mine with a warning. This is dark and violent.

You ain't kiddin'. Dark, but to the point...quite a change from last week's story-well done. Will have to find the rest of this story to read. I am sorry, but when I read this...

Grinning, he faced armored women in pastels.

I couldn't help but think of Morticia's line from the Addam's family movies, I think it was the second one....Pastels? Really? Well done Chris, looking forward to the rest of this.

TJ-very sad. Although I don't want to believe that is how the series ends. ... Poor Joe, left alone in a world where he can find no beauty or rest.....nicely written POV.

Originally posted by ChrisW 4 and 20 Blackbirds ... (yeesh for an off the cuff comment I had to go look up the right number of blackbirds ...)

4 and 20 Blackbirds Another excellent prompt idea!

out comes the pokey stick K2,

Chris, I'm not sure if your character Raven is intensely fierce, or fiercely intense!! Still wouldn't want to be on the wrong side of him. TJ - oh poor poor Joe, I really pity the situation he's been left in. Not easy being the sole survivor after a lifetime of companionship.

Originally posted by lborgia88 TJ, that's very powerful, as it's so very plausible that he, the cyborg, would survive when the others didn't. And so ironic too, as he was long the one who seemed marked for death. No one wants to die, but now I'm thinking that it could be better than being the only one left alive of such a closely-bonded group of fighters who'd been together for so many years and endured so much together.

That's pretty much how I was thinking when I wrote this. My first idea was of bodies in a cemetery, with one survivor. I had been thinking about Ken, but then it occurred to me (as you said) that in that 'final battle' if anyone physically would have survived, it would have been Joe. In Gatch II they actually do show him dipping his hand into molten lava and being completely unaffected. Joe is also a loner, and in this sense, he is now the ultimate loner. And you're right, he has been so prepared to die... but completely unprepared to live.

Originally posted by KT1972 out comes the pokey stick K2,

Lol..I managed to get the outline done for this week's prompt...and I'm afraid to suggest another prompt since it does terrible things to my muse... You do it.

I haven't decided my prompt yet!

[unrecoverable text]

Oooo...a Joe and Lucy bit...interesting that Lucy was intent on pushing the other driver into the wall...wonder why? I have an idea for this prompt...but I can hardly type on this stupid laptop of mine...the cursor keeps moving around and messing me up!

TJ -- sniff...a really touching piece! Poor Joe! Ame -- is this based on the Gatch episode on which BoTP "Race against disaster" was based? I can just see Joe wondering what had happened! Chris -- somehow, somehow, the image that came to me while reading about Raven was of Luke Skywalker and the Emperor. I'd like to read more about this character!

Springie, the same thing happens to me with my new laptop. I had to get a mouse and shut off the touchpad. Daniella, that is a bit of a prequel to that episode. They are much younger in this.

Originally posted by amethyst Okay, here's mine: End over end they flipped and twisted. Joe watched in awe through the rear view mirror as the bodies landed in a twisted mass of metal.

When I first read this, I thought that perhaps it was a team workout or something...I didn't get right away that vehicles were involved...just a few more details would put it to rights though. For a rough it is almost pristine. Hats off to you.

Thanks, again, K2. I'll remember this when I do my revisions for this. I kept wanting to change "they" as I wrote and typed, but couldn't figure out exactly how I wanted to change it, so I left it.

Hmmm... if Lucy is 'untouched' and getting out of the car, is she a robot already? Just wondering...

Originally posted by k2p2 You ain't kiddin'. Dark, but to the point...quite a change from last week's story-well done. Will have to find the rest of this story to read. I am sorry, but when I read this...

Grinning, he faced armored women in pastels.

I couldn't help but think of Morticia's line from the Addam's family movies, I think it was the second one....Pastels? Really? Well done Chris, looking forward to the rest of this.

None of this story is up yet. Debating whether I should post the Raven origin story first once it's out of 2nd beta, or wait until the prequel (including last week's piece) is also through beta and revisions. The completionist in me likes to do things in chronological order. The pastel armor is a tweak at the Devil Stars.

Originally posted by k2p2 4 and 20 Blackbirds Another excellent prompt idea!

LOL now that would be fun ...

Originally posted by KT1972 Chris, I'm not sure if your character Raven is intensely fierce, or fiercely intense!! Still wouldn't want to be on the wrong side of him.

Maybe a little of both.

Originally posted by Transmute Jun That's pretty much how I was thinking when I wrote this. My first idea was of bodies in a cemetery, with one survivor. I had been thinking about Ken, but then it occurred to me (as you said) that in that 'final battle' if anyone physically would have survived, it would have been Joe. In Gatch II they actually do show him dipping his hand into molten lava and being completely unaffected.

I think if anyone was going to die in that final moment, it would be Ken. He's exhausted and weakened physically and emotionally. If there was any chance that burning a bit more energy would save even one of the others, he'd do it, even if it meant he wasn't coming home. At that point I'm not sure he even wants to live. He's hit a point where he's as suicidal as Joe. I have a bad feeling/image of Joe sitting there just waiting to die. He'd need a new purpose, another reason to keep going. Thought provoking stuff, TJ.

Amethyst: I like the range of emotions you get here. Seeing one of those crashes in person has to be intense, and seeing it while on the track really has to be something else! And Lucy's reaction explains why she's someone Joe would enjoy racing with/against.

Originally posted by Daniella T Chris -- somehow, somehow, the image that came to me while reading about Raven was of Luke Skywalker and the Emperor. I'd like to read more about this character!

Now there's an image ... I will say that Raven comes out of there with both his hands!

[unrecoverable text]

Originally posted by ChrisW

Originally posted by Transmute Jun That's pretty much how I was thinking when I wrote this. My first idea was of bodies in a cemetery, with one survivor. I had been thinking about Ken, but then it occurred to me (as you said) that in that 'final battle' if anyone physically would have survived, it would have been Joe. In Gatch II they actually do show him dipping his hand into molten lava and being completely unaffected.

I think if anyone was going to die in that final moment, it would be Ken. He's exhausted and weakened physically and emotionally. If there was any chance that burning a bit more energy would save even one of the others, he'd do it, even if it meant he wasn't coming home. At that point I'm not sure he even wants to live. He's hit a point where he's as suicidal as Joe. I have a bad feeling/image of Joe sitting there just waiting to die. He'd need a new purpose, another reason to keep going. Thought provoking stuff, TJ.

I thought Joe was still having energy problems at the end of Gatch F. He might just decide not to recharge and let nature (or is it mechanics) take its course.

I like your interpretation of the prompt, Ame. A short racing fic is always welcome.

Springie, I suspect Mark is going to have some 'splainin' to do, even if he was play-acting. So you went for warm bodies...

Originally posted by Springie I forgot...I was complaining to TJ about my stupid laptop...and she suggested I hook up my old keyboard to it. Voila! It worked and I am so happy to be able to type normally again!!! (Thanks, TJ!) Here's my little blurb for this prompt- be gentle...I am very rusty in the writing department!

Didn't come off as rusty at all!!! Poor Tiny, good little jab on Jason's part. And poor Jun. I picture a determined floozie shopping trip in her future!

Originally posted by Becky Rock I thought Joe was still having energy problems at the end of Gatch F. He might just decide not to recharge and let nature (or is it mechanics) take its course.

Joe's energy problems are fixed in the beginning of Gatch F. However, yes, that's one thing I was picturing. Joe just ... waiting. Verra sad.

Springie, that was great! Somehow, I can picture Jason warning Mark to stay away from Princess for awhile.

Chris, you're right about Ken. Physically he would have been the least likely to survive the final ending of Gatchaman Fighter. Springie, that was awesome! I think you did a great job setting up the story! So much so that now I'm going to you for more.... what's going on with Mark? Was he drugged? Or is he 'playing along' because these are the Spectran kidnappers?

LOL...TJ, I have no idea what comes next....I literally thought up this wee little bit for the prompt. Glad you liked it! Thanks, Chris! I am cracking up at the prospect of a "determined floozie trip"! And I definitely think Mark is in the doghouse with Princess now...act or no act! He had better get his act together!

Originally posted by Springie Thanks, Chris! I am cracking up at the prospect of a "determined floozie trip"!

I look forward to the results. *grin*

Springie, I hope you get inspired to write more for this. I'd love to read more.

Oh, springie, love that you're writing for the prompts as well as drawing. There is so much more in this story, you must continue it.... Do they get kidnapped? What is Zoltar's fiendish plan? Are they rescued or do they escape? Does Tiny get lucky for a change? How does Mark explain his behaviour? Will Mark and Princess make up, then make out? (I'm sure everyone wants to know the answer to the last one!!! )

mine is here (and I hope this works!) http://www.gatchamania.net/thread.php?sid=postid=143983#post143983

[unrecoverable text]

Originally posted by Springie Here's my little blurb for this prompt- be gentle...I am very rusty in the writing department!

I can be as gentle or as mean as you want...just let me know.... Nice little start to the story, I could really see it unfolding as a regular BoTP episode. My only nits would be to show more, like you do with your lovely drawings, rather than telling the reader what is going on....Please tell me you are continuing this plot, I'd really like to see how it all unfolds. Good work!

ROFL, K2! Thanks for all of the wonderful comments, guys! I have another idea that I may be able to tie this into...maybe I'll eventually stretch it out into a fic!

Stretch it out! Stretch it out!

Originally posted by Transmute Jun Stretch it out! Stretch it out!

OMG I'm working on a sex scene that's going to go horribly wrong, and just read this, and lost it.

Something off-the-cuff from me: Janelle slowly pulled herself up and coughed. She had several hairs in her mouth, but that wasn't what made her feel miserable. What the hell was in those drinks, anyway? She remembered her team had gotten together for an impromptu celebration. Her team had finally put an end to the ISO's "dream team", a group of scientists who were neutralizing each of Galactor's biological weapons before they could be produced in any decent amount. It wasn't easy, and it took several months longer than the average assignment, but it was a major victory for Berg Katse. As she sat upright, she didn't notice the tuft of hair that slid off her shoulder, hit her lap, and then tumbled to the floor. She heard a moan to her left. She looked over and saw Lourdes struggle to sit upright on the floor. Janelle was stunned into sobriety. Lourdes' thick, ebony hair had been cut and shaved from an adorable pixie cut to what looked like a horrendous case of mange. "What the hell happened?" Janelle moaned. "I remember something about us giving each other makeovers." Lourdes replied as she started to run her fingers through her hair. She let out a startled gasp when she realized something was wrong. Janelle's hand quickly went to her own hair. Judging by the feel, parts of her head had been shaved bald, other parts of her hair had been cropped close to the scalp, and other parts were left their original shoulder length. "The Mistress is going to be so pissed off..." "I don't see what the big deal is," Buffy replied as she slid herself out from under the coffee table, "Our Devil Star uniforms cover our real hair." Except for a brassy blond patch over her left ear, Buffy was completely bald. Janelle sometimes wondered how Buffy ever became a Devil Star. She could be so ditzy that many captains would have simply thrown her at the Condor. Not that she would do any damage that way; it was the most certain way to be rid of her forever. "What about the times we can't be in uniform?" Janelle retorted, "Like when we're under cover?" "Oh. I didn't think of that." Lourdes struggled to her feet and stumbled around the room as if she was looking for something. "Do either of you see any clippers?" "Why?" Buffy asked. "We can finish saving our heads and act like we have cancer until we can get decent-looking wigs." Lourdes spotted what she was after on a pile of auburn hair. She grabbed the clippers and made her way to the bathroom. "Yeah." Buffy said to herself, "That'll work. The Mistress won't get mad if we can cover our butts..." Janelle looked around at the other Devil Stars. Some started to stir, and others snored. She let out a small sigh. Deep down, Janelle knew the local morgue would have a handful of bodies to autopsy within a day.

Oh dear EW. I'd wish them luck, but, well, okay, I'll wish them luck anyway ...

Originally posted by ElectricWhite Something off-the-cuff from me: Janelle slowly pulled herself up and coughed. She had several hairs in her mouth, but that wasn't what made her feel miserable.

First thing I thought when I read this was...hair of the dog that bit me.... Like CW, I wish these lovely bald ladies luck...

Great piece, EW. Maybe they'd be better off just looking for the Condor.

[unrecoverable text]

Originally posted by Transmute Jun Hmmm... if Lucy is 'untouched' and getting out of the car, is she a robot already? Just wondering...

My thinking too. She seems to already have her obsession with winning too! I've always found Lucy interesting -she clearly has a history with Joe, but we know so little of it...

lborgia: I could totally see that. Robots or clones. Makes the one where they do replace the team with robots funnier somehow.

Originally posted by Springie I have another idea that I may be able to tie this into...maybe I'll eventually stretch it out into a fic!

I hope so! I want to see how this ends!

Originally posted by ChrisW lborgia: I could totally see that. Robots or clones.

I'd been watching some BOTP eps and just got an idea into my head tonight -what if Zark was a real person and G-Force were the robots?

Originally posted by ChrisW Makes the one where they do replace the team with robots funnier somehow.

Yup, gotta use inferior robots -can't let on to anyone just how good the 'real' robots are!

Wow, LB, you have certainly turned the show on it's head here! So the team are the Robots, and Zark is a human remote controlling a dummy robot? I like it, although I'm not sure if a human Zark would be any less annoying than the tin can we have at the moment! (ps, happy birthday!! ) EW - bald devil stars? Maybe the mistress could see them, then die laughing!!

Originally posted by ElectricWhite What the hell was in those drinks, anyway?

What indeed? The mannequins in "Death Girls Unite" were bald -can they pretend to be some of them?

Originally posted by KT1972 (ps, happy birthday!! )

And it was Mardi Gras too -a shame I wasn't in New Orleans!

LB, that was awesome! A definitely more likeable Zark, even with to the detriment of having a cloned Condor! EW -- your bald ladies rock! Now they just have to meet the Condor in a dark alley, late at night...

EW, I'm laughing at the bald Devilstars! I can totally see them getting wasted and making a bad decision... but I would have thought that it would be something different! LB, such an interesting idea! It makes sense that there would be replacement Team members... just as Zoltar doesn't *always* escape, neither do the Team. I was at your comment about how they had plenty of 4s and 5s left! I don't suppose they could modify a 4 to be a 1?

Originally posted by Transmute Jun EW, I'm laughing at the bald Devilstars! I can totally see them getting wasted and making a bad decision... but I would have thought that it would be something different! LB, such an interesting idea! It makes sense that there would be replacement Team members... just as Zoltar doesn't *always* escape, neither do the Team. I was at your comment about how they had plenty of 4s and 5s left! I don't suppose they could modify a 4 to be a 1?

Heh, or change up the programming so that Tiny and Keyop do all the dangerous infiltrations of Spectran ships and bases, while Mark stays on the Phoenix?

Originally posted by lborgia88

Originally posted by KT1972 (ps, happy birthday!! )

And it was Mardi Gras too -a shame I wasn't in New Orleans!

What?!? You mean that big party wasn't for you?! I could've sworn...

Originally posted by lborgia88

Originally posted by Transmute Jun LB, such an interesting idea! It makes sense that there would be replacement Team members... just as Zoltar doesn't *always* escape, neither do the Team. I was at your comment about how they had plenty of 4s and 5s left! I don't suppose they could modify a 4 to be a 1?

Heh, or change up the programming so that Tiny and Keyop do all the dangerous infiltrations of Spectran ships and bases, while Mark stays on the Phoenix?

Now that's gotta be a sight to see!

EW, great story. I love your humor! LB, brilliant irony! As soon as you got to the piece with Anderson I began trying to figure out if they were robots, cyborgs or some cross between them. Right now, I'm picturing them as like Data (only without the understanding of what they really are) if he had taken the organic skin that the Borg offered. I think they need the organic skin and hair to pull it off.

I don't know about needing organic skin and hair... after all, Lucy looked plenty real and she was entirely a robot in BOTP-verse.

I think to pass as "real," a robot would need to be covered in some kind of tissue that resembled flesh in its look and feel, but that it could be organic -even "alive" in some way- or solely be some kind of high-tech convincing-looking/feeling synthetic material. Sort of the difference, I guess, between ST:TNG's Data, and say, the replicants in Blade Runner. Even in the Gatch version, where Lucy was presented as a cyborg (ie. both organic and mechanical, or to paraphrase Ryu, "The brain's legit but the body's nuts and bolts") she seemed to be totally "nuts and bolts" once she'd hit the ground and self-destructed. I guess that, in her case, her body was nearly all very convincing-looking artificial material (hey, she fooled Joe), rather than organic, material -either that, or the Tatsunoko people didn't want to show bloody tissue, or -ick!- a brain- within the remains of Lucy that were left in the street!

I have a tendency to think Terminator when thinking about artificial-intelligence cyborgs. Just the opposite of Ryu's definition. The outside is legit, and everything else is nuts, bolts, and programming. I guess that just proves with the limited description given in both Gatch and BotP, we are free to or inspired to look for possible similarities in other works.

LB, that was so intriguing. Makes me wonder what would happen if one them became sentinet enough to realize what they were.

I wanted to continue exploring Anderson's relationship with Sarah and/or Andrea, and this is what came out. Anderson and Sarah have gone to dinner: Anderson leaned over the table, his eyes lit up and his voice loud and cheery, just a little bit too loud and cheery. "And then we knew of course that Spectra would one day launch an attack against the Earth, I mean, how hard would it be to guess? We had to speed up the G-Force project, you know how it is, just get them to double their training, poor kids, no, I mean, they spent the last couple of years in a continuous test mode, what with all the stuff we threw at them, but then all the various inter-galactic defence bodies were getting a bit panicky and wanted the project to be ready before an attack was launched, and, I mean, can you blame them? And President Kane twisting our arms to work 24 hours a day to do this, and can I say that your team did an excellent job also?" He paused to draw breath, and Sarah gently took his hand in hers, making a move that he was not bold enough to make. "Jack," she said firmly, using his first name which was, in itself, a rarity for her, "let's forget about the inter-galactic defence bodies tonight, shall we?"

Originally posted by Daniella T "Jack," she said firmly, using his first name which was, in itself, a rarity for her, "let's forget about the inter-galactic defence bodies tonight, shall we?"

You get 'im girl!

Typical Anderson, even when off duty, his mind's always on the job, unfortunately for Sarah, not the kind of "Job" she's hoping for, Great piece Daniella, hope there's more of this to come!!

Sweet, yet nervous. Precisely how I'd picture Anderson to be in an 'off duty,' moment. Well done Daniella.

Thanks, everyone He's talking so much to hide his anxiety -- has happened to me too, so I know how he feels!

Originally posted by Daniella T "Jack," she said firmly, using his first name which was, in itself, a rarity for her, "let's forget about the inter-galactic defence bodies tonight, shall we?"

Which particular bodies does she have in mind?

Oh, I like this, Daniella! I seems that Chief Anderson is very out of practice at conversations that don't revolve around his work, but it does seem that, in his nervous way, he's trying to open up to her, indicating as he is the stress he feels and also guilt for what the G-Force "poor kids" have been put through. So what happens next?

Nice little snippet, DT. I think you need to expand some more.

Originally posted by amethyst Nice little snippet, DT. I think you need to expand some more.

And I hope we don't have to pull out the pokey stick!

Originally posted by ElectricWhite

Originally posted by amethyst Nice little snippet, DT. I think you need to expand some more.

And I hope we don't have to pull out the pokey stick!

No pokey stick, no pokey stick, I'm on to it!

Daniella, you have Anderson down pat. He needs some stress relief and it sounds like Sarah would like to provide it. I also hope there's more to come.

[unrecoverable text]

[unrecoverable text]

Well, certainly worth waiting for, the plot thickens eh, what is her mother up to? and what is it about the damaged tablet that has them all so worried, obviously whatever Ryu discovered was what Iona's mum was hoping to keep hidden! At least that's the impression I got from it!

Yep, yep, yep...thicker than pea soup at times...and I am not that good at writing clarity... Yeah, and reading through it again, it needs some more editing...sorry folks...Will try better next time.

I like this plotline with Ryu and the tablet... Clearly he's at least suspecting that it is Galactor in origin. Question is, does that mean he now suspects Iona? And this school burning down... I'm a bit confused, but is this where Iona came from? Is Galactor erasing ehr tracks/existence? And what is a 'flimsie'? Is it a pamphlet, or something else? Definitely a lot of twists and turns in this! I'm enjoying it very much!

Ooh, more suspicious behaviour from Lynn, and now Ryu's clearly on to something... Interesting developments! I've come across the term "flimsies" in Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan series, where they're plastic sheets, for reading, that contain data from computers and what-not.

Originally posted by Transmute Jun I like this plotline with Ryu and the tablet... Clearly he's at least suspecting that it is Galactor in origin. Question is, does that mean he now suspects Iona?

I would say that it is a distinct possibility, although he doesn't want to.

And this school burning down... I'm a bit confused, but is this where Iona came from? Is Galactor erasing ehr tracks/existence?

Yes, it is local to where she is from. Galactacor involvement...eh, not so much...something else.

And what is a 'flimsie'? Is it a pamphlet, or something else?

Yes, a paper document. I figure at the time/world these stories take place, paper resources are rare.

Definitely a lot of twists and turns in this! I'm enjoying it very much!

Very glad to hear this, although this isn't my best writing, not by a long shot. At least another editorial pass is needed.

Originally posted by lborgia88 I've come across the term "flimsies" in Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan series, where they're plastic sheets, for reading, that contain data from computers and what-not.

Hmm...gonna have to re-check my Vorkosigan books. I might've lifted the term from her unknowingly, but I seem to recall seeing the term in other science fiction as well. Could be wrong-wouldn't be the first time.

Originally posted by k2p2

Originally posted by lborgia88 I've come across the term "flimsies" in Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan series, where they're plastic sheets, for reading, that contain data from computers and what-not.

Hmm...gonna have to re-check my Vorkosigan books. I might've lifted the term from her unknowingly, but I seem to recall seeing the term in other science fiction as well. Could be wrong-wouldn't be the first time.

Yeah, the term has popped up in other sf...the most recent time I can think of off the top of my head is in the SyFy show "Caprica".

Originally posted by k2p2 Yep, yep, yep...thicker than pea soup at times...and I am not that good at writing clarity... Yeah, and reading through it again, it needs some more editing...sorry folks...Will try better next time.

Still enjoying this storyline. And don't kick yourself too hard, prompts like this don't demand fully polished, 90th draft pieces.

K2, I'm liking Iona more and more and the story you're weaving keeps me coming back for more.

Great job, Iona! The school thing needs a little clarification, and you may want to describe the flimsies in a more polished draft. But for something off the cuff, first draft, it was a fantastic read. I want to know more!

Originally posted by ChrisW And don't kick yourself too hard, prompts like this don't demand fully polished, 90th draft pieces.

Glad to hear it, cuz this one is REALLY rough...rougher than I wanted it to be...

Originally posted by Becky Rock K2, I'm liking Iona more and more and the story you're weaving keeps me coming back for more.

Glad to make you happy!

Originally posted by amethyst The school thing needs a little clarification, and you may want to describe the flimsies in a more polished draft. But for something off the cuff, first draft, it was a fantastic read. I want to know more!

Woo geezy it was a first draft, and a lot tougher than I expected it to be...Lots of character shuffling around, until finally I hit upon Jinpei for that last bit of it, and it is waaay wordier than I would have liked.