For this week's prompt, in honor of the New Year: The Beginning And just as a reminder: Everyone is welcome, there's no right or wrong, people are welcome to contribute individual responses as well as serial responses. A note on serial responses: please feel free to post them in this thread; however, also feel free to start your own thread for your story and post links here. This will work well if you are writing in order, not so well if you are jumping around. As always, explicit/graphic material not suitable for all members belongs in the rubber room. Thanks for making this a success. Happy New Year!

I was inspired by a fic I just finished. ******** "I'm dead." he said, his words echoing in the cold air of the sterile treatment room. "At least... I died." "You're not dead." Dr. Raphael told him. "Not anymore." "I... I'm alive?" Joe stared at his hands, covered with perfect, unlined skin: artificially created flesh that had never known a callous, bruise or scratch. "No..." He shook his head, his brain still foggy from the anesthesia he had been given, not to mention the shock of the revelation that had just been made. 'Alive' wasn't right. He wasn't alive. Yet he existed. "You've been given a second life." the Doctor explained. "A new beginning." A new beginning... of what? Joe growled in frustration, slumping back against the thin pillow behind him. Alive... dead.... it made no difference. Vengeance would not allow him to rest.

I can imagine Joe thinking just that after his transformation TJ, I can't wait to read the fic that inspired it.

Happy new beginning of another year of Bradbury's Jar, everyone! Thank you for starting us off with another great installment, TJ! No, this is not my contribution for the week

A very nice contribution TJ. I could understand how Joe might feel that way after undergoing the procedure between Gatch I and Gatch II.

I wish I could come up with something to say that hasn't already been said, TJ...

Originally posted by Daniella T Happy new beginning of another year of Bradbury's Jar, everyone! No, this is not my contribution for the week

Oh, and here I was about to praise you for your creative simplicity!

LOL, sometimes you just see the prompt and you are immediately inspired. I'm thinking it's easier for me, because I always do 'standalone' prompts, rather than having to 'work' to fit a prompt into a story. And yeah, having just worked on a fic about 'cyborg Joe', it seemed fairly obvious.

TJ: I've always loved the angst from Joe about what's been done to him. It wouldn't have been hard for the writers to have him go "hey this new body is AWESOME, look at all this new stuff I can do!" Instead, they made it a statement on what exactly is humanity and at what point do you lose it. And, as you brought up in your prompt, what it is to be "alive."

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and so the Galactorats were born.... Great story EW

At least we now know whom to blame for the Galactorrats! (Well, besides EW, of course... )

LOL .... now I want to know if Katse is please with the results. Perhaps he should learn to be more specific when he gives orders and he would have success.

EW: I fear where his experiments will take things next.

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KT: Aw ... I can even see canon Joe saying that about Lucy. How nice of him to help and encourage Ryu.

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Gatchgirl -- the GalactorRats popped up in Bradbury's Jar #43, 47, and last week. This week was the story of their origins (and, yeah, they're a new type of henchmen.) I hope you're caught up on your shots!

KT, you've done well at showing both Joe's and Ryu's feelings here. I hope he's able to get together with this girl... although it sounds like it might turn out badly if she's his 'Lucy'!

Originally posted by ElectricWhite Gatchgirl -- the GalactorRats popped up in Bradbury's Jar #43, 47, and last week. This week was the story of their origins (and, yeah, they're a new type of henchmen.) I hope you're caught up on your shots!

GG- Watch out!!! Even if you're not afraid of rats now...you will be!

KT -- poor Joe! My heart goes out to him. However, somehow, telling Ryu that a girl may be his Lucy sounds to me a bit ominous...but I'm sure he meant it in a nice way

Originally posted by Daniella T KT -- poor Joe! My heart goes out to him. However, somehow, telling Ryu that a girl may be his Lucy sounds to me a bit ominous...but I'm sure he meant it in a nice way

Hope so!

I hope so as well. Damiella, this was certainly an interesting segment although personally, I can't imagine Ryu taking Joes cast-offs. Or maybe I am misreading the piece.

Originally posted by Daniella T

Originally posted by ElectricWhite Gatchgirl -- the GalactorRats popped up in Bradbury's Jar #43, 47, and last week. This week was the story of their origins (and, yeah, they're a new type of henchmen.) I hope you're caught up on your shots!

GG- Watch out!!! Even if you're not afraid of rats now...you will be!

Daniella, I'm not the biggest fan of rats... and with last nights dream filled with corn snakes and king rat snakes a plenty.... I can only imagine what my dreams will go to next

Originally posted by clouddancer I hope so as well. Damiella, this was certainly an interesting segment although personally, I can't imagine Ryu taking Joes cast-offs. Or maybe I am misreading the piece.

Umm, I think it's my piece you're commenting on CD. (IMO) where Joe is used to the more casual relationships, and will treat one as such, Ryu's not that sort of guy, so when he meets someone, he thinks it is something more serious.

You are correct KT- I guess seeing all those Condor Joe avatars when I make a quick glance I forget which person is writing (especially when I am switching pages to read and reply) - sorry about that.

(IMO) where Joe is used to the more casual relationships, and will treat one as such, Ryu's not that sort of guy, so when he meets someone, he thinks it is something more serious.

This is probably true, and my earlier comment was probably my romantic side coming out, and me wanting the girl who falls for the Owl to be faithful to him and not be swayed by the charisma the Condor has.

Originally posted by clouddancer This is probably true, and my earlier comment was probably my romantic side coming out, and me wanting the girl who falls for the Owl to be faithful to him and not be swayed by the charisma the Condor has.

Yeah, I'd like to think so too, it just depends which one she met first......

Originally posted by KT1972 Yeah, I'd like to think so too, it just depends which one she met first......

Very true! And how long it takes her too realize that good looks aren't necessarily all there is to a person. I'm thinking about the Island Girl episode in Gatch II.

Continuing straight from "Slippery"... //"He certainly played that one well," grumbled Jason as the team reconvened in the ready room, just after the Chief had dropped his bombshell about dating Dr. Sarah Petrides. On which they could not comment the way they would want to, as they had just been declared legally adults, and the Chief had stressed to them he expected them to treat this piece of news with the seriousness it deserved. "Yeah, we can't pull his leg, or snigger or anything," added Mark, a bit disappointed. "Well, the Chief is certainly making a new beginning here," mused Princess. "I don't think I remember him ever dating before." "He is an intelligence officer and a very clever scientist...he could easily hide the fact from us," Tiny reminded them. "We also...clever!" Keyop cut him. "Yeah, but there's nothing to tell us that the Chief has never dated before!" objected Tiny again. "Yes, nothing but his whole behaviour!" said Jason. "Anyway, if we can't tease the Chief, how about teasing Sarah?" suggested Mark. "That is SO childish!" Princess scolded him. "We are supposed to be serious adults now!" "And since we're adults, I say we go celebrate at Jill's". Jason got off the couch, high-fived Tiny and the two of them exited the room without waiting for the others. Mark shook his head. "I don't know what he's so excited about. He's going to have a ginger ale anyway. Did the Jason really think that being legally an adult would extend to drinking at Jill's?" Princess snorted. "I wouldn't want to be there when he finds out...or rather, I would. Shall we?" They joined hands and, with Keyop calling "hey! wait for me!" they headed out to Jill's and their first night as adults. It wasn't much, but it was a beginning."//

Comment: I know I make a big deal of them being adults, but, for me, when I turned eighteen and could vote, it was indeed a big thing. Plus I was still in high-school (I graduated at 18 and a half, due to having spent two years abroad when I was very small, and then having to catch up with classes in the Greek school when I came back), and I could sign my own school reports, for which I was very proud!

a friend of mine at school turned 18 in September of her final year, she once moaned that she could legally drive, vote, get married without her parents consent, buy alcohol and gamble, but couldn't go to the toilet without asking her teacher to be excused!!!

The best part of turning 18 in Senior year, instead of after graduation is being able to write your own notes for excused absences or to get off grounds permits.

I love that they're realizing the downside of being an 'adult' even as they're about to celebrate!

The Chief sure knows how to take the wind out of their sails, eh?

Wow TJ, what a powerful look inside Joe's mind. EW---ooooh, very clever...and for a moment or two I thought you were going to run with the cockroach idea...dozens of little self replicating cockroach mechas...but I like the rats too. KT--still feeling for the big guy. Daniella- Great little piece...poor team, having to leave their childhoods behind like that. I wonder how long it will take for them to figure out that they can still kid around and tease with the best of them. Funny back when I turned 18, which was all so long ago, it meant I could drink too.

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woo, K2, seems like Ryu has made a breakthrough with the young girl... there's hope for them yet!!

It sounds like Ryu has a young protegee on his hands!

I am liking this connection that is being made between Ryu and Iona. Hopefully she opens up to Ryu while they are out on the boat.

k2p2: I can totally see Ryu being a good nurturing influence (as long as he doesn't gripe about not being able to "score" hehe, which he does in canon). He'd make a good dad. And of course she couldn't have asked for a better activity from a man of the sea! Now I'm remembering that I had some bizarre dream last night involving a large pirate-style ship, gathering a strange and long list of supplies for some weird type of fishing, and then suddenly I'm on a road trip with a friend from college I barely talk to now, where she's driving like a crazy person while I wondered if I should perhaps walk home, but then we were in some dance club with everyone decked out in strange clothes, and I was again trying to find my way out, until some hot guy started dragging me to the dance floor. The effect was a little diluted by the fact that he was wearing parts of a furry/stuffed animal outfit, but I suppose in dreamland one takes what one can get. (This is honestly what I remember of that dream, though I've left lots of details out. You can thank me later.)

TJ ... you just captured that particular, confusional but decisive at the same time, moment in Joe's "life" oh so superbly! EW ... at last we know the origins of the Galactorats! I kind of knew where you were taking us from the beginning of the piece, but I have to be honest ... if I didn't know about the Galactorats in the first place, the name "Penu" would have taken my thwarted mind somewhere else *giggles*, if you could ever get a gist of what I'm saying! Jokes apart, another priceless piece of yours! KT ... my heart goes out both to Joe and Ryu, here! I hope things will not turn out Lucy-like, and that the girl would really appreciate Ryu for whom he really is! Daniella ... I love the way you're describing the team's attitude whilst facing the premature adulthood they had been presented with! I also can't help repeating myself in saying that Anderson couldn't have had a better chance to slip away from any inconveniences, finding that most opportune time to announce his relationship! K2 ... I'm also loving how you're tackling Ryu's and Iona's relationship! Iona is most fortunate to have the Owl's backing and comprehension!

CW ... that was one heck of a vivid, and complicated dream you had! At least, now I know that I'm not the only one who has similar ones almost every night! It's funny how you keep pondering about such dreams even during the day, isn't it?!

Originally posted by gatchamarie EW ... at last we know the origins of the Galactorats! I kind of knew where you were taking us from the beginning of the piece, but I have to be honest ... if I didn't know about the Galactorats in the first place, the name "Penu" would have taken my thwarted mind somewhere else *giggles*, if you could ever get a gist of what I'm saying!

Hey, considering all the sick, twisted, perverted minds around here, it would have been odd if your mind hadn't started down that path!

Originally posted by gatchamarie CW ... that was one heck of a vivid, and complicated dream you had! At least, now I know that I'm not the only one who has similar ones almost every night! It's funny how you keep pondering about such dreams even during the day, isn't it?!

I haven't been remembering any dreams for a while now, so it was interesting to finally remember one again. My brain is pretty random even during the day. If my dreams weren't even moreso I'd be almost worried.

KT-I like hope...no matter how thin the thread may be, I always like to leave a little bit of it in my stories. Can't all be darkness all the time TJ-When I first dreamed up Iona, she was much closer to Ryu initially. Joe's link to the girl came up later on, as I began to have the story arcs follow the prompts. All in all, though, she does view Ryu more as a protective older brother. She is much more leery of Joe, though. She knows he'd not wish her deliberate harm, as long as he does not percieve her as a threat. But still, he scares her. CD--you'll just have to keep reading! Hee hee...Glad you are liking it. Chris-I've always thought of the Ryu type of trope to being a more nurturing individual. Gatchamarie-Marie-like I stated above, intially that is how I thought up this whole scheme...with more of an interaction between Iona and Ryu. So it is there in my notes. Ryu-unlike Joe, is more likely to bide his time with the girl. I like to think of his slowness in reactions has more to do with him looking at a problem from every angle patiently (very Japanese) with the hopes of finding a more long term solution rather than a quick fix.

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Katherine: Hmm, someone's gonna get dangled over a balcony by their ankles.

It's difficult wen you have to prioritize needs, and in doing so someone gets hurt. You've described the situation well.