Horendithas

[COLOR="Indigo"]theslackerz is an awesome site with the comics they've produced, so with that in mind, I present this little gem for your enjoyment. [CENTER][URL="http://theslackerz.com/comic/003.jpg"][COLOR="DarkOrchid"]What'cha gon' do?[/COLOR][/URL][/CENTER][/COLOR]

[COLOR="Indigo"]And here this reminds me of Des. =P I'm putting it here though since it also reminds me of other members who are technically inclined with a computer. [CENTER][IMG]http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/funny-pictures-kitten-looks-for-bugs-in-your-computer.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER][/COLOR]

[COLOR="Indigo"]This topic reminds me of religion since it's so full of speculation and guesswork and no actual facts. All conjecture and no substance. Just what you [I]think [/I]might be. Though I'm sure some would argue otherwise for religion, but that's besides the point. Anyway, my point being, as interesting as the concept is, I don't really think they do or don't exist, let alone any technology they might have. There just isn't anything to make me want to believe in such a thing. Because either it does exist or it doesn't. It's fun to imagine to a certain point but that's about it. Though a lot of the insane sci fi shows out there are amusing. Oh and it does make me think of this: [CENTER][IMG]http://images.icanhascheezburger.com/completestore/2008/9/16/128660806259082103.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER] :blulaugh:[/COLOR]

[COLOR="Indigo"]I find the comparison to switching from other technology flawed, just as I find the comparison of a shotgun wedding flawed as well. This is a government mandate on communications. Something that I would normally be annoyed over except for one important detail. It doesn't affect the actual content of what's being sent. You can argue that they are forcing you to have to purchase new TV's or equipment and though it's true since to continue watching TV on an analog set would require a digital-to-analog converter if your TV is older. (new ones being made are required to have one already) The cost of these converters that are estimated to cost between $40 - 70 can be offset by making use of this: [U]Government Coupon Program[/U] [LIST][*] To help offset the cost of these converters, the government created the TV Converter Box Coupon Program. [*] This Program provides up to two coupons per household while supplies last. [*] The coupons are each worth $40 and can be applied to the cost of eligible converter boxes. [*] To apply for government coupons visit [url]www.dtv2009.com[/url] or call 1-888-DTV-2009.[/LIST] If you decide to get a new TV, it needs to have a digital tuner, but it does not have to be HDTV capable. So you're not looking at forking out a lot of money on a more expensive TV just to be able to watch broadcasts. If you're like me and you get cable, you already get digital transmissions and your cable box solves that issue. So when the change comes around, it won't make any difference to me at all. So overall, I really have no issue with this whatsoever. In the past switching over to something new was a long and tedious process. Company's had to spend a lot of time pestering someone like the FCC to get their equipment listed as being standard. Like color TV's. So I think it will be interesting to see it done differently this time. I see this as giving the inevitable switch to digital a swift kick in the rear instead of letting consumers and companies alike resist the change. I'm curious to see how it goes actually.[/COLOR]

[COLOR="Indigo"][SIZE="1"][CENTER][B][SIZE="2"]Ruled by Secrecy [/SIZE][/B][/CENTER] Adrian was kind of keeping track of time and at the same time he was not. The routine was almost always the same. The morning would be spent going over recently learned material while adding any new as Karl saw fit. After a short break, the afternoon would then be spent in full out sparring. In addition to that, Karl was slowly introducing the use of only one scythe. One means of using it was something that Adrian had never thought of before. It required using more spiritual energy, even though summoning one?s scythe wasn?t that difficult. But learning to use unarmed combat and pull out the scythe only for certain finishing moves was taking time to get use to. His instinct was to simply hang onto it instead of using it skewer a target, and simply allow it to return to its resting place until the next move where it would be handy came up. Sometimes Karl even had him using it like a makeshift spear. Then, once he was too exhausted to do anything else, Karl would tell him and Astera to shove off and rest. Depending on how tired he was, they?d either wander off for long walks in the surrounding country side or he?d make use of the small bedroom that was his to sleep for a few hours. Adrian was waking up from one of those moments when he realized that Astera, though sleeping, was not on her usual silk blankets to the side of his pillow on the bed. Puzzled, he took a moment to clean up and then go and find her. She wasn?t far, the bond told him that much. But since she was sleeping, he couldn?t see where she actually was. It didn?t take him long to find her. Astera was leaning up against Karl. They were on one of the chairs on the front veranda. Karl was sprawled out on his stomach, his head resting between his front paws. Only a tiny twitch of his ears indicated that he had noticed Adrian?s presence. It took Adrian a moment to realize that he was actually purring. He blinked in surprise and then turned to go and find Gavrie instead of waking Astera up. [I]Since when did?[/I] he came up short when the door opened and Gavrie stepped out. ?[B]There you are,[/B]? he glanced at Karl and Astera briefly before turning back to address Adrian. ?[B]I need to run an errand to the capitol and you?re coming with me.[/B]? Adrian?s eyebrow shot up. ?[B]An errand?[/B]? ?[B]Yes,[/B]? he grabbed Adrian?s arm when he turned to wake Astera. ?[B]The distance between here and the capitol isn?t that far. Let her sleep.[/B]? Adrian nodded. What he said was true. If compared to human measurements, it wasn?t more than twenty of their miles. He looked over to the pair, but other than Karl stretching a little, it was clear that Astera was not going to wake up any time soon. Her breathing was slow and steady. ?[B]So,[/B]? Adrian said once they were out of earshot. ?[B]What is this errand that you need to do?[/B]?[/SIZE][/COLOR]

[COLOR="Indigo"]I am listening to this: [CENTER][YOUTUBE="Ruled By Secrecy"]ofLz8Dxi_Jc[/YOUTUBE][/CENTER] Yes I know it's not a heavy rock/metal song... [SIZE="1"][I]Shaddup[/I][/SIZE] [/COLOR]

[COLOR="Indigo"][quote name='Boo'][size=1]Is it just me or is this now just Caturday but then that people think of member names to put above the pictures? :whoops:[/size][/QUOTE]Naw, you've just never seen Ace fail at Kung Fu. =P I'm not sure about Lunar's post though, there isn't even a name above it. Nevermind, I think I'll just remove it and remind people to read the first post if they are uncertain about the rules to this little game. [/COLOR]

[COLOR="Indigo"][quote name='The13thMan'][FONT="Trebuchet MS"]I think my last account was locked up by a mod for some various reason. I guess i've got a knack for either pissing people off or breaking rules that i don't agree with. A mesh of the two?[/FONT][/QUOTE]It's more likely that you simply forgot your password since your older account here: [URL="http://www.otakuboards.com/member.php?u=14339"][U]Attimus331[/U][/URL] Isn't locked or banned. =P Anyway, my first user name was [B]indifference[/B]. Chosen because I joined other forums filled with n00bs and utter morons. You like yaoi? Flames! You no like Naurto and InuYasha? Flames! So I walked away from that and other nonsense and picked[B] indifference[/B] since I wasn't going to change my opinion to cater to that. I didn't really run into that here though. Then in the last year I got tagged as [B]Indi[/B] [SIZE="1"][I]*looks at Allamorph*[/I] [/SIZE]I ignored it, but it ended up sticking and even getting used in real life by my friends. Net result... I changed it to [B]Indi[/B] here and Adam was kind enough to change it over at theOtaku as well. I didn't ask him to though. And yes I changed it because I like it. [SIZE="1"][I]*pokes Allamorph*[/I][/SIZE][/COLOR]

[COLOR="Indigo"]I'm not really into body mods, but at the same time I do have pierced ears. I do like having that for earings, but that's about it. Not that I think they're bad, I just have no interest beyond wearing earings. There just isn't much of a selection for clip earings and those things are uncomfortable. The advantage to pierced is once it heals up, you no longer have that issue. [/COLOR]

[CENTER][IMG]http://images.icanhascheezburger.com/completestore/2008/9/5/eatrightexerc128651416557127145.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER]

[CENTER][IMG]http://images.icanhascheezburger.com/completestore/2008/9/6/128652029660531500.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER]

[COLOR="Indigo"]I'm not sure if we could hit 3000, but it would be interesting to see just how many we could get. Even if we didn't break the old record, it would still be fun. Plus hitting Adam up about it is a good idea. =P I know I will when I get the chance.[/COLOR]

[CENTER][IMG]http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h167/Desbreko_Fanclub/VBO/indiavi.jpg[/IMG] [IMG] http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/9613/sabavixi1.jpg[/IMG] [/CENTER][SIZE="1"] Jeff was wondering how the hell he had ended up with the duty of listening to some complaints from the more wealthy passengers. He had a sneaking suspicion that the Major had done it as a subtle jab at Ms Wells for her role at the space station. By passing the buck for less serious matters to her it was essentially saying ? this is what you?re good for and nothing else. Though that meant Ms Wells had delegated it to him since she was in meetings with the Captain. This was most definitely [I]not[/I] in his job description. Just about every one of the people he had talked to in the past hour had been nothing more than silly passengers who were fretting over things that weren?t important. It was the last one that actually concerned him. It was someone named Misha who was positive that one of the passengers who had visited the space station, a Viktor Ivanov had not returned on the shuttle. He had been there so if someone really had been missed, that was a serious problem that needed to be dealt with. Especially if it really was the son of Mikhail Ivanov: founder of Ivan Enterprises. Losing someone like that on a voyage would have serious repercussions. A knock on the small conference room caught his attention and he looked up from the small terminal that he was logged into. It was one of the secretaries. ?[B]Your last appointment is here sir.[/B]? ?[B]Send them in.[/B]? She nodded and opened the door to admit the very person who was supposed to be missing. [I]What the hell?[/I] He stood up. ?[B]You must be Ms. Wells assistant.[/B]? The man was across the room in a few strides his hand out to shake his. ?[B]I?m her personal security actually.[/B]? Jeff corrected him. ?[B]Of course, my mistake.[/B]? He let go of his hand. ?[B]I wanted to apologize for wasting your time. Misha was not aware that I had decided to tour sections of the Von Braun upon my return.[/B]? ?[B]Not aware?[/B]? Jeff raised an eyebrow, that didn?t make sense to him. He?d done enough security for the more wealthy to know that someone like Misha would have come along [I]specifically[/I] to keep track of someone like Viktor Ivanov. ?[B]It?s my fault. I?m supposed to let him know everything I?m up to but I had my mind on other matters.[/B]? ?[B]I see.[/B]? There was something off about what he was telling him, but Jeff wasn?t sure what it was and he didn't really have the time to find out. ?[B]I suggest you work that out in the future. I?m sure Misha would appreciate it.[/B]? He gave him a long searching look. ?[B]Of course.[/B]? Viktor smiled charmingly. ?[B]Thank you for your time.[/B]? Jeff watched as he turned and left the room after nodding politely in his direction. His instincts were telling him that something was off, but for now he'd have to leave it be. He was supposed to join Ms. Wells on the bridge asap. [hr=indigo]100[/hr] [CENTER][IMG]http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h167/Desbreko_Fanclub/VBO/indiavi.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/8936/avatar21crewxq4.gif[/IMG] [IMG]http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h167/Desbreko_Fanclub/VBO/avatar1_crew.gif[/IMG][/CENTER] ?[B]How did the meetings go Jeff?[/B]? Samantha smiled as he approached her and the Captain on the bridge. ?[B]Fine ma?am. Nothing serious.[/B]? ?[B]Good.[/B]? She smiled again. ?[B]I?m almost done with the meeting here. How about we get some dinner when I?m finished?[/B]? ?[B]Yes ma?am.[/B]? Samantha laughed, ?[B]No need to be so formal Jeff.[/B]? She motioned to a seat next to her but he shook his head and opted to remain standing. She shook her head and turned back to the Captain. ?[B]Are you sure about the error Lazar? Didn?t you say earlier that you can simply steer the ship manually?[/B]? ?[B]Yes, but for some reason it?s still putting us much farther off course than expected.[/B]? He seemed annoyed to Jeff. ?[B]Every time we compensate for it, the navigational error grows larger.[/B]? ?[B]Is it possible to simply turn the system off and rely completely on manual input?[/B]? Samantha suggested. ?[B]Or at the very least is it possible to shut it down and reboot it?[/B]? ?[B]I?m reluctant to do that unless absolutely necessary.[/B]? The captain looked at Jeff briefly and then back to Samantha. ?[B]Why don?t you take a break? We can finish this discussion after dinner.[/B]? Samantha stood up. ?[B]Alright, you do the same Lazar.[/B]? ?[B]Bah, get going girl,[/B]? He made shooing motions. ?[B]Stop mothering me.[/B]? His attempts to be mock serious failed and a grin spread across his face. Samantha just laughed.[/SIZE]

[COLOR="Indigo"]If you guys want to get offended, I'm looking at you Raiha, do it elsewhere. In the mean time, lighten up and [I]get a sense of humor[/I]. It's a silly thread about political captions that poke fun of politics in general. Not. To. Be. Taken. Seriously. Keeping that in mind, I present this: [CENTER] [IMG]http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/816/128649356280126807as2.jpg[/IMG] [/CENTER][/COLOR]

[COLOR="Indigo"]I'll be voting for [B]jigglyness[/B] as well. Overall I think their piece captures the theme the best. The colors and everything about it just go together really well. Plus, falling asleep in class just seems so perfect. I was not one to do that, but I remember seeing fellow classmates do it. [/COLOR]

[COLOR="Indigo"]This image is a [I]not really[/I], but it is fun. =P [CENTER] [IMG]http://images.icanhascheezburger.com/completestore/2008/9/1/goin2sellmah128647470112886437.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER][/COLOR]

[COLOR="Indigo"]All I need to do is drop the ana from the name and I'm set. =P [CENTER] [IMG]http://images.icanhascheezburger.com/completestore/2008/8/30/indianakittehl128645935682196216.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER][/COLOR]

[COLOR="Indigo"][SIZE="1"][CENTER][SIZE="2"][B]Startling Revelation[/B][/SIZE][/CENTER] Astera had fumed for nearly the entire trip to the town she had been visiting. Sometimes she wondered why she even bothered to return when all the others did was lecture her on how her behavior was reckless. If she could carry a simple silk blanket with her then she really didn?t need to return unless she wanted the comfort of a more elaborate home in the trees. She snorted to herself as the town in question came into view. Fairies had been spending thousands of years staying in the shadows. Most were content to simply live out their lives in the peaceful surroundings of the forests they inhabited. Conflicts like the war between the Vampires and the Shinigami that had happened so long ago were ignored. They simply kept out of the way since doing so was easy. The Shinigami knew about them of course, but unlike the Vampires who had been so intent on subjecting others, the Reapers did not bother races that did not need their assistance. The Vampires hadn?t really been aware of their existence since it was easy for a fairy to hide themselves from someone if they wished. Only the most powerful of Vampires could sense them and some of the other races that used magic. Their answer back then had been to keep a good amount of distance between any conflicts. Astera sighed, humans were starting to spread though and last time she had visited the town there had been talk of war. She hadn?t even made it to the outskirts of the town when it became obvious that there was trouble. Men in strange uniforms were patrolling the streets and there was an air of tension. What had happened in the few weeks she had been gone? The easiest way to find out would be to ask one of the children that knew her. Clarrisa would be the best one to ask, she was old enough to understand what was going on and yet not too old to see fairies. That was the only drawback about getting to know any children. Once they got older and their spiritual energy started to diminish, they couldn?t see her. She could use her magic, but she rarely did. It was better to let them just grow up and move on. They wouldn?t live as long as she did. She thought for a moment about where to look for her and then took off up above the town to head for the fields. If she remembered correctly she would be tending some of the farm animals the humans kept. A few minutes later, she saw her sitting under a tree. Her lunch spread out on the ground before her. ?[B]Clarissa![/B]? She shouted when she was almost there. The small brown-haired teenager looked up and smiled at Astera and then frowned. ?[B]What are you doing here?[/B]? Astera halted, hovering just in front of Clarissa, ?[B]What do you mean? I came to ask you what?s going on with all the strangely dressed humans in your town.[/B]? ?[B]We?re at war Astera. There?s an approaching army heading our way. You need to tell the others since I think it?s close to where you live.[/B]? Her frown deepened. ?[B]The people you saw are here to help evacuate the town.[/B]? ?[B]Wait,[/B]? Astera held up her hand in front of her. ?[B]Are you sure they are close to where I live?[/B]? Clarissa nodded, ?[B]You said you lived south of here and that?s where the fighting started a few days ago.?[/B] Astera pulled back, her eyes widening in surprise. ?[B]A few days ago?[/B]? Her voice rose. ?[B]It was quiet when I left about a week ago.[/B]? ?[B]That?s what I hear my mom saying.[/B]? Clarissa shrugged. Astera bit her lower lip and then made up her mind. ?[B]Okay, I?m going to go and check then. I?ll see you later.[/B]? ?[B]Okay, be careful Astera.[/B]? She nodded and took off, flying back the way she had come as fast as she could. Why hadn?t Jay said anything about humans being in the area? Had he even known? It was possible that he hadn?t. With their clever inventions, humans could get around pretty quickly if they really wanted to. She put it out of mind as she traveled; only stopping to rest in brief intervals before taking off again. She convinced herself that Clarissa had been mistaken only to have that belief shattered when unfamiliar noises assaulted her ears. Astera didn?t know a lot about the strange devices the humans used to cause harm to one another, but she had heard them before. She came to the top of a small hill overlooking one of the fields in the area where she lived. The view below her was a total disaster. Humans in strange uniforms were fighting among themselves, the sounds of explosions and shots mingled with screams of pain was deafening. But even worse was the realization that the grove of trees where her home should have been had been burned to the ground. ?[B]You stupid humans![/B]? She screeched before taking off into the chaos below her. ?[B]Stop fighting you idiots![/B]? It made no difference though, they couldn?t see her. The only ones who could were the Shinigami in the area. Though it was clear that they were focusing on their job instead of noticing one little fairy flitting about. She managed just fine at first since she could simply use her own grasp of magic to affect the human?s and even the Shinigami?s perception of time, slowing them down and allowing her to easily slip between them. But the area being affected was massive and though the fighting seemed to be coming to an end, she was becoming tired from the prolonged use of her defensive magic. Astera had reached the point where it was obvious her home and belongings were gone, along with all of her friends. She had found no traces of their essence so it was likely that they had just fled the area. She turned to look for the best way to clear the area when she realized a split second too late that one of the Reapers dealing with the dying humans had two scythes. She cursed as she dodged out of the way and then shrieked when the weight of a falling human sent her sprawling to land on her back. She barely had time to register that they were going to land on her before the breath was knocked out of her when their body landed on her, pinning her underneath. [/SIZE][/COLOR]

[COLOR="Indigo"][SIZE="1"]Jared was beginning to wonder if the New Alliance scum even cared about getting what information he possessed. He?d been bounced around from one location to another for several months now. The group at the capitol had been pretty useless when it came to getting anything. Beating him senseless on a regular basis did nothing. That had actually been entertaining. The next one had been the oddest with that mysterious woman who queried him until he had been transferred to Kiva Salqarian. Still he had not been impressed or worried at all - at least not until he met that woman who came for him. It was her precautions from the get-go that concerned him the most. His first thought was that she was a member of the races that were slaves, with her dark eyes. But the more he thought about it, the more he wondered if she had merely had her eyes treated to hide her identity. Without the ability to test her genetics, he would have no way of knowing for sure. Somehow he got the impression that she wasn?t the type to let something like that slip. Just that brief time of following her directions when moved to his new cell had been more than enough to tell him that she wouldn?t make stupid mistakes. It was mostly his gut reaction since he had nothing else to go on, but he?d be surprised to learn otherwise. He hoped they did something soon. Jared was tired of the same daily routine of stretches and exercises that the limited space in his cell allowed. He could tolerate being alone, but even Versilan?s after a while would begin to break down from the isolation. Most of the races that had been enslaved went to pieces if isolated for very long. They didn?t have the benefit of genetic enhancement over the centuries to prevent that kind of thing. Nor did they have centuries of space travel behind them. Over time, even without using genetics to enhance the process, one became more accustomed to that silent time between sectors when one traveled. Though usually they had some means of entertaining themselves instead of being deliberately stuffed into a cell and left there. Jared had just finished his morning stretches when the door to his cell opened to admit two guards. They were both smartly dressed like the woman who had put him in there three weeks ago. Absolutely nothing was out of place with their dress uniforms. He didn?t miss how their gaze missed nothing either as they took in the room before focusing directly on him. ?[B]Time to move Scorer,[/B]? The closest one said, his dark eyes gave nothing away. ?[B]You are to follow me without question; any deviation will not be tolerated.[/B]? Jared looked to the other guard who was standing just behind the one who had spoken. Neither one of them was armed. He stifled the urge to give them grief. It would be a simple matter for someone else to step in and deal with him. The two of them certainly looked capable. He snorted. ?[B]Yes sir.[/B]? He did not bother to hide the sarcasm in his voice. With a slight mocking bob of his head he followed him out into the corridor. He didn?t have to look to see that the other one was right behind him. The corridors were completely empty of any personnel and utterly barren, giving him no clues as to where he was this time. Only the faint echo of their footsteps could be heard. Time seemed to move slowly as they took him through several doors. Jared tried to figure out what kind of ship he was on based on their path since he was familiar with just about every ship design there was. But the path they took him on made no sense. They would turn where they shouldn?t have or backtrack where a corridor shouldn?t even exist. The next door opened to reveal a stark plain room with a single chair in the middle of the room. He smirked upon seeing it. He was well acquainted with [I]that[/I] kind of chair. If they really thought that would bother him or even work, then they were in for a rude awakening. He stepped into the room, his escorts moving to either side of him as the door closed in his wake. He glanced at the chair briefly and then looked to the woman who had first come for him. She was leaning against a metal table up against the far wall, her hands to the side, resting on the actual table. For the briefest second his smirk faltered and then he recovered, matching her expressionless stare with one of his own. ?[B]Mr. Scorer.[/B]? Her voice was flat and as emotionless as her expression. She brought her hand up, palm facing the ceiling in an almost welcoming gesture. ?[B]Have a seat.[/B]?[/SIZE][/COLOR]

[COLOR="Indigo"]A fun image that Allamorph sent me so I'm sharing it. =P [CENTER][IMG]http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/pix_plz.png[/IMG][/CENTER] But one of the regulars in the channel is a girl![/COLOR]

[COLOR="Indigo"]Okay, just a tiny filler post with Astera. Clearly this is before she ended up as Adrian's familiar. Also, that picky fairy decided that she disliked her current picture so I found a new one over at DA. So if you could switch that out Darren that would be good. [URL="http://fc02.deviantart.com/images3/i/2004/124/3/8/The_Moon_Fairy_Moorvett.jpg"][U]Astera[/U][/URL] Now... post Mr. Morphy! Post! Post! Post![/COLOR]

[COLOR="Indigo"][SIZE="1"][CENTER][SIZE="2"][B]Interlude In Time[/B][/SIZE] [/CENTER] Astera found humans rather annoying at times, fascinating but still aggravating. Many of them were so smart and yet so incredibly dumb at times. She knew she shouldn?t be poking around human towns, but her curiosity got the better of her at times. Okay, if she was honest with herself?[I] all the time[/I]. The others just didn?t understand why she wanted to know more about them, or rather they refused to see. So though most of them looked at her with disapproval for what they saw as reckless behavior, she didn?t let it stop her from spending weeks at a time away from her home. It wasn?t as dangerous as they made it out to be after all. Only children were an issue since unlike most human adults, they could see fairies easily. But since most adults could not, they never believed their kids when they told them about seeing her. ?[B]I wish you wouldn?t do this Astera,[/B]? the fairy blocking her path was sitting on a tree branch, his arms folded across his chest. He had been waiting for her. Like most fairies, he was dressed in the simplest of tunics and pants in shades of green and brown, his feet were bare and unlike Astera, his brown hair was cut short. Astera came to a halt, fluttering in the air just before him. ?[B]Oh come on Jay, aren?t you tired of this argument already?[/B]? She folded her arms across her chest and returned his stare with a steely one of her own. ?[B]Why don?t you come with me and see things for yourself?[/B]? She suggested. ?[B]How can you blindly believe everything the others say about humans of you don?t bother to go and see for yourself if it?s true or not?[/B]? ?[B]I don?t need to go with you; I?ve seen what they do.[/B]? Jay stood up on the branch he was sitting on. ?[B]I was hoping you?d quit being so foolish. One of these days you?re going to get into trouble.[/B]? Jay sighed. ?[B]You?re going to end up getting kicked out of the community you know.[/B]? Astera shrugged. ?[B]So what if I do. Hanging around in the forest all the time is boring as hell. The world is changing Jay, we can?t just keep running and hoping there will be a place to run to. We need to understand the humans, they?re changing dramatically.[/B]? ?[B]Goodbye Astera.[/B]? Jay ended the conversation as he moved to go around her and then head through the trees towards where the others were living. ?[B]Fine![/B]? Astera yelled at his back as he disappeared among the trees. ?[B]Damn stupid idiots hiding their heads in the sand.[/B]? She grumbled as she took off towards one of the human towns. The others refused to see that the world was changing drastically. Humans were becoming smarter and far cleverer with their technology as they called it. It had been easy to simply take advantage of their size and defensive magic to stay hidden, but she and a few others felt that before long, they would no longer be able to do so. Astera sighed and then put the thought out of mind. It wasn?t like she was looking for a solution after all; she just liked seeing all the weird things the humans came up with. Well most of them she did, the things they made that were for killing other humans? those she did [I]not[/I] like. That part confused her, their silly need to fight over petty material things. [/SIZE][/COLOR]

[COLOR="Indigo"]So... what the hell are we doing anyway? =P I do have my character and Allamorph's on their way, but just what is going to happen once we get there? [I]*Pokes Talon*[/I][/COLOR]

[COLOR="Indigo"][SIZE="1"]Trying to sleep while someone else was driving was something Marcus had never been good at. It was why he had preferred to drive solo instead of team when he had been working as a truck driver. Putting up with training was about all he ever wanted to deal with. He preferred it if things [I]didn?t move[/I] while he slept. It didn?t help that the roads in some states caused the trucks to vibrate like it was about to fall apart. Cars weren?t as bad but he still hated it. Normally they would stop at some rundown motel for a night?s sleep whenever they relocated, but after the fuss with the police station, they had opted for putting a lot of distance between them and that fiasco. It wasn?t often that they were that brazen and forward about dealing with freaks. Piggies were easier to deal with that way though. Once you killed one, if the news got out, the others would go into hiding, so it was best to take them all out at the same time. So as a result the real problem was that even in death, piggy?s still looked human to those without any gift, so naturally the law was up in arms over the slaughter. In their eyes, some psycho had killed policeman so they were creating quite a stir in an effort to find them, they had very little to actually go on though. Nicholas had seen to that by destroying the surveillance cameras. It didn?t stop them from trying, and the quicker they left the area, the better. Marcus drifted in and out of dreams about his life before becoming imbued while Nicholas drove. He was finally jolted fully awake by the car hitting something that caused him to bounce hard enough to clear the seat. If not for his seatbelt, he would have hit the ceiling of the car. ?[B]Jesus, Preach.[/B]? He complained as he opened his eyes to see that they were on some road. ?[B]Are you aiming for the potholes or what?[/B]? It was dark out and other than a few sets of headlights behind and off in front, they were alone. ?[B]Train tracks.[/B]? Nicholas explained. Marcus grunted and took a look at his watch. It was nearly five am. ?[B]So, where the hell are we anyway?[/B]? The lights from the car highlighted a sign listing the closest cities as Nicholas drove by. ?[B]Never mind.[/B]? He reached behind the seat and pulled out his thick atlas map from when he had been driving truck. It only took him a moment to find what he wanted. The listing of the truck stops and restaurants along the main roads told him what he wanted to know. They could stop and grab some breakfast and he could log into the net to see if there was any news on that odd message he had gotten. Marcus would have rather slept some more, but he?d slept long enough that he was unlikely to fall back asleep any time soon. Once they figured out what the deal was, he?d find a place to crash and really sleep for a change. Or perhaps he?d insist they do that when they arrived. Going into something like that without being fully rested was foolish. ?[B]So, how does breakfast sound Preach? We could stop at the next truck stop and grab something while I check the net.[/B]? He stuffed the map back behind his seat. ?[B]And since you just love hitting potholes, I?ll drive for a while so you can sleep.[/B]? Nicholas just grinned and said nothing. It was kind of a joke between them since he knew how much Marcus hated sleeping in a moving vehicle. Telling Nicholas that he hit potholes was his way of saying he was too awake to sleep anymore. [/SIZE][/COLOR]

[COLOR="Indigo"]Finding one for Shy hasn't been easy but... I think this would fit since he actually has a dog. So I present... Shy. =P [CENTER][B] Shy & Patty[/B] [IMG]http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/funny-pictures-cat-sleeps-dog-bed.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER][/COLOR]