This week's Bradbury's Jar is: glitter Since Gatchamania was down I originally posted it on MsAnn's site here

I'll be nice and post the response I'd originally posted at the Crescent Coral Base. ==================== Chris rubbed the bridge of her nose because a headache was threatening to explode inside her brain. Once again Gatchamania was down; it was becoming a regular event -- every weekend for the past several months Spectra launched a successful cyber attack. Even though the site would be back up on Sunday, it would be down again the following Saturday. The frustration and stress caused by the fact that Zoltar was hell-bent on having a fansite outside the Crab Nebula was becoming a regular component of the members' lives. Add that to all of the small problems and glitches of everyday life ganging up on her simultaneously, and the fact she had lost her inspiration for sketching....well, it was no wonder she felt like sitting in one spot, feeling like a headachy blob, feeling like something's missing.... Wait a minute. something was missing. She looked around her. "Kat?" She leaned closer to the floor, scanning for some sign of the Fennec kit. Finally, she spotted some dots a short distance away. But then she realized they weren't dots. They were paw prints. Multicolored paw prints. Uh oh. Chris followed the trail that looped around five times, went onto baseboards three times, and up onto two chairs until she came upon her target. "Kat, I gave you a bath this morning!" Chris whined as she saw the small, young fox. Kat was surrounded by blue, green, and purple paw prints. "Well," Chris sighed, "at least you didn't find any glitter glue."

A Spectran cyber attack would be the only thing that could explain why Gatchamania is down so often... Zoltar is on to us! EW, I think you've started a new trend, of fics with pics in them, good idea!

Originally posted by ElectricWhite I'll be nice and post the response I'd originally posted at the Crescent Coral Base. ====================

Me too! Joe was in no hurry as he returned to his quarters at Crescent Coral base after the mission. Nambu Hakase didn't require the team for debriefing for another 20 minutes, and he was looking forward to a nice, hot shower. He performed the familiar ritual to begin the process of transforming back into civilian clothing, and suddenly everything seemed wrong. When the tingling sensation and the bright lights faded he was still in Birdstyle, only without the helmet and cape. Then his wristband began to randomly chirp, crackle and flash. He tried to tap the faceplate, attempting to make it re-set, but was met with more insistant bursts of random noise and flashing light. The tingling began again. Dreading what might result from the transformation sequence, he quickly removed the bracelet from his wrist and dropped it onto the floor. Still the radio static crackles and intermittent chirps continued, and now the Birdscramble was flashing too. Within 30 seconds the rest of the team burst through Joe's door, followed a moment later by Nambu Hakase. "What the hell's going on, Joe?" Ken exclaimed. "No idea!" replied a stunned semi-Condor. "We were all getting signals from your wristband - no words, just static. Then the Birdscramble." "I don't know what's going on. I just tried to change out of Birdstyle and the damned thing went haywire!" Nambu Hakase picked up the offending article and managed to open the faceplate. A sprinkle of shiny, metallic particles rained onto the floor. "Glitter!" Jinpei shouted, excitedly. "That explains the sparkles in your hair," Jun giggled, "and on your face." She attempted to brush the tiny glistening spots from Joe's cheek, but they wouldn't budge. "Hmmm. How did you get glitter in your wristband, Joe?" Nambu Hakase enquired. "Katse!" Joe growled. "I had him within my grasp, then he just vanished in a cloud of this stuff." " Makes a change from smoke, I guess," Ryu offered. "Well," Nambu Hakase began, "these tiny particles have enough metallic content to play havoc with the radio signals emitted by the wristband. When Joe triggered the transformation process it caused a chain of confused signals to be transmitted to all connected frequencies. I'm afraid the wristband will have to be meticulously cleaned and tested before I can return it to you, Joe." "What?! That shiny dust caused all this? Can't you at least get me out of Birdstyle first?" "You'll have to come down to the lab for that. In the meantime the rest of you will help the engineering maintenance crew go over the God Phoenix with a fine toothed comb. Unfortunately glitter has a tendancy to get into everything and hang around for a long time. Even a small amount like this can cause critcal electrical systems to fail, so you will need to carefully check and clean everything." "Great! We bring down a gargantuan enemy mecha and destroy a Galactor base only to be brought down by tiny bits of shiny dust," Jinpei grumbled. "Let's just hope Katse doesn't realise how effective this could be as a weapon," Ken warned. "This could be disastrous. "Yes," agreed Nambu Hakase. "I'll work on ensuring the wristbands are better protected against such fine particles. It remains to be seen whether The God Phoenix has suffered any ill effects, but we may need to take precautions there too. Come on, Joe. We'll get you back in civilian clothing and you can join te others cleaning the God Phoenix."

Originally posted by Daniella T EW, I think you've started a new trend, of fics with pics in them, good idea!

What can I say? That little darling was so cute I couldn't resist finding a way to share! Katblu, I just hope real-life terrorists don't develop a glitter bomb -- it would be both devastating and humiliating!

EW: Poor Kat looks so miserable. *cries* Katblu: Still loving the glitter bomb.

Originally posted by ChrisW EW: Poor Kat looks so miserable. *cries*

Chris, I've taken a closer look, and it looks like she took a taste of the paint! BLEAH!

"The blue does NOT taste like blueberry!"

Done on the fly, in 5 minutes, sorry for errors. Jun examined the finishing touches on her latest creation. Smiling with satisfaction, she wrapped it in brightly coloured paper for his birthday. Later that day at the Snack J. "Happy birthday to you...happy birthday dear Keeennnn, happy birthday to you." That all sang joyfully as Jun played her guitar, doing a personal number just her Eagle. Ken pretended not to notice the lyrics, squirming in his seat he helped himself to a second slice of cake. Joe handed him a beer. Hopefully he'd get a few hints from the song she chose. Sighing heavily from his lack of response it appeared not. What will take? She wondered, how many hints can a girl give? Finally she handed him her carefully wrapped present. "Gee, thanks Jun." Ken smiled joyfully. "You went to a lot of effort here, I love the card, nice touch. Jun returned his smile. "Thank you." Ken slowly opened his birthday present, the paper crackled as he revealed his gift. Kens expression wasn't what she anticipated. Bright pink sparkling glitter fell all over the floor, a gust of wind blew it into his face. "Oh Ken," She gasped. I'm sorry." Ken stared at the picture, his mouth gulping like a goldfish thrown out of its fishbowl "I made it for you, I was a little short on time, since we got called out." Jun gushed, wondering what was wrong. "Ummm... Jun." Joe grinned wickedly. "Thats one way to get the message across. Whats with the huge glitter love heart canvas, its not Valentines day." Jun had only recently taken up art, she knew a few classes would help, but Ken could be dense sometimes. "I like it Jun, "Ken stumbled over his words. "I'm umm sure I can find a spot in the shack for it. Better go do that now." Fleeing the building before anyone could say another word.

I can see this happening! (Though, to be honest, I first thought the picture was going to be more, um, graphic...) I wonder how long he's going to find one or two pieces of glitter stuck on his face!

LOL, poor Ken. I can't remember where I heard it but I adore the phrase "Glitter is the herpes of the craft world." So contagious, gets everywhere!

EW, its five minutes of quick writing for the fun of it. However, my mind wasn't on smut at the time, but now that I'm thinking about it. Mmmm....

Originally posted by Ebonyswanne However, my mind wasn't on smut at the time, but now that I'm thinking about it. Mmmm....

There was a time I never would have thought of it, either....I guess I've simply been around TJ and Chris too long!

Never have I been so maligned!!!!!!!!

Originally posted by ChrisW Never have I been so maligned!!!!!!!!

Save the drama -- I ain't your mama! Anyway, I thought you'd be proud -- you're able to influence people!

Gatchamania, smut, all goes together!!!

EW- that was great! Just the type of thing Zoltar would do! Kat- what a great weapon- so effectivel! Hope Nambu comes up with a good solution ! Ebony- so sweet! Poor Ken was so embarrassed!

EW: Aw, poor pup in paint -- but still very cute even so! Katblu: It's like they always say -- it's not the big things that can bring you down, it's the little things! Little sparkling things, in this case ... lol Ebonny -- LOL! If Jun ever hopes to get anywhere with Ken, she would have to do something like that! (Ken can be a lot dense!) lol

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