This week, in honor of California finally getting some ..... Rain

Okaaaayyyyy living in Belgium, I should certainly have lots of inspiration!

[unrecoverable text]

Man, Jinpei is getting a lot of face-time lately. LOL. I'm sure he'd rather stay home to play video games or look for bugs than go to school!

RB, but what kid his age wouldn't?

KT, you've got the kid-arguments for not going to school down! (I was just waiting for Jinpei to use the "But what if Galactor hijacks the bus and I can't transmute?" ploy!)

Oh, I'm sure Jinpei will play the 'secret infiltrator' in that case...

The High School kids don't want to be caught dead on a bus around here, especially in their senior year. The school district recognizes this and charges the kids $100 per semester for a parking spot at their school.

[unrecoverable text]

hee hee hee, so which one has "borrowed" the Condor's uniform....? But, whoever he is, at least he has shot the reporter's story to pieces

Ooh, I hope it's Princess in that uniform...

Originally posted by KT1972 so which one has "borrowed" the Condor's uniform....?

Right now, I'm just glad he showed up!

I decided not to let Jason get to the point of desperation. Now as for Laurel's fate...still up in the air.

I wondered if that might be the case. Someone else dressed up as the Condor. Looking forward to the next instalment to discover who it is.

I wonder if the press will buy it... Looking forward for more!

I'm going back to the long-winding romance between Anderson and Sarah for this one... //Sarah knocked perfunctorily on Anderson's door, opened it before he had the chance to answer, and peeked in. "I'm off. You still got lots to do?" He looked at the pile of papers on his desk as if he didn't know they were there. "Wrong question," continued Sarah. "See you tomorrow, then?" "Why don't you stay at Centre Neptune tonight?" he asked. She closed the door behind her, and walked to his desk, pretending to sway her hips while doing so. "Why, so we can share your barracks' bunk? What about the people in the next bunks?" Centre Neptune had a dormitory for those members of staff who preferrred -- "preferred" being a substitute for necessity -- to spend the night. Four to a room, usually single-sex but not necessarily so, as Sarah and Anderson knew. "We'll tie up a sock outside the door, just as we did as students," he said. "Jack Anderson, you really want me to believe that as a student you tied up a sock outside your door?" Implying, not only did you have a girlfriend, but you couldn't get your hands off her, and had to send your room-mates packing for the night? He looked at her innocently. "Of course I did. Scout's honour." She snorted. "Well, I'll have to take your word for it. Now about tonight..." She broke off. Anderson was staring at his computer screen, a coffee cup half-forgotten on the way to his mouth. "We'll have to take a rain check. We just got word from Riga, Spectra has launched another attack."//

Nothing like Spectra to ruin a romantic evening. And barracks? I'd think someone of Anderson's stature would warrant a private room. Although thinking about him in college getting some...ewwww. Sorry, I'm not a big Anderson fan.

Yeah, I' think I'm with Becky on this one. Anderson in college... *shudder* But yes, I too would think he'd want some place more private... and more romantic!

I'd believe a sock was tied on the outside of Anderson's door, but as for whether or not he was the one who put it there...well, let's just say I'm skeptical.

Originally posted by ElectricWhite I'd believe a sock was tied on the outside of Anderson's door, but as for whether or not he was the one who put it there...well, let's just say I'm skeptical.

Or why? I can see him doing it so that he'd getf quiet study time in his dorm.

Good point Ame.

KT ... poor Jinpei ... being the youngest kid of the Science Ninja Team must have been so tough and annoyingly frustrating for him! Becky ... nice twist to solve the problem! Am now wondering who's in the Condor uniform, even though I might already have an idea, and whether Laurel is gullible enough to buy the story! DT ... it's so nice to see your Anderson/Sarah story back, and a great, alternative use of the prompt! Now, apart from Jinpei, I am getting frustrated, since I really cannot find enough time to come up with something decently long with which I can contribute, lately! Am being swamped with cake baking and decorating, not leaving out RL chores and never-ending struggles! The word "rain" is literally crying out for me to write it down in a poem! It just speaks to me as poetry and melancholy! Well ... I just have to fail once again to accept the challenge and just throw in a really cheesy bit, going way astray from my original idea and from what's considered to make sense ... ... I'm just imagining Zombie Joe calling out, "Brrrr....rain!!" ... (Sorry ... my mind is not functioning well, lately! )

EW wheels over to a filing cabinet and pulls open a drawer marked Lectures given to Gatchamarie: A-D. She pulls out a folder, and... Marie, I've forgotten how many times this has been said, but THERE IS NO TIME LIMIT ON BRADBURY'S JAR PROMPTS!!! You can go back and respond to the very first prompt if you wanted to! We all know that RL can get hectic, so there's no need to get upset if you can't get the time at this exact moment to respond to the prompts. So calm down -- we'll be here to read your work when you're able to post your work.

BR: Ooooh, nice twist! Can't wait to see what happens. DT: A Spectran attack, it figures! GM: When you have time, you should do that zombie Joe story and his "Brrr....raiinnn" line. There *is* a story there, I know it.

Originally posted by ElectricWhite EW wheels over to a filing cabinet and pulls open a drawer marked Lectures given to Gatchamarie: A-D. She pulls out a folder, and... Marie, I've forgotten how many times this has been said, but THERE IS NO TIME LIMIT ON BRADBURY'S JAR PROMPTS!!! You can go back and respond to the very first prompt if you wanted to!

Oh gosh, how I missed your reprimands, EW!! It's a good thing I live so far away, out of your smacking reach!

there's no need to get upset if you can't get the time at this exact moment to respond to the prompts.

What can I say ... that's one of my OCDs!!

we'll be here to read your work when you're able to post your work.

At this rate, I won't count on that so much! We might very well be all departed when that day comes! Oops ... but then, I wouldn't be around, also, so .... .... but, thanks EW!

RB ... hehe ... guess the story would be about whose brain Zombie Joe would have been after! So many possibilities, no time to write!

Originally posted by amethyst

Originally posted by ElectricWhite I'd believe a sock was tied on the outside of Anderson's door, but as for whether or not he was the one who put it there...well, let's just say I'm skeptical.

Or why? I can see him doing it so that he'd getf quiet study time in his dorm.

Nope. He had a girlfriend. I like to think of him as having a girlfriend. Should I change my sig now to "Anderson No. 1 fan"? ETA: But Ame's idea also works for me.

Originally posted by gatchamarie RB ... hehe ... guess the story would be about whose brain Zombie Joe would have been after! So many possibilities, no time to write!

Well, that might eliminate a lot of folks in Galactor, since so many of them seem pretty brainless!

Marie, you and I are in the same boat, I think. I seem to have just enough time to make sure everything gets up, but never enough time to write up my responses, and when I do get the time, I usually end up writing something else and forget to go back and write and post my response. But there are no limits on time or words. There have been more than a few tongue in cheek one sentence responses and a few serious responses not much longer. Do what you can, when you can. If something really hits you, and you end up working on a piece that just takes off and takes longer than expected, post as an individual story. In fact all these serial stories could have there own thread with a link to them in the appropriate Jar thread. Of course that only works for those writing in order, I suppose.

GM and Ame - *hugs* (can't find the anime one) I was gone for months last year and still don't have the time I would like to spend here, but just popping in is fine, too, to say hi.

Originally posted by ElectricWhite

Originally posted by gatchamarie RB ... hehe ... guess the story would be about whose brain Zombie Joe would have been after! So many possibilities, no time to write!

Well, that might eliminate a lot of folks in Galactor, since so many of them seem pretty brainless!

Good point!

Originally posted by amethyst Marie, you and I are in the same boat, I think. I seem to have just enough time to make sure everything gets up, but never enough time to write up my responses, and when I do get the time, I usually end up writing something else and forget to go back and write and post my response.

Ame ... you couldn't have explained it better! But, do keep in mind that what you do around here is very valuable and worthy! Without you the wheel will stop turning! EW, Ame and Becky ... thank you all for the encouragement and understanding *hugs*

Whoo-boy I'm late with this one....but here goes: The moment the warship Phoenix went down at Cross Karocolm, the Earth Defense Command's Advanced Development Team had leaped into action with their vehicle replacement plan. It was a process that had been crafted with the inception of G-Force, and was since well-honed by successive missions where outcomes returned the Phoenix and her vehicles bearing extensive damage to their care and craft. This was different, however. Never before had they been tasked with an objective so massive for a need so urgent. The Phoenix's development had taken nearly a decade; their initial estimate was that replacement would require half that, at best. Do it in two, David Anderson had flatly responded. It was not a challenge; this was G-Force's expectation. The framework was already in place from past reconstruction, and the operation was counted upon to be swift. In the process, improvements would be made, G-Force's wish-lists for technological betterment explored and granted. Advancements to navigations, weapons, individual vehicles and combat leathers would be tested and implemented. As Commander Mareccu Dumenau's team recovered and rebuilt from Cross Karocolm's wounds, so too would the ADT rebuild their armaments. Once again from the pyre of their facility in the furnace of the Nevada desert would the Phoenix rise. Marc left the first progress briefing feeling optimistic, even vindictively satisfied. Soon, his warship would scream her supremacy against the Gallactor Syndicate. She would bring her fire and send it exploding through their war machines in the air, incinerating their forces on the ground. And in her wake she would scatter the wreckage of their mechas like caustic rain upon their strongholds below.

Excellent, Katharine. I'm sure Marc will be sharing everything with the team at his first opportunity.

I'm sure they're excited for the new version of the Phoenix! Hopefully Galactor won't technologically outmatch it too quickly.

Not if Jay's lady friend in the Galactor ranks has any say in it. Speaking of which, Katharine. Are we ever going to find out what connection Marc has to her?

Originally posted by Becky Rock Not if Jay's lady friend in the Galactor ranks has any say in it. Speaking of which, Katharine. Are we ever going to find out what connection Marc has to her?

Eventually. Sequel fic is in the works right now.

Wonderful!

Powerful as ever, MK, especially the last bit! Kudos for the sequel!

[unrecoverable text]

So, Joe wins the bet hands down then LOL. Unusually concise for you Chris, but enjoyable nonetheless.

KT: Jun has certainly learned how to motivate her little brother. Might help that she's had big brothers to observe and practice on! Becky: Well that's not a bad form of fundraising, I guess. As long as it's because they're being snobby and not wanting to ride the bus, and not because they don't have access to a bus. ... and is that Mark in Jason's uniform? Quick thinking, whoever it is! DaniellaT: I'm sure the team would be going "Hah! it's your turn to have your private life put on pause by Galactor!"I'm trying to imagine a young Chief putting a sock on his door ... actually, I'm trying to imagine a young Chief at all. I am surprised he wouldn't have his own room given his huge responsibilities and security issues, but I'm sure a base like that is tight on space. And hey, I like to rag on the Chief, but there's no shame to being his fan. Amethyst: LOL, I can totally see him tying a sock on his door for quiet study time. Hope everything's okay with you. I'm glad to just see your pixels if that's all you have time for, but am looking forward to your writing when you get time for that, too! Gatchamarie: You can do a poem, you know. Or, like me, you can do this one later when you have the time. (I can see that EW is smarter than me and went right to the stored lectures drawer!) Mad Katherine: Intense! I can see how he's carrying a wee bit of anger from the war. You gonna saddle them with the chicken ship??? and KT again: I know, I was pretty shocked at how short it was! But I figured since I'm catching up I wouldn't do a 2 scene post ...

Originally posted by ChrisW (I can see that EW is smarter than me and went right to the stored lectures drawer!)

Smarter?....Nah, I just realized how repetitive the lectures were, invested a little time in organizing them, and now I exert a lot less energy by pulling out a file instead of generating a whole new lecture! (BTW, the only thing I have more extensive than the lecture file is the full-sized copy of The Book of Gatchaman ! It even beats out the unabridged Oxford English Dictionary !)

EW: Glad to hear we have good records around here. Some of us have the memory of a walnut! I'm sure I'll need the occasional repeated lecture, too, so you might as well just put them on repeat.

CW - a little bit of reflection never hurt anyone. Jun's concern is well founded at this point.

Originally posted by ChrisW You gonna saddle them with the chicken ship???

Gah!! /shudder

I'm going to thankfully take that as a no, Katharine.

CW ... I'm glad for Joe to have Jun's understanding and to know that he has shoulders upon which he could lean on!

Continued from #117, #109 and #112. Read those first if you are so inclined. Things should start picking up after this one--at least that's the plan. *bites nails* *********************************************** Prompt # 111 Rain: Dammit! Dammit! Dammit! Those were the words coming from the inside of Joe's trailer, as he raced around the small space, haphazardly placing metal pots about his home. One on the floor by the stove, one in the hallway that led to the tiny bathroom. Oh and one smack dab in the middle of his freaking bed pillow. Dammit. The roof had sprung a leak sometime during the night, while he slept--- dead to the world, not knowing a strong storm front had stalled, dumping torrential rain on the area. He was having a dream he had been captured by Galactor, their latest form of interrogation being Chinese Water torture, only to wake up in the middle of the night to find rain water dripping steadily on his forehead and his pillow soaked. Stubbing his toe on the small coffee table, and knocking a pile of racing magazines into the floor in the process, he plunked down an old saucepan on the floor by the entrance, bare toes squishing uncomfortably on the soggy carpet. He looked around the trailer and growled, as he realized he was running out of pots. This is what he got, he supposed, from thumbing his nose at convention again. Karma was a bitch.. he thought as he sank onto the small couch, arms draped across its back. He propped the foot with the now throbbing toe up on the coffee table and rubbed at an eye with a grubby hand, wondering how much sleep he managed to get. He squinted at the digital clock across the room, the blue numbers telling him it was 3am. That meant he only nabbed about three hours of shut-eye. Jesus. Ask him how you were supposed to fight an intergalactic war, against a crazed purple and red caped freak on three fucking hours sleep. He was willing to bet anything that sometime tomorrow (or was that today?) he'd be called out to fight a chicken mecha or whatever Katse's next ridiculous war machine turned out to be. It would be his luck it would lay a giant egg that would just so happen to land on his trailer. A half-laugh, half-groan escaped his lips. That was, if he was called out at all. After what transpired today, well...who knew what tomorrow would bring. Ken was seriously pissed at him. Joe hadn't seen him so angry with him, not in a long time. Not since that one time he...well....never mind. After the argument, he had stormed out of the conference room, out of the Crescent Coral-- in Birdstyle, no less. He moved silent and swift through the corridors, not even stopping in his quarters before heading to the docking bay for the God Phoenix. With the look on his face, no one dared stop or question him when he said he was taking the G2 back topside. It had been all, "Yes, sir." from there. He raced through the night, watching the road unravel before him, a winding dark ribbon below the darker sky. Peace and quiet at last. Just himself, the purring of the G2's well tuned engine, and the stars above. Pure bliss. Finally alone with his thoughts, he cranked down the window, letting the cool night air ruffle his hair. Ken claimed he undermined his authority. Joe snickered quietly to himself as he downshifted for a sharp turn. Right, like he really wanted Ken's job. Him as Gatchaman? It might have grated on him in the very beginning, being passed over for the position , but it didn't last. He much preferred his role as second. If he were required to be number one, he would probably feel even more restrained than he already was. He didn't think like Ken, fifty steps ahead of everyone else, he couldn't be Ken. Just point him in the direction of their most recent base or mecha, let him go and get out of his way. That was, when he was allowed to. Why was everything always such an argument with Ken? Let him fire off a few a Bird Missiles. No. Let him accompany Jun into the mecha to plant explosives. No. Consider modifying the G2 for more firepower. No. No. No. No. Bad Condor. So what if he bent the rules every now and then? What was the big deal? Did anyone die? Joe accelerated as the road straightened out, pushing the G2 into fifth gear, hands tight on the wheel. What was his job then? To sit back in the God Phoenix twiddling his thumbs? All the introspection did nothing but drain him further. He felt his eyes growing heavy, and his mouth opened wide in a jaw cracking yawn. Maybe he could still get a little sleep before the sun rose. Punching the throw pillow in the corner of the couch with his fist, he drew up his legs, and lay down on his side, sliding his arm beneath the pillow. He swore that he had just closed his eyes, when something tickled his ear. Sleepily he lifted a hand to scratch, and drew back, surprised, when his hand touched wetness. He shifted onto his back only to have a cold drop of water hit him right between the eyes. Not again.... Joe groaned and rose from the couch, fumbling for his battered coffee mug and set it under the drip. He walked, zombie-like to the little closet by the bathroom, and slid the door open, grabbing a heavy blanket and a dry pillow. Fuck it. He was sleeping in the car.

Redbird: Karma is indeed a b*tch. I see you're still keeping us in the dark, you bad girl you, hehe. (Btw, you missed a word in the last sentence.) Poor Joe. I'm sure at moments like this he could almost, ALMOST agree to living at the base most of the time. Almost.

Originally posted by ChrisW Redbird: Karma is indeed a b*tch. I see you're still keeping us in the dark, you bad girl you, hehe.

I know, I know! LOL. (And me, bad? Whatever do you mean?)

Originally posted by ChrisW (Btw, you missed a word in the last sentence.)

Arrgh, stupid cut & paste. Appreciate the heads-up. Thank you!

Originally posted by ChrisWPoor Joe. I'm sure at moments like this he could almost, ALMOST agree to living at the base most of the time. Almost.

Almost .....

Poor Joe, It's karma telling him to find a better home than a trailer. Surely the ISO can pay their saviors enough to afford an apartment.

I had been thinking he'd be better off sleeping in the car...