Baron Samedi

Ruben sighed. He was laying on his bed, fully clothed. He hadn't been to sleep all night, and if they were heading onto the Event Horizon tonight... he would need a rest. They would be reaching it around 10:00pm tonight, and Chubbs insisted that they all sleep during the afternoon so as to be well rested before boarding. Despite the foolishness of keeping time in space, Ruben felt a deep-seated fear of going on board at night. Why couldn't Chubbs hold off until morning? Everything may as well be night out here in space but still... [i]His thoughts trailed off as his mind lulled him into peaceful sleep. Peaceful, dreamless. Quiet[/i].

As the three stalked into the policestation, Petir and Jedgar drew their weapons and ran them around the rooms circumference. Muzzles flashed and glass rained down from the security camera bulbs. Rebecca walked straight through the showering glass and up to the counter. "We're here for a tape" she whispered confidentially to the stunned man at the counter. "Now be a dear and go fetch it for us... oh, and I'm sure you know which one I mean" "Go fuck yourself you crazy bitch" the man yelled, before turning and running down the corridor. Rebecca calmly drew her pistol and sent a slug into the back of his head. Vaulting over the counter, the three went down the corridor, ducking into rooms. Bullets sprayed as the stunned policemen were mown down in their seats. Petir split off, and headed down an adjacent corridor into the security room. He jacked in a new magazine and sprayed the entire security system with bullets. $75,000 worth of computer surveillance equipment exploded into shards of metal and silicon. Turning to the bank of videotapes, he was met by a wall of steel. They'd installed a grilled mesh over it. Searching through his equipment belt Petir pulled out a small vial of Hydrochloric acid. Spraying it onto the lock, he smiled briefly. "An acid plus a metal equals salt, water and hydrogen. Thankyou Miss Kockzenaz" he whispered to himself. He pulled open the mesh and pulled out all of the surveillance tapes, stuffing them into a canvas bag. Meanwhile, Rebecca and Jedgar were in the Sergeant's office. Jedgar jiggled impatiently while Rebecca tried to unlock the safe. "Shit, can't you be still for two minutes?" she hissed at him. She finally solved the combination and reached in. She scooped out a pile of bills, and a tape. Jamming it into a video-recorder she checked it... yes, this was it. Turning, they left the station via the back door, waiting in the alley for Petir. After a few minutes he came out, with a canvas bag over his shoulder. As they hopped into the Ford, Jedgar muttered "Next stop: Sergeant Donovan"

Heh. I was wondering about that... anyway, can someone beat my record? I currently have 1109 Pm's. I'm anal-retentive for keeping Pm's and emails. lol.

Ooh. Kaisuke. Ver' nice work here... especially the top text. I am a massive fan of graff art, and this piece relates back to those kind of roots. Paint drips are awesome, and I love the colour scheme as well as the paint splatters. The block-japanese looks cool, but with the 'Little Japan', perhaps you could space those letters out more? Like, exaggerate their separateness. That would be interesting. Overall, a very good job. Aesthetics: 9/10 Technical: 9/10 *Applauds*

Petir looked up with some surprise as Rebecca enterd the room. Smirking ever so slightly, he mentally wished Giovanni a good evening. On the table in the centre of the room, was a manilla folder. Inside was a set of blue-prints for the station, plus a set of floorplans for the Sergeant's house and the rendezvous man's apartment- the one who had transferred the documents to the police. Petir handed them to Rebecca as he followed [Luigi/jedgar] out of the door. "Hurry up dear, We havn't got [i]all[/i] night to recover the tape" he called back cheekily. Sighing, Rebecca followed him and Luigi/Jedgar down the stairs. Outside they were met by a man in a beaten up Ford utility. Chucking their gear at them, he turned around while they changed. "Don't peak" Rebecca said curtly to the men They obediently turned around, as she stripped. Petir peaked. Grinning slightly, he took a deep breath of the cool night air, as he slipped a black turtleneck sweater over his dress-shirt. Fitting on an equipment belt, he slipped on his trenchcoat. Luigi/Jedgar hopped into the Ford first, followed by Rebecca and then Petir. Luigi/Jedgar grinned "Bit cramped in here, isn't it?" The driver hauled his fat arse into the driver's seat, and started up the engine. Petir looked longingly back out the window of the truck, wishing he was back inside the mansion, not out here. But then again, Rebecca was out here. The Ford utility rumbled slowly out into the streets.

[quote][i]originally posted by Boba fett[/i] As for the Death Penalty being the worst possible punishment, I think that it is the worst punishment offered by the US legal system today. Nothing is more final and uncertain than death. It's the most valuable thing that we can take from a person, as punishment for their crime(s). I just don't see what else can be done, besides a total reform of the prison system. Most other punishments that would be seen as "worse than death", are simply too cruel or unusual to be used today. Even the death penalty has been softened, from gas chambers and firing squads to lethal injections[/quote] For one thing, who is to say that these people value their life? They could do, but they might not as well. Also, in a 2002 or 2003 article I read [I think it was then. It was certainly after '95], there are still some states using the gas chamber and even 1 or 2 utilising firing squads. Injection, or the sweet emptiness of death is nothing... at this stage they have nothing worthwhile left to them. Like the person who commanded and organised the Bali bombings... if they kill him, he is a martyr. he should be given life in prison. There could be nothing worse than living for 50+ years in a 5m by 3m cell. With a bed, and a toilet, and a basin. And that's all. Nothing worse. It is really the ultimate punishment. No contact with people, 3 hours a week in a soltary exercise yard. That is punishment.

wow. That is very impressive. It is hard to tell if they're lightbulbs or ants or what... I think it is a very good design. Marvellous job. I would suggest getting it done vertically, down your spine. But that is just me. I like verticalness. Also, may I ask... Where are you going? Are you leaving? [Re: Your signature]

Petir tried to remain civil, but Di Nardo irritated him. And worse, Rebecca seemed to be enjopying his company. Turning to the bartender, Petir ordered another vodka. He turned back from the bar, just in time to see [Are you Luigi or jedgar now?] leaving the bar. An American Mafia man... he frowned. Something was not right here. Why leave so early, when it was just getting into full-swing. Then, a door at the opposite end of the room banged open. Rushing in, Burov came up to Petir. "Bad news... the Sicilian Police have got hold of a recording of the meeting. We need some agents to go and sieze the tape. One from each section is going. Merzeskey told me to get you" "Shit. Thats fucking great" Petir muttered. Turning to Rebecca Petir excused himself. Leaving the room at a brisk pace, he headed up the stairs, for the bedrooms. Second door on the right.

[OOC: Man, this is convoluted. Time jumps everywhere.] Ruben stuttered to Tex, the words almost falling over each other in a rush to get it off his chest. " I heard you in there... I went to the cells, and you were just standing there, talking on your headset to someone.. and then... then you left... like you never.. evn saw me... or something... I .... was scared.... you acted like you were on your own." Tex looked at him strangely "Are you sure... maybe it was a dream.....?" "No, I was there. Because Chubbs called me soon after... it was worrying" Just then Trini came up.. they had only started talking to her when an alarm echoed throughout the ship. As Trini ran off, Ruben snapped. Dropping his shirt and boots on the ground, he raced off, bare feet slapping on the metal grating. He headed straight for the armoury. Unlocking the doors, he grabbed a small beretta 9mm. For himself, one bullet. One was all he'd need if it came to the worst. He also grabbed a Colt Browining, and a handful of magazines for it. Clicking the Beretta's safety on, he shoved it into the waistband of his boxers. He grabbed a shoulder rig for the Browning. He closed the armoury doors, and locked them, putting the one of only 2 keys into his overalls pocket, which connected through to a chain on his belt. Turning, and now walking in a much calmer fashion, he ignored the PA system cries. He couldn't help with that anyway. He went back and picked up his boots, heading off to his rom. It seems like the [i]Event Horizon's[/i] malice had permeated the very space around it... he had no doubt it was reaching across to their own ship. Suddenly, a scream of anger rang through the ship, and Ruben flinched involunatirly. What the hell? He raced for his room. He needed to be properly prepared before he could face this much drama in one day. It broke in on his thoughts... today they would reach the [i]Event Horizon[/i].

Here is an article I found. I _________________________________________ June 26, 2002 The US Supreme Court has overturned one of their own decisions from just 12 years ago, by ruling that it is unconstitutional for convicted criminals to be sentenced to death by a judge, after being found guilty of murder by a jury. This effectively invalidates the death sentences of 168 people. None are going to be released or anything, they'll probably be switched to life in prison, with some being retried to some extent, with a jury deciding if they deserve life in prison or capital punishment. The decision concerned instances in which juries determined defendants' guilt or innocence and judges alone decided their punishment. The court held that such sentences violate defendants' constitutional right to trial by jury, rejecting the argument that judges can be more evenhanded. "The Sixth Amendment jury trial right ... does not turn on the relative rationality, fairness or efficiency of potential fact-finders," Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg wrote for a majority that included an unusual alliance of conservative and liberal-leaning justices. So this case has nothing to do with the court's approval of execution as a punishment; it's all about the unconstitutionality of a judge alone deciding if someone should get the death penalty or not, after a jury finds them guilty. This is somewhat iffy, since in many/most other types of crime, the punishment is largely up to the judge, if you are found guilty by a jury. So the court seems to be drawing a line between a judge picking 20 years vs. 40 years, and life in prison vs. death. Their decision is immediate law, and is applied retroactively, so everyone on death row now who was put there by a judge's decision alone is somewhat in limbo, but none can be executed without a jury saying that's their fate. So how about this issue in a more general sense? Capital punishment is always a hot issue. I've changed my opinion on it several times over my life, from an absent support as a kid, to opposition in my early twenties, to a sort of ambivalence at this point. I can remember having to write some sort of a school paper about capital punishment when I was in maybe 8th or 9th grade, and I had no problem listing reasons people supported capital punishment, but couldn't think of any to oppose it, and had to ask my mom. Her reasons were sort of squishy, as I would describe them. She held that it encouraged violence in society, was morally wrong, etc. I don't really agree with those, but I can see them as valid PoVs. The reasons you most often see for capital punishment are numerous, and virtually all of them have an equally-effective opposing argument. It would be wonderful if the threat of death were a deterrent to criminals, and that having a death penalty for murder actually made any difference in crime; but since it doesn't, the main reason to have such a punishment is sort of shot down. People contemplating murder don't think, "I'll do it since I'll only get 50 years in prison, rather than the death penalty." They think they'll get away with it, if they think at all. Most don't, most are just random killings during robberies, or in the heat of passion, etc. The other problem with capital punishment is all of the innocent people we've killed thus far. Hundreds of people on death row have been exonerated, proved innocent by new technology (DNA testing, mostly), or new evidence in their cases, corrupt prosecutors or judges, etc. Obviously if that many have been found innocent before they could be killed, lots of others would have been if they weren't dead already. I don't really subscribe to the theory that killing even one innocent person is too heavy a price to pay, but I can see how some would make that argument, and we've indisputably killed some people who were innocent of the crime they died in punishment for. There is also the argument that there's no point in giving someone life in prison w/o the possibility of parole, since why pay for them to live fifty years when they'll never, ever be free? It's wrong to put a price on human life, but if the someone is a vicious, dangerous criminal who has forfeit their right to live in a civilized society, why not just be rid of them? Why keep them alive in prison forever? The problem with that is that there is such a heavy additional burden of proof on capital crimes, years of appeals, expensive trials, lawyer fees, etc, that it's not really any cheaper to do all that to kill them, compared to a much cheaper trial and then years in prison. And see the previous paragraph about the numerous wrongly-convicted people, if your suggestion is to remove the right to appeals. There is another issue with it in the US, and that's the racial aspect of it. I don't have exact figures in front of me, but as it works out, black men convicted of capital crimes are like 10x more likely to be sentenced to death than white men. There are similar odds for rich vs. poor. What it breaks down to is that the rich, or really anyone who isn't really poor, is virtually never sentenced to death, and if you are white you are very unlikely to get that sentence either. If you are black and so poor that you can't afford a decent lawyer, you are really in deep ****. Does the fact that black murderers get the death penalty much more often than white murderers mean that there should be no death penalty? It's certainly open to debate. Another way to look at it is to say that at least some of the murdering scum are being executed, and that it's too bad that more whites who deserve it aren't getting it, but it's not like they're shoveling black car thieves into the abattoir while white rapists get a vacation to Hawaii. How you look at it is up to you. What I would do is have capital punishment, but use it only very sparingly, only for the most heinous crimes, mass murder, serial rapists, etc, and only in open and shut cases. Of course the problem there is who determines if that case qualifies. I'm not available to evaluate them personally, sorry. Most of the rest of the Western world has abolished capital punishment, while truth and justice nations like Iran, Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, Russia, and China all use it as extensively as the US. Puts us in interesting company, eh? If you're reading this from outside the US, you can feel free to *tisk tisk* my typically-American blood-thirsty barbarism, in daring to think that some criminals actually deserve to die for their crimes. __________________________________________ Many convicted murderers are later found innocent, and have been pardoned. It is impossible to pardon a corpse. In 1987, a study was published by the Stanford Law Review. They found some evidence that suggested that at least 350 people between 1900 and 1985 in America might have been innocent of the crime for which they were convicted, and could have been sentenced to death. 139 "were sentenced to death and as many as 23 were executed." _________________________________________ Just some random information. I have over 11 pages of it but you'd get bored. Still, it is interesting stuff, no? I believe that they should be made to suffer for their crimes. Here are some arguments for each side... _______________________________ Common reasons in support of capital punishment The Bible The Bible requires the death penalty for a wide variety of crimes, including sex before marriage, adultery, homosexual behavior, doing work on Saturday and murder. It even calls for some criminals (e.g. prostitutes who are the daughters of priests) to be tortured to death by being burned alive. Most Christians, with the exception of those in the Reconstructionist movement, feel that many of these grounds for the death penalty no longer apply to Christian societies. U.S. However, Bible passages are still used to promote the retention of capital punishment for murderers; some advocate that homosexuals also be executed. Justice/Vengeance Many people feel that killing convicted murderers will satisfy their need for justice and/or vengeance. They feel that certain crimes are so heinous that executing the criminal is the only reasonable response. Deterrence Many people feel that the death penalty will deter criminals from killing. This does not seem to be confirmed by an analysis of the available data. However, it feels intuitively correct for many people. 1 to 6 Value of human life: "It is by exacting the highest penalty for the taking of human life that we affirm the highest value of human life." (Edward Koch). Cost: Once a convicted murder is executed and buried, there are no further maintenance costs to the state. Safety: Once a convicted murderer is executed, there is no chance that he will break out of jail and kill or injure someone. Common reasons against capital punishment The Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament): Some Christians feel that they are no longer bound by the legal codes of the Hebrew Scriptures, and that the death penalty is no longer required. Since the Bible was written, as society became more tolerant, we eliminated the death penalty for pre-marital sex, practicing a different religion, engaging in prostitution, homosexual behavior, blasphemy, rebellion by teenagers, etc. We should eliminate it for murder as well. The Christian Scriptures (New Testament): Abolitionists often quote Jesus' treatment of the adulteress in the Gospel of John as support for their position. (That passage, John 8:7, was probably not written by the author(s) of John). She had been sentenced to death by stoning, but Jesus used a cleaver ploy to gain her freedom. On many occasions, Jesus taught about forgiving people who have wronged you. The beliefs of the early Christian church: Some theologians believe that the early church was closer to Jesus' teachings than are the present-day churches. They were unalterably opposed to the death penalty. Playing God: Executing a person kills him before the time of their natural death. Some Christians believe that God places people on Earth for a purpose. If we kill them prematurely, then we may be thwarting God's will. Effect on society: Some feel that permitting premeditated murder is totally unacceptable, even if done by the state. Capital punishment lowers the value of human life as seen by the general population and brutalizes society. It is based on a need for revenge. It "violates our belief in the human capacity for change....[It] powerfully reinforces the idea that killing can be a proper way of responding to those who have wronged us. We do not believe that reinforcement of that idea can lead to healthier and safer communities." 7 Lack of Deterrence: The death penalty has not been shown to be effective in the reduction of the homicide rate. There are some indications that executions actually increase the murder rate. 1 to 6 Cost: The costs to the state of funding appeals by convicted murderers would more than pay for their permanent incarceration. Value of human life: Human life has intrinsic value, even if a person has murdered another individual. The death penalty denies the sacredness of human life. Live is so precious that nobody should ever be killed, even by the state. Unfairness: The mentally ill, poor, males, and racial minorities are over-represented among those executed. One pilot study of over 2 dozen convicted criminals on death row found that all had been so seriously abused during childhood that they probably all suffered from brain damage. Women convicted of murder are almost never executed; that is a penalty that is almost entirely reserved for men. A 1986 study in Georgia showed that persons who killed "whites were four times more likely to be sentenced to death than convicted killers of non-whites." 8,9,10 The Texas Civil Rights Project issued a report in 2000-SEP which was critical of the justice system in Texas. They made six criticisms which could probably apply to most of the states in the U.S. which still execute prisoners: The defense lawyers are often incompetent. Judges sometimes appoint friends or political associates. Other times, no competent lawyer is willing to accept the case because of the poor compensation paid. District attorney are given "unrestricted discretion" in deciding whether to seek the death penalty. Poor people, and members of minority groups are more likely to be targeted because of prejudice and bigotry. Jurors who may support the death penalty, but have reservation about its use, are eliminated from jury duty. Jurors are often not given the option of a life-without-parole sentence in murder cases. The appeal process has "burdensome, if not impossible, procedures." The process seems designed to speed cases along rather than grant justice. The rules appear to be in flux: the highest appeals court in the state reversed about one out of every three capital sentences prior to 1995. Since 1995, this has reduced to less than 3%. The operation of the Board of Pardons and Paroles in Texas is severely flawed. They do not meet as a group to study evidence and discuss a case. Individual members are sent stacks of documents, and make their decisions via telephone or fax. 11 Chance of Error: Many convicted murderers are later found innocent, and have been pardoned. It is impossible to pardon a corpse. In 1987, a study was published by the Stanford Law Review. They found some evidence that suggested that at least 350 people between 1900 and 1985 in America might have been innocent of the crime for which they were convicted, and could have been sentenced to death. 139 "were sentenced to death and as many as 23 were executed." Horror: Some consider capital punishment to be cruel and unusual punishment. Sending a person to Hell: Some Christians believe that an individual who dies without being "saved" will go to Hell for eternal punishment. By killing the person before the time when they would have naturally died, we are eliminating any chance that they might have for salvation. The family of the prisoner is victimized and punished by having their loved one murdered by the state. Yet the family is usually innocent of any crime. Lack of jury convictions: Some jury members are reluctant to convict in murder trials because of the possibility of executing an innocent person. Thus, many killers go free and are never punished. Uselessness: Killing a murderer does not bring his victim back to life. It achieves nothing but the death of still another person. _____________________________________

Chain-letterness. What is your name? [b]Joshua. But I'll also answer to Engelbert Humperdink. haha. What a fun name.[/b] Spell your name backwards. [b]auhsoJ ro knidrepmuH treblegnE[/b] Date of birth: [b]24-Aug-89[/b] Male or female? [b]M[/b] Astrological sign: [b]Virgo[/b] Nicknames: [b]Josh. Wacko[/b] Occupation? [b]High school Student[/b] Height:[b]Not sure. 1.53m a few weeks ago[/b] Weight: [b]45-50kg[/b] Hair color: [b]Brown[/b] Eye color: [b]Green/hazel[/b] Where were you born? [b]Australia[/b] Where do you reside now? [b]Australia[/b] Age: [b]14[/b] Screen names:[b]Baron Samedi. AIM is BaronSamediOB3[/b] E-mail addy: [b]Not telling. Hah[/b] What does your screen name stand for? [b] Uuh. Take a guess[/b] What is your gangsta name? [b]What?[/b] What does your diary name stand for? [b]What?[/b] Pets: [b]1 dog, 1 rabbit, 2 rats[/b] Number of candles you blew out on your last birthday cake? [b]13[/b] Piercings? [b]None[/b] Tattoos? [b]None[/b] Shoe size: [b]9 in mens?[/b] Righty or lefty? [b]Righty[/b] Wearing right now: [b]Shoes, socks, boxers, jeans, 2 shirts, jumper, cap[/b] Hearing: [b]Online play of the Offspring- Hit that[/b] Feeling: [b] Hungry[/b] Eating/drinking: [b]Chewy[/b] ~Guys/Love/Kissing/And Other Stuff~ Have you ever been in love? [b]Yes[/b] How many people have you told "I love you"? [b]1[/b] How many people have you been in love with?[b]1[/b] How many people have you kissed? [b]0 -.-[/b] Have you ever kissed someone of the same sex? [b]No[/b] How many people have you dated? [b]1[/b] What do you look for in a guy/girl? Looks first. Then personailty. If I feel compatible and if I like her.. thats that What's the first thing you notice about the opposite/same sex? [b]Looks. How can you notice anything else? Specific looks. Face first. IF they have a hot bod but a crap face.. no thanks[/b] What type of guy/girl do you usually go for? [b]Any[/b] Do you have a bf/gf? [b]Yes[/b] If so where did you meet them? [b]Ozspell competition[/b] What do you like most about your bf/gf? [b]Everything[/b] Do you have a crush right now? [b]My G/f[/b] If so who is it? [b]-[/b] Do you believe in love at first sight? [b]I suppose. Should be called lust though[/b] Do you remember your first love? [b]My mum. ^___^[/b] Who is the first person you kissed? [b]No-one -.-[/b] Do you believe in fate? [b]Depends what day it is[/b] Do you believe in soul mates? [b]Yah[/b] If so do you believe you'll ever find yours? [b]Maybe[/b] ~Family Stuff~ How many siblings do you have? [b]0[/b] What are your parents names? [b]Anne. Russ [Eugene][/b] What are your siblings names? [b]-[/b] How many siblings does your mother have? [b]1[/b] How many siblings does your father have? [b]0[/b] Where are your parents from? [b]Mum-Australia. Dad- America[/b] Is your family close? [b]Mum 'n' me are.[/b] Does your family get together for holidays? [b]No[/b] Do you have a drunk uncle? [b]lol. No[/b] Any medical problems run through your family? [b]No[/b] Does someone in your family wear a toupee? [b]No[/b] Do you have any nieces or nephews? [b]No[/b] Are your parents divorced? [b]Yes[/b] Do you have step parents? [b]Yes. Two. I have two full sets of parents. haha[/b] Has your family ever disowned another member of your family? [b]No[/b] If so for what? [b]-[/b] Did some of your family come to America from another country? [b]I don't live in America. Pull your head out your butt. There are other world countries[/b] ~Music Stuff~ What song do you swear was written about you or your life? [b]Hit that[/b] What's the most embarrasing cd you own? [b]Shrek? But I'm not embarassed[/b] What's the best CD you own? [b]Red Hot Chilli's 'By The Way'[/b] What song do you absolutely hate? [b]The Birdie Dance[/b] Do you sing in the shower? [b]Oh yes.[/b] What song reminds you of that special someone? [b]Don't know. Lots of songs.[/b]

Ruben cringed visibly. This innocuous man had suddenly opened up a hell-pit. Granted it was obvious he was not normal, but he was just so... drab in appearance. Ruben's suspicions were confirmed. A demon. Grimacing, Ruben flung some insistent man off his arm. Then he was knocked to the floor. A large wolf, about the size of a small horse was standing over him, slavering horribly. Grunting, Ruben shoved it off, and got to his feet. Squaring his shoulders, and shifting his centre of gravity lower, Ruben turned to face the beast. It seemed that some of the occupants here were not at all what they seemed.

Petir returned the look, allowing his eyes to rest on her lush, almost overripe body. And what a body..... Eh. He needed her. As her gaze flicked away... [[i]hard catch[/i]] .. he followed it. Within her own section, a man. Di Nardo, the Bear. Hhmm. Bedmates? Or a concerned member? Hhmmm. Petir frowned, going over the possibilities. Ah well, we'll just have to see which way the dice land on this roll. As the meeting drew to a close, the Mafia left, starting with the lesser outer rings. As Merzeskey got to his feet, aided by one of the Clan Chiefs, Petir stood, hand underneath his coat. Whacks were known to happen, even at meetings. As Merzeskey and his entourage left the room, Petir and Stefen [another Mafia guard] followed up. Merzeskey predictably headed directly for the drinking room. Nothing like a good few drinks to clear up the mist of a meeting. Most of the other sections followed them. It was not a compulsory activity, but most attended. Plots, intrigue and plans, not to mention private alliances were often made or breaked in these things. Everyone got loose after a few drinks, and not attending could be very dangerous... for one's 'health'. Also, as a big relief to the guards, these after meeting activites were sacred. No whacks here. That meant a few drinks. Petir headed straight over to the bar. 'Straight Vodka, touch of orange' He turned, and leaning on the bar surveyed the room's occupants, especially looking for that girl...

[2:20 am] Ruben headed towwrds the medical bay, but paused at the intersecting corridors leading off towards the shower-rooms. Maybe he just needed to relax, and the showers would certainly help him with that. He opened the smoked glass sliding dorr leading in, and crossed to the opposite wall, where the lockers where. Opening his, he grabbed a towel, and headed over to a shower cubicle, his rubber boots squeaking slightly on the white tiles. Stripping off his overalls, Ruben sat on the bench. Damn knots, he couldn't get his boots off. Finally removing them, he stepped into the shower, setting the temperature for 30 degrees celsius. As the warm water sluiced over his body, removing the days grime and sweat, he felt relaxed, for the first time in a long while. His back towards the cubicle door, Ruben jumped when a resounding crash broke into his thoughts. Turning, heart pounding Ruben saw a black shadow slump to the ground, leaning against the cubicle door. It had left a long, red smear down the previously misted glass. Ruben almost vomited. Someone had been killed. Or hurt. This was his job to prevent. Slipping on his overalls, he kept his ears 'open' for any sounds. Nothing. Without putting on his boots, he edged closer to the door. Swinging it open he burst into the center of the bathroom. Nothing. Turning around, he looked at the cubicle he had just burst from. Nothing. No blood, no body. Nothing. Just the stark emptiness, and the harsh fluorescent lighting. Taking one last glance around the room, Ruben's heart was pounding. Was he going crazy? As he turned back towards his cubicle, something caught his eye. The shower was red with blood. It was oozing out from between the tiles, dripping from the showerhead. Screaming, Ruben turned to run, slipping on the wet tiles. He crashed to the floor, and lay there, unconscious. A soft malignant chuckle echoed through the ship. [5:50 am] Ruben came to, his body cramping from lying on the cold, hard tiles. He winced, and then turned around. Nothing. No blood, nothing. He came to his feet, grabbed his shirt and boots and hurried out, holding his overalls up with one hand. He desperately needed to talk with Van. Something was happening. To him or the ship, he was not sure. [EDIT: OOC: Haha, Annie, I meant Van. Oopses]

I can understand religious viewpoints on this... you view it as abhorrent. Fine, but if it doesn't involve you, give it a rest. Beastiality and homosexuality can not be compared. People should be free within the law to have free rights over marriage. It doesn't have to be a religious marriage, just a legal one. Why should they be denied this right? If the marriage itself isn't tied into religion, then there is no problem. They deserve recognition, as humans who love one another. Why should this not be so?

As host, Merconi gestured for one of the other Dons to lead them into introductions. The American Don, Jason der' Ottowelm stood first. He introduced himself, and his top area chiefs. Chicago, New York, Detroit and Las Vegas. Big cities, big income, big work. Then Merzeskey stood, and introduced his area chiefs. Moscow, Voldograd, St. Petersburg and Yetrema. Merconi then stood, and repeated his own introductions. Then they got down to business. Accountants presented income figures, pie graphs of areas covered, reports on rival organisations, news, gang wars, Government problems. Drug imports, the sex trade, politics, racketeering. Nothing was sacred in the game of life. Petir's eyes flickered around the room. There were men he recognised, from previous jobs, or reputation. By far the most impresisve in appearance were the Americans. Whilst Russian's tended to dress 'down', and the Sicilians were rather formal, the American's egos perpetuated grandness. Some of the hitmen there had a tattoo made for every murder they had done. They were big, muscle-bound thugs. Not all of them, but a few. As the presenter droned on, Petir found himself nodding off. To stimulate his interest, he sought out any ladies in the groups. In front of him, Petir watched the Russian women fawning over the don. It was sickening, and they did nothing for him. They were... contemptible. However, many of the American women, and even some of the Sicilian ones were... iyeh. Real pieces. Shifting uncomfortably in his seat, Petir dreaded the long hours ahead. The night was yet early, but, at the end. Ahah, carousment. The big drinking spree. Those parties were wild. Damn sicilians, they knew how to have a good time. Grinning to himself, Petir drew his attention back to the present.

[OOC: I assume that you were referring to me terra] Petir sighed wistfully. Ah well, that was a hot one. But there was always time later. 'Rasputin' called him inside, the meetings were about to start. Petir flicked the last of his cigarette onto the ground, and walked inside, heading for the 'Boardroom' as they all referred to it. He stepped inside, and headed for the front row. The room was organised into thirds, situated around a central, circular table. Sicily, America and Russia, each section measured to the exact same length as the others. Expanding rings radiated outwards from the expensive Oaken table. Seated directly at the table were 12 people. 3 dons, and each of the top 3 Clan-Leaders. Then came a ring of bodyguards, the Elite-Guards [where Petir took his seat], then the Clan-Leaders and bodyguards, then regional leaders. The main heads of the entire Mafia family were seated in one room. The tension was strong, but the family... was stronger. The Mafia literally owned whole countries. But, unbeknowst to them, something, very soon, could change that. Glancing across to the Sicilian section, Petir espied the girl from the balcony. Catching her eye, he winked outrageously at her, then turned to survey the rest of the room.

[quote][i]Originally posted by Deathbug[/i] *Reflects on the hilariousness of capital punishment being brought up by the poster with "Mr. Men" in his signiture =)* [/quote] Oh, I know. But it makes it oh so much more fun when I come in and kick their butts, especially if they underestimate me ;) Ok. Capital Punishment. I used to bve an advocate of it, because surely, it would act as a deterrent, be cheaper on the state, and an eye for an eye works well. However, my research has unearthed a lot more stuff [which you guys have now stated as well] When I get home I can add actual statistics to my post, but for now... Cheaper: It is actually more expensive to issue and enact the detah penalty, than it is to support them in jail for the rest of their lives. Deterrent: It isn't. In no state that has the death penalty, has the murder or [other] instances decreased. There is no noticeable decrease in cases whenever a state introduces or removes the death penalty. Eye for an eye: I agree with this, but injection does not really do anything... it is easy. Some more... exotic form of dispatchment should be practiced, but then, that is cruel and inhumane and in breach of human rights. So, go vigilantes. Anyhow, we can't. And killing them does nothing. We should make them live in jail, to rot for the rest of their lives. And don't put them in solitary, especially the child molesters. All criminals hate molesters or rapists, so the authorities put them, separately. Which is crap, they deserve to be punished. Accidents can also happen. I believe, from memory, that 12 or so people have been killed, and then post-humously pardoned when it was found that they were innocent. What a big relief. I'm sure it made them feel much much better. All in all, the death penalty, whilst somewhat appeasing the vengeful feelings of the victim's families, does not really solve the problem, and may in fact create more.

Ruben lay there, for how long he knew not. Tears coursed silently down his face, but he didn't know why. One crewman dead, a person who didn't even see him, and the whole damn, empty feeling of the ship. It was a fairly large ship, but not so large. Maybe it was just him, but it seemed to be trying to isolate them all. He always seemed to be on his own, on a massive, empty ship. He knew the others were here, he saw them, occasionally. But mostly, even if he saw them... he still felt alone. It felt like he was being isolated. Turning over, Ruben checked what time it was. The dull green hands on his watch showed 2:10am He was tired, he'd gone to bed at 9:00 and hadn't even had so much as a wink of sleep. Getting up, he slipped on his overalls, and headed for the medical bay, maybe Van had some sleeping pills. Or maybe they could just talk.

[OOC: This begins about a week before the shipment is found out. Mafia are being called to Sicily for a meeting, of all the heads. The Mafia people are acting as bodyguards for the Godfathers and other Mafia heads attending. Yakuza are currently sending for the shipment, and just doing Yakuza stuff.] [i]Petir gazed idly out of the window of the Mercedes Benz. As the car wound its way through the twisting streets of the upperclass Sicilian residences, pedestrians sent it nervous glances. There was only one type of person who would drive such a car in such a place. Mafia Dons. The Benz swung through the wide cast iron gates of the Sicilian Godfather's official residence. It's specially re-inforced tires crucnhed on the gravel as it slowed, then stopped, exactly five feet from the massive cathedral style front door of the mansion. The door opened, and a bustle of bodyguards came out, shepherding Don Vladimir Merzeskey into the cool marble interior, and safety of the hall. Inside, waiting was the Sicilian Godfather, Don Marseilles Merconi. Who would bow down to who? The bodyguards tensed, trigger fingers inching as their hands moved towards their coats. Eventually Merzeskey relieved the tension by stepping forward and extending his hand.[/i] [OOC: Sicilian Mafia are here. Other Mafia groups will be arriving shortly. Keep in mind that this is extremely formal, these are some of the worlds most powerful men here.]

Ok Arika, you're in. Yes Shinobi, Baron forgot -.- Sorry. I am going to put it up now. I didn't end up with much time on the weekend, but I'm setting it up now.

I am currently researching it for a school activity... and America seems to be cropping up tonnes. However, I am interested to know your views for and against Capital Punishment as well. Once I get some free time, I will post up mine. Please be level-headed. Also, in your views please state what types of crimes deserve Capital Punishment, in your opinion. Should we have it? Is it good? Why should/n't it be practiced?

Funshine sighed. This was pointless. They'd been wandering for hours, but it all looked the same. Slumping agaoinst a tree trunk, he let the group go on ahead. It wasn't like they cared about him anyway. And what was the point. As he slipped to the ground, he looked beseechingly at the sky. And... there was the sun. He felt a glimmer of something, something... A cloud went over the sun. He looked down, and sat there dejectedly. It was just so... depressing.......

Hhhmmm. This seems to be quite well thought out... I'll have a go at it. [color=darkred][b]Name[/b]: Ruben Thorne [b]Age[/b]: 17 [b]Class[/b]: Theif [b]Description[/b]: Very short, about 1.3m, solidly built, and weighing 50kg, Ruben could easily be mistaken for a younger child. He is reasonably muscled, and dresses all in black. Slightly baggy cotton pants, a canvas shirt with a smooth black leather vest, which contains many hidden pockets. He also has a black cloak over this, which he childishly delights in swirling around dramatically. [b]Bio[/b]: Ruben was very inept at school as a child. He wasn't dumb, just lazy. He had no motivation, no wish to learn. Plus, why learn, when you can pull pigtails? Much more fun, especially the squeals. Eventualy, out of exasperation, his parents removed him from school. So he was forced to help around the home. Ruben was prone to lazing around, day-dreaming, until one day... he thought of stealing. How fun would that be? So, he went into the town, and shop-lifted from the grocery store. Wow, what a rush. From then on, he became very dedicated to improving. He is fast, handy and conniving. He has been caught three times, but not for a few years now. Recently, he has felt an urge to be more... hip. i.e. poseur. Which explains the cloak. He has also made several... expeditions into the palace, and knows his way around. Very useful to any attempts. [b]Starting point[/b]: Hollow tree in Somnolent Forest [b]Primary Weapon[/b]: Short stabbing sword, approx 60cm in length, blade dimmed with grease to avoid reflections. [b]Secondary weapon[/b]: Pair of throwing knives in boots. [b]Items[/b]: [At this stage] Stale bread, cheese [b]Spell[/b]: [Is this allowed?] Mini-Thorne. Creates a small Ruben-sprite which can get into tight places.. or out of them.[/color] Hope this works. Any pointers?

Hehehe. You're a crack-up PT. It actually looks pretty good. Maybe some effects in the cntre would be good, but you can probably leave that. However, with the text-links on the side, it might look better if the letters are more spaced out from each other- they just look a bit cluttered, and perhaps buttons next to them? A GTA theme though.. like cop-lights or mini-car keys. I don't know. Anyway, this is pretty good. I like it. Aesthetics: 7.5/10 Technical: 7/10