Freedom

Oh my! The possibilities this opens!

Hmmm, this may take some thinking about ....

Working on something now...

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So THAT was the flying barman over Aphrodite. I thought he was trying to imitate the birdies!

Hehe EW ... I wonder if the Clubbing Aphrodite (what a great mental image) will have more explosions than the real one ...

I'm not sure Club Aphrodite will ever be the same...

Originally posted by Transmute Jun I'm not sure Club Aphrodite will ever be the same...

You should've known that the moment certain Gatchamaniacs were allowed on the island!

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RI: You capture the complexity of Ryu's situation well. The only good thing about the chicken ship in series 2 is that Ryu can actually go out with them, with his own vehicle, and the ship can still pick them up! If I were him, I'd be asking why they didn't get that feature earlier. I also like the reference to "sweet burden" ... that he understands how lucky he is to have living family, but at the same time, it comes with its own set of problems.

Poor Ryu! I hope he gets the credit he deserves -- from his family. It must be very hard to be a hero for whole world, but just a bumbling teenager to his father.

Poor Ryu! I hope he gets the credit he deserves -- from his family. It must be very hard to be a hero for whole world, but just a bumbling teenager to his father.

Chris: As Jun is not supposed to know them, she could be the next victim of Joe's charm -- he could chat her up to keep up appearances, and use the time to give her the lowdown on the situation. So, two birds with one stone: she gets over Ken, and she gets over the bed with Joe. Oh wait...this was the not point of the mission

Originally posted by Daniella T Chris: As Jun is not supposed to know them, she could be the next victim of Joe's charm -- he could chat her up to keep up appearances, and use the time to give her the lowdown on the situation. So, two birds with one stone: she gets over Ken, and she gets over the bed with Joe. Oh wait...this was the not point of the mission

LOL ... we'll see what kind of mindframe Joe's in by the time she gets there. *grin*

Wow .. Club Aphrodite is one hot place ... and not just temperature-wise! *snerk* Gatchamanics on the prowl (love the tattoo EW!) ... exploding bars ... And Chris ... things are definitely getting complicated for Ken, but Joe seems to be enjoying it ... possibly waiting to be the one Jun runs to for comfort?

Originally posted by RIgirl Wow .. Club Aphrodite is one hot place ... and not just temperature-wise! *snerk* Gatchamanics on the prowl (love the tattoo EW!) ... exploding bars ... And Chris ... things are definitely getting complicated for Ken, but Joe seems to be enjoying it ... possibly waiting to be the one Jun runs to for comfort?

Hehehe. I wonder if Joe's walking around there constantly hearing cheesy 70s porn music in the back of his head, with the way everyone wants him to hook up. *grin*

LW clears throat "Excuse me, Joe will not be allowed to "hook-up" with Jun or any other person while myself and these other fantastic and beautiful Gatchamania ladies are on holiday" LW calls a meeting "Right ladies we need to work out a schedual , I would like to put forward the proposal that we remove any and all forms of sexual contact from Joe. My plan is to get the condor so sexually frustrated that when we are around him we will be irresistable - now it needs some further thought, ( yes we are all irrestistable and beautify and the condor should thinking himself bloody lucky that we would assist him in this way, look at it as stress relief for all of us, it's been a bloody challenging year), But we need to make an agreement that we won't get jealouse and we must share, no hogging."

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LW: 2 very contrasting offerings. I pity poor Joe for the silly CA. A lot of pain in the other. I find myself wondering when in Mark's life this is, who he's with, and how much of the team has survived.

LW, I agree, I'd like to see mor of the story leading up to this, and how Mark got to this state. Chris, I'm glad Ken still retains enough of his faculties that he's concerned about Jun's feelings! RIGirl, you've really writen an insightful piece about the difficulties of Ryu's position and how it differs from the others on the Team.

Ta all hadn't though about what lead to this, other than all the damage mark had sustained over the years, the others are dead and he is left alive, concidering all that they have been through together, I looked at it like he had lost a big part of himself, But as Mark always seemed to be "duty orientated" he kept on going, when all he wanted to do was be with the others. he never seemed to voice his own personal wants above anything else, so someone else did it for him.. Love takes many forms, and who wants to see anyone or anything suffer - if you can do something about it, as for Joe, he's been a naughty boy and he may have to get a little spanking, if myself and the others can agree to the ground rules let LW kiss your boo boos better

CW -- you've got me wondering what kind of control device is being used on Ken... And as for the silly storyline -- dang, why didn't I think of that?! I can just imagine the cheesy '70's porn music suddenly being piped into a room! RIGirl -- Ryu certainly has more strength than I'd have; by this time, I'd probably try to grab his dad by the collar and shake some sense into him. LW -- I had to grab a tissue after I finished reading the second piece...the all-around pain was tangible... And as far as the ground rules go: I'm fine with them. I'm sure Joe's man enough to take on the foursome. And if he isn't, I know we can make him that way!

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EW, - ooops, what was in those cocktails? loved it though, we're all ready to have a good time..... RIgirl, - it must be really tough on Ryu, trying to do his duty to the team and Nambu while keeping his identity secret from those who love him the most Chris - sounds like Joe's going to enjoy this assignment, I'm glad he's considering Jun's feelings regarding Ken though. She should be warned on that score. LW - fic 1 I agree to adhere to all the ground rules too. fic 2, I found a little hard to read, but they're my issues, nothing to do with your writing. It was still a good piece

TJ: So far Ken's mostly just in love and somewhat confused. No lobotomies as yet. *grin* LW: I can totally see that. None of them would want to be the only survivor, not only would they have lost their family and loved ones, but they'd have survivor guilt that they "obviously" didn't do enough. I think it would be even worse for Mark/Ken as the leader (or any good leader who cares about their troops). As for Joe in the sillyverse, that boy needs to go to ground before things hit the fan. EW: Bwahahaha. Well, you did say you think we're related ... KT: Funny how Joe doesn't come out of it wanting his own bambino. *grin* Contrary to what some might think, Joe does experience emotions other than rage and a violent urge to push the red button. *grin*

KT: that's our Joe - free and single! I'd like to note that in Greek, "free" also means "single". LW: fic 2: Powerful representation of the aftermath of war. Fic 1: oooooh naughty Joe...

LW -- Very powerful emotions there. It does leave one wondering who the speaker is, and the events leading up to that moment. I agree with you, though. For Mark (and especially Ken) to be the sole survivor among them would be extremely hard for him to live with, especially considering how many times he states that he was willing to give his life up in battle. KT -- awww! Joe the Babysitter. *snerk* And he's thinking the same thing I always did while babysitting!

This week's contribution takes us back to Anderson and Sarah, whom we had left on the monorail as they were going towards an ISO mountain retreat to attend a conference (in Bradbury's prompt "Boundaries"). //"So what do you do in your free time?" Sarah asked Anderson as they were walking along a path circumnavigating the hotel complex where the ISO conference was taking place. The air was clean and fresh, a morning breeze was blowing, the trees were green, the birds were singing. The contrast with the oppressive, claustrophobic, airless rooms in Centre Neptune could not have been more pronounced. And seeing Anderson so much out of his usual surroundings was making Sarah look at him with fresh eyes. Eyes that were, just a bit, romantically inclined. "Free time?" he laughed. "What free time? With five teens at home and being worried sick about them when they're on mission, how could I have free time?" "We've got free time here, what would you like to do?" "You've signed us up already for dancing and cooking classes -- that's my free time gone!" She punched him playfully on the shoulder as they were walking side by side. Anderson was taller, but Sarah had a quicker step and could follow him easily as they made their way along the path. She had promised to keep him company on his morning walk, he had promised to go dancing with her. Sarah realised that, in all the years she knew Anderson, they'd never been to a conference together. This was the first time they had the freedom to get to know each other a bit better, away from the work environment that dominated their days and -- occasionally -- nights. "How long do you think you'll be able to stand this rhythm?" she asked pensively. "No holidays, no free time, no time to relax..." "Well, that goes for you too!" he objected, determined not to let her off the hook. If she was going to nag him to relax, he was ready to do the same. "Yes, that's true. But I love being in the lab -- probably as much as you love being in your office. It's hopeless with us, isn't it?" she finished gently. "We are dedicated to what we do. Nothing wrong with that. We've chosen this freely," Anderson admonished her, wondering at her sudden seriousness. "A Greek writer and philosopher of the 20th century said once 'I don't fear anything, I don't expect anything, I'm free," said Sarah slowly as they rounded a corner and the valley below the mountain came into view, resplendent in a hundred different hues of green. They stopped to admire it. "Well, I fear lots of things. I fear that Spectra might one day overpower us. I fear that my ninjas will get injured...or worse...I fear that, in the end, our defences will not hold. And I do expect lots of things. I expect us to continue fighting Spectra until the end. I expect G-Force to perform to its highest level. I expect the ISO to continue to rise to the challenge. Does this make me not free?" Sarah turned to look at him. "What to do you expect for yourself, Jack?" "I expect to be able to do my duty as long as I can, corny as this may sound." Suddenly she was angry. "Please tell me that's not all you expect for yourself! What about happiness?" Anderson was visibly shocked. Not used to talking about his feelings, he was even less used being asked about them. Still, he was on holiday -- sort of. This was his free time, before the meetings began. For once, he was off-duty. "An American author said that there's only one thing more important than happiness, and that is freedom. I'm doing my best to secure our freedom, which includes my own freedom as well." Sarah looked at the valley, then at the mountain top rising behind them. Then at Anderson, who stood humbly next to her, saying in one sentence what all ISO staff felt. She looked at him straight in the eye and, plunging ahead, reached up and kissed him.// Daniella says: The Greek author mentioned in this fic is Nikos Kazantzakis. The American author is Tom Robbins.

DT: Go Sarah go! I like that Anderson is shocked by the question of what he expects for himself. We all need to be reminded of that, sometimes.

KT -- what is it about the combination of Joe and babies that always gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling? (Wait a minute, let me double-check something...nope, I wasn't on a morphine drip when I was reading that! It's all me.) DT -- looks like the chief's got something to REALLY think about now! (As if he didn't have plenty before...)

EW- Really. Teaching the bartenders how to make explosive drinks. Shame on you! (smilies don't want to come up for me at the moment). CW - Poor Ken. Had he really thought he'd folled Joe all this time? Why do I think feathers are going to fly when Jun arrives. RI - Family is a double-edged sword. Ryu's mixed feelings are very understandable. LW - I'd like to read more on this, too. Did Mark ask for this release because he couldn't do it for himself or was she really psycho, reading things into Mark's words or actions she shouldn't have. KT - That's proof Joe isn't ready for such responsibility. I think everyone wanting kids should spend 24-48 hours uninterupted with a baby to find out. DT - Seems like a cirular arguement. Hopefully, her kiss will help the Chief see the light.

Double post due to the system chugging forever and never showing it had taken my post.

Originally posted by Becky Rock CW - Poor Ken. Had he really thought he'd folled Joe all this time? Why do I think feathers are going to fly when Jun arrives.

Ken was making a vain attempt at optimism. Jun's arrival certainly will be, uh, interesting! I haven't decided how that's gonna go down yet.

Go down? Really?

Oh Becky, I don't know if that was a double-entendre or not, but I went

I think it was!!

What? I was just repeating what was typed...

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isn't she the stereotypical rebellious teen. you got it spot on IMO, most kids do something like that, only a few are lucky not to get caught.

Oh, K2, your poor girl is really in trouble now, isn't she. Well done.

She's due for a multi-butt-kicking. David's due for worse if they find out she was with him.

EW--Hee hee hee...made me smile with all the Gatch fans involvement..and someday you're gonna have to show me that tattoo! Are you ever gonna get the Eagle to sign the right? Would make for a perfect pair... Exploding drinks...what are in those? Nitro? Thanks for the laugh! CW-Nice intro bit of Joe coming up to speed on the Island...although I wonder why Ken would ever think something unusual to 'weird,' to mention...I mean, c'mon their arch enemy is a purple costumed hermaphrodite and the mechas themselves resemble giant earth creatures....and why wouldn't that new bracelet set off alarm bells to Joe...look at what their won bracelets can do and wouldn't they worry about interference? RI--Ryu! Ryu! Ryu! Yea! Lemme say it again, Ryu! Ryu! Ryu! Nice bit illustrating his dichotomy with being a member of the team and his life as a simple villager/family kinda guy...although his family has got to suspect there is something more to the big fellow for Nambu to choose him above all others to help out. Nicely done. LW-#1--good way to come up with a schedule...and I love the, "no hogging, clause. #2--A very sad and poignant tale. My heart breaks for the narrator, and for the team...

k2: Very true, but I think being followed by a little clownfish would be weird even by their standards. Especially when it was so boringly mundane otherwise. I'll have to look back and see if Joe noticed the bracelet ... I had it in my head that he did, and saw that it matched Michael's, but I might not have put it in there.

I've got lots of catching up to do. K2 - Innocence is sometimes the worst thing. You didn't do anything wrong, per se, but you feel as guilty as if you did. I'm wondering who called that her father yelled at. I'm sure I'll find out as I catch up.

Thanks Becky...I've got some catching up myself to do! Glad to see you are back, and hope all is well with you.

Thanks! Got to have a biopsy on the thyroid, but they're in no rush, so that's good.

Becky: I had that done, uh, 19 yrs ago and it was a pretty simple and relatively painless process. The thing I remember most is being told "DON'T SWALLOW because your thyroid will move" and going "oh god now I really want to swallow."

Of course. It's the same when you have your hands full and your nose itches.

Yup!

Becky, get that biopsy as soon as you can. They told my DH it was 'no rush' and kept delaying it and delaying it... and every time it was delayed it took another 3 months to get an appointment... by the time he had it done, he had a huge cancerous growth and was booked for 'emergency surgery'. Not saying this will happen to you, but better safe than sorry.

Their lack of concern is my very concerned. I'm getting it on 5 June.