James

[quote]Ooo boy, i'm a little afraid to debate with you. I will try my best to be respectful... i prefer not to be banned. =D [/quote] [font=franklin gothic medium]You're welcome to debate with me, but I will continue to make the point (to everyone) that discussions at OB must be kept polite. Disagreements are fine (and natural), but I don't see a need for deliberate rudeness or any personal attacks. Let's keep away from that stuff, shall we? I have edited your previous post in an attempt to keep it on topic (because I hate closing down discussions). I did indicate in my previous post that we are to keep to the subject at hand.[/font] [quote]I think you're a bit unclear here. What sort of potential does ID have with these organizations? Not mutually exclusive how so? [/quote] [font=franklin gothic medium]Well, all you really have to do is run a search on ID. There are a number of scientists - including those who study evolution - who suggest that intelligent design is certainly worthy of research and exploration.[/font] [quote]ID may very well have some potential in any form other than science. I personally am agnostic and don't believe in ID. Although, there was a time when i was christian and i did believe in creation in one form or another. Recalling back to my old frame of mind i think i would readily accept ID as some framing to my understanding of the origins of the universe. But even then i would not say ID is science. [/quote] [font=franklin gothic medium]As I mentioned in my last post, I'm making a distinction between creationism and intelligent design. It is possible to consider ID as simply being the idea that life and its evolution originates from a "designed" source. I am not referring to anything in Genesis, which creationism is centered around. The Adam and Eve story (and the idea that the world is only so many thousand years old, that it is flat and held up on pillars, etc etc) is obviously a fallacy if taken literally. So I'm not coming at this from a religious point of view, I am just saying that the "random evolution" versus "designed evolution" is really an open debate that people are having. Creationism in the strictest sense is no longer a real debate globally.[/font] [quote] I can accpet ID as a way to explain the origin of the universe through religion. Then once the universe is created i would adopt evolution as a theory to explain the way things evolved. [/quote] [font=franklin gothic medium]I think your interpretation of what ID means is legitimate, because there are a lot of creationist groups within the U.S. who use this term as a way to masquerade a non-scientific position as something based on scientific study. So, yes, if ID is considered synonymous with creationism then it falls into the same category. What I am referring to, though, is the idea that the evolutionary process is the result of design. I personally don't really feel that this is necessarily true (I tend to think evolution relates far more to external environmental factors than deliberate design), but I [i]do[/i] think that deliberate design is worth pursuing for science.[/font] [quote]To wrap it back into the original debate, i do think the discovery of aliens would have interesting implications on religion. But i don't think it will change many peoples' faith. I doubt it would change mine if i were christian. [/quote] [font=franklin gothic medium]Yeah there is an element of truth to this. I mean, despite what is [i]known[/i] about evolution, there are still people who aggressively oppose it and continue to say that the Earth is only 6,000 years old. Those people will likely never change, even when imperical evidence is presented to them. Anyway, yes, the whole point of raising this issue was to point out the way in which alien life (or the discovery thereof) would affect various existing theories. I'm not very inclined to actually debate these theories in isolation within this thread, because it will only become less and less relevant to the alien issue. But I still think that a true alien discovery would cause a lot of people to reassess things and to take a fresh view of their philosophies on life.[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]Guys, instead of dissecting one another's posts and determining who implied what, why not actually discuss the subject at hand? Thanks. 13thMan, several people now are "misunderstanding" you - perhaps you should consider refining your delivery rather than suggesting nobody understands you. Earlier on I mentioned that the discovery of alien life would have major religious implications, although I did not mean this in terms of Creationism. Actually I meant it in terms of the Bible overall - it is a book that really centers around the idea that a) Earth is the only planet with life and b) that mankind is essentially at the epicenter of that life. Of course there are Creationist implications, but I see that as less relevant, because Creationism itself has pretty much been dismissed by any serious bodies throughout the world (the Catholic church, for instance, no longer denies evolution). I think the U.S. is about the only country in the world where Creationism is still under debate. When I say Creationism, of course, I am referring to the story of Genesis - [i]not[/i] the idea of "Intelligent Design". There are some Creationists who cloak their intellectually dishonest "science" as either "Creation Science" or "Intelligent Design". But these people do not represent legitimate Intelligent Design theory. In fact I think there are many organizations - including scientific bodies - that see Intelligent Design as something with potential. It is certainly not mutually exclusive to Evolution, that much is certain (in fact, the two go hand-in-hand quite well). So yes, in short, I do think that the discovery of alien life may have an impact on these types of debates. At this point, as far as I know, there is now clear evidence that water existed or exists on Mars. There are now strong theories about life on Mars, but I don't think it's been definitively proven.[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]I agree with the general direction of that quote, for sure. I notice that there is a lot of partisanship in the U.S. and that it almost seems to be more vitriolic among average voters as opposed to the politicians themselves. I mean, being partisan does make sense in terms of an election, but so much of the partisanship misunderstands the opposing party. When most people talk about one party being better than another, or one candidate being better than another, they almost invariably display ignorance about the candidate they oppose. Either that, or they simply disrespect the genuine positions of that candidate (or they just personally attack them). I personally don't think that the American political system is broken, at least in the most technical sense of how laws are made. I think that the Congressional system actually has some key advantages over the Parliamentary system. But there are two things that really irk me. One, lobbyists. I know that I've defended lobbyists before, but what I'm really saying is that I think there's a difference between petitioners and professional lobbyists who are registered as such. I do think that Congress should have (if it doesn't already) a specific system to deal with the consideration of petitioners' issues. But I think that should replace the registered lobbyists, who have far too much influence in Congress. Secondly I think the other big issue is the way in which campaigns operate. We've seen how out of control they can get in terms of spending, for instance. So much emphasis is placed on fundraising and less and less is being spent on policy articulation. I think if I had to choose any two issues that I would personally want to change, it would be those two. You could then argue about the Electoral College and the direct voting system later on, but I almost think that the former two issues would have a bigger impact on the integrity of American politics (as least as far as perceptions go). Also, just as a footnote, I don't think that polarization of issues is what stops genuine political reform. I think the issue is just that changing any of these fundamental cogs in the political machine requires significant effort (possibly even consitutional change). And in any country, especially a democracy, consitutional change is generally the most difficult thing to achieve politically.[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]Also I do wonder how much aliens could possibly achieve by regularly probing humans. At this point it's clearly entertainment for them, rather than science. :drunk:[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]I think life on other planets probably does exist. I mean, given the infinite size of the Universe, I just can't imagine that Earth is the only planet with life (especially given that scientists are aware of other planets that can potentially support it). Having said that, I have no idea if we will ever really discover them or evidence of their remains. I doubt they have visited Earth though. One thing I find interesting is that if we do discover alien life, it would have profound religious implications (i.e. one would have to look at the book of Genesis in a completely different way, if one already views Genesis as absolute fact). As far as whether or not they would be hostile (if they were advanced enough), it's really hard to say. I think we often look at these situations from a very human perspective (i.e. whether or not something is "friend or foe"). And we are naturally frightened and suspicious of what we don't understand. I actually think it would be far more incredible if Earth were the only planet in existence to have fostered life. If that were true, it would be far more of a revelation than the idea that many planets support life. It would also be kind of sad, actually. Just the thought of that is kind of empty and lonely, I think.[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]I think there's a general rule with jobs: either the harder you have to work, or the more responsibility you have, the more money you tend to earn. If you want to be in a high-paying job, then that usually entails substantial demands on your time as well as significant responsibility. Both of these (especially the latter) can be very stressful. As far as my current job goes, it's certainly not my life's passion by any stretch. However, I've been at the same company for nearly three years and my pay has been increased several times since I started. I'm certainly only an average income earner, but for my age I might have difficulty earning the same money elsewhere. Also as much as my core role bores me, I do often get the chance to work on special projects or to be involved with things outside my direct area of responsibility. That really makes the job more worthwhile and it helps to expand my skills and knowledge. So I think you have to weigh it all up. I mean, yes, I'm not particularly interested in my job. On the other hand, it pays well, it's generally flexible and it occasionally offers some good chances for experience outside my primary responsibilities. So I could do a lot worse. On the other hand it's really not something I view as a career path at this stage. My aim is to build up experience in as many areas as I can so that I'm well prepared to take on future jobs.[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]I did have an eyebrow piercing for about two years or so. It was starting to come out late last year and I just didn't bother keeping it in. It seemed determined to come out no matter what I did, so I chose to let it come out rather than leave a scar. Other than that I've had nothing else done. As far as tattoos go, I personally wouldn't want to get an obvious one (just in case). But I do have a discreet one in mind that would be relevant to me. Not sure if I'll ever do that though.[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]Well, we probably wouldn't want asexual reproduction to become too widespread. The reason human beings reproduce sexually is to ensure genetic diversity within our species (this is why a lot of species on Earth reproduce this way). If a gay male couple is going to have kids via a surrogate mother, then they'd probably be better off donating sperm anyway. As far as lesbians go, I guess the female who [i]isn't[/i] giving birth would donate the "sperm". Also I'm not sure if this qualifies as truly asexual reproduction. If one partner produces sperm to fertilize the egg of another partner (no matter how it's done), then I'd still call it sexual reproduction by default. Asexual reproduction is where only one parent is required (i.e. the parent can impregnate themselves and/or divide into a duplicate). So perhaps if a woman implanted herself with her own sperm this would be considered asexual...but doing that would probably be a lot more dangerous than accepting the "sperm" from another woman with different genes.[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]I'm not entirely sure what you're promoting here, other than your own site. We really don't like people to create threads purely to promote their own site. It's a little rude, if nothing else. I'd suggest that if you're into writing, you can either publish your own work here [i]or[/i] you can create a thread in the Anthology forum where writers can discuss their work. If you want to promote your page, you can do that within your signature.[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]In terms of September 11th and how we remember it, I definitely don't think that American civilians should feel responsible in any sense for those attacks. First of all, you have to look at the motivations of those who attacked the World Trade Center. Most of the terrorists involved in the attack did not even know that they were sacrificing their lives; they had been lied to by their superiors. The evidence suggests that most of the attackers actually thought that the hijackings were "routine" in the sense that some sort of demand may come from it. Secondly, the motivations of their superiors are based largely on American involvement in Saudi Arabia during Gulf War I. Saudi Arabia (where Osama bin Laden originates), is seen by many within Al Qaeda as a sacred place. It holds significant religious importance and there is a strong sense of ideology attached to it. Saudi Arabia allowed America to use the Prince Sultan Air Base as a staging ground to attack Iraq during Gulf War I. Osama bin Laden's chief objection to the United States is based on this fact. It's also why he has threatened the Saudi royal family on several occasions (and has been banned from entering Saudi Arabia completely). It's also why most of his family have completely separated themselves from him. bin Laden tries to incorporate other issues and vaguaries into his overall anti-US philosophy, but these elements are designed principally to attract support from other extremists in the region who have their own unrelated grievances. In fact, bin Laden cares little about these issues. So if you go back to the original root cause, you have to then look at the first Gulf War and what caused it. At the time Iraq had invaded Kuwait, which triggered UN action (including a number of measures that culiminated in global military action). There were a number of middle eastern countries that supported this action at the time, including Saudi Arabia. So, without going into too much further detail, this is the principle cause that led to the September 11 attacks. Under such circumstances, I'm not really sure how anyone can honestly blame American citizens in any sense. People who take this position often use really vague justifications for it, like "we elected our government so we are responsible for what they do overseas". Yet nobody can point to any overseas action that could possibly justify this kind of retaliation. Regularly the 2003 Iraq war is mentioned, yet this happened well [i]after[/i] September 11th, 2001. So it obviously isn't even relevant to the causes of those attacks. There have been a number of distortions related to this whole situation, many of which come from so-called "anti-war" groups. I'm not entirely sure what the underlying motivations are, but I don't think it's just a pure anti-war issue. I think that there is also an element of ignorance and/or denial related to the historical factors here. Having said that, if you read George Orwell's book, Nineteen Eighty-Four, you will come across an essay he writes about the "intelligencia" of the time. Many of their motivations and actions are strikingly similar to what we see now (except that back then, they were primarily talking about Soviet Russia and, earlier, Nazi Germany). In recent times they've been talking about Hussein's Iraq. My feeling is that so many of these debates are underscored by a misunderstanding of history. I was so frustrated with this that I actually wrote an essay in University about media distortions of the precursors to the Iraq war. I was the only person to write from that perspective, naturally. I was actually quite surprised about many fellow students, who often presented projects with Iraq war themes (usually relating to "war for oil" and other quasi-intellectual arguments). Some of these projects were quite extreme. Yet, by their own admission, none of these students knew a thing about politics. None knew a thing about the history of Iraq, or 20th century war history. And nobody had bothered to read Resolution 1441 (which my essay was based on). So we were having these very fierce political statements that were being made in an ideological vaccuum - basically, none of these students actually knew a thing about the subject itself. None appreciated its complexity or how many historical factors played a role. Sorry for being longwinded, but this was something I was very passionate about in 2003, because I was tired of the intellectual disonesty of many who were "in the know". The whole situation turned into a weird hype train and just about everyone had gladly jumped aboard with the kind of zeal that Falwell would admire.[/font]

[quote name='Desbreko'][color=#4B0082]I'm not sure of the exact number but I don't think it was over 300 actual people online.[/color][/QUOTE] [font=franklin gothic medium]Yeah I think that number was abnormally high. Our prior record was only about 150 to 200 people online at once I think. I was going to say, is there a way we can roll that record back to the previous figure? Or perhaps we should just restart it, I'm not entirely sure. As it is, I don't view it as being accurate anyway. It'll defeat the purpose of any record attempt like this.[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]No worries. Hope you feel better soon! It's good to know that there's still interest in this RPG. :catgirl:[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]Excellent! Great work everyone. We're getting there. I hope you are starting to feel a bit better, Kathy. Don't worry about not being here - it took me ages to post myself last time, haha. I'm a bit more worried about some of the members who signed up but really haven't posted anything. If there are no posts soon I'll just assume they aren't coming back. But for everyone else, thanks again for your support. I love reading your new posts. :catgirl:[/font]

[quote name='Aaryanna_Mom']Putting that aside, I'm a Christian myself and I find the idea of only teaching abstinence foolish. The best way to keep your kids safe is to make sure they are fully prepared for the possible consequences. And since the state of Utah isn't up to the task, it's fallen on parents who I hope are smart enough to actually present the facts. All of them, not just the one that will work the best. [/QUOTE] [font=franklin gothic medium]I just want to quote this because I think it's so important. And I really want to say that I think this speaks so much to your accomplishments as a parent. The fact that you recognize the inadequacies of your local education system and then seek to fill in those gaps as a parent is really commendable. So many parents seem to rely entirely on their child's teachers and then they are suddenly surprised when they realize they don't know their child as well as they thought. Clearly Aaryanna is a thoughtful, mature person who already has a strong identity and seems very capable of dealing with the ups and downs that life will bring her in future. While I think each individual is different (and sometimes no matter how good the parenting is, a child can still get into a lot of trouble), I also think that this exemplifies your strong efforts and guidance. Apart from the educational aspect I also think some parents are simply awkward about presenting these facts to their children. But really, for those who believe that school shouldn't be teaching kids about sex...surely then the responsibilities falls to the parents. I think an ideal situation is where, on the one hand, you are more of a parent than a "friend" (i.e. you have strong boundaries and requirements), while at the same time being open and honest with your child. When I see examples of kids who can talk to their parents about anything (and ask any question), I always feel that those kids are going to have a slightly better shot at succeeding as adults in general. When it comes to these discussions, I do think everyone has given due consideration to the topic. But I have to say, it's good to also read the perspective of a parent who is trying to balance traditional Christian views with the realities of the situation. I think it shows that you can really have both without compromising one or the other. And if the end result is that your child then trusts you and can speak to you at any time...then that is definitely a big achievement. :catgirl: Also just to respond to a totally different point... While I don't think that State sex education is the all-encompassing answer, the truth is that no single group (or even an entire society) is going to be able to eliminate teenage sex issues (like STDs and/or pregnancy). My experience is somewhat different because I don't live in America. In Australia, most high schools do have sex education. The experience varies from state to state, but generally speaking sex education is part of a larger course on health (with reproduction obviously being a component of that). The benefits of these health courses are significant. First and foremost, the actual science is obviously explained (i.e. "the birds and the bees" for anyone who missed it). And secondly, a number of other factors are discussed including both contraception and the inherent risks with unprotected sex. As far as schools go, I don't think they are there to place a value judgment on sex. That kind of value judgment is really something that the community (and families especially) tend to be responsible for. Rather, the education people receive here revolves entirely around the raw facts. So students are simply armed with information, rather than ideology that swings one way or the other. I think most parents in Australia probably have discussions with their children about this subject at some point. However, formal education about reproduction, birth control, safe sex, risks associated with unprotected sex and issues surrounding pregnancy tends to also fill in some of the gaps that parents themselves may leave (some of the facts about unprotected sex probably scare quite a few kids into abstinence anyway! Haha). So in terms of things being relative, I think that works out pretty well. Schools certainly make value judgments about certain behaviors (like violence, bullying, dishonesty, etc). And I guess those are generally pretty universal. But when it comes to a far more private and sensitive subject? I think most parents would agree that they should be setting the moral standard (whatever that may be), rather than the school itself. Raw scientific data does not a value judgment make.[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]On abortion, I don't think [i]anyone[/i] is "pro-abortion". Even for those who are adamantly pro-choice, abortion is still obviously a major ordeal and a very harrowing decision. I think that the debate is often framed in the wrong way when it comes to these questions. I tend to think that most people who are pro-choice (and who may also be pro sex education) tend to see the world as it is, rather than as they'd like it to be. That's a really important point, especially in terms of how it shapes my own views. On abortion, for example, I'm pro-choice. The reason is simple: whether or not abortion is legal, it is going to happen. There are going to be many different situations and there are always going to be people who will feel that it is their only option. If you make abortion illegal, you don't get rid of it at all - you simply drive it underground. You therefore put significantly more pressure on mothers and their families. If abortion is legal, then I think you actually have the chance to [i]reduce[/i] it, or at least to place far less stress on families. For one thing, you make it medically safer. For another, you can offer counselling to the mother. And furthermore, you can actually go through various options and offer additional support. So rather than simply having a revolving door where abortions are a dime a dozen, you can actually help to prevent abortion by offering community support to women. Backyard abortions, as they are known, don't offer any of this. They simply take a desperate situation and make it significantly worse. And under these circumstances, many women simply don't have access to choices that may actually allow them to avoid the abortion option in the first place. So as I said, I think that this is about seeing the world as it is rather than as we'd like it to be. Would we love for there to never be a need for abortion? Of course. Who wouldn't? Problem is, that isn't realistic - it's just not the reality. What you have to do is look at the reality and find ways to deal with it and to minimise risks. That kind of thinking is what shapes my view about sex education. I think it's probably true that no parent would really "want" their teenage child to have sex. Apart from any STD risks, there's also obviously the issue of pregnancy. So what do you do? Yes, by all means, you should have a frank discussion with your teenage kids where you explain your views on sex and what it means. And that would probably normally involve the idea that kids shouldn't really be having sex at a young age for a variety of reasons. However, there are always going to be teenagers who have sex regardless. They will do it no matter what their parents or teachers preach - and it's not necessarily a bad, rebellious act. Often I think teenagers will do it within a relationship and because they view sex as the logical next step. Yes, they might not be mature enough to make that choice, but unless their parents can watch them 24/7, then they probably will make that choice anyway. So, I think the answer is two fold. On the one hand you teach kids the simple facts - the risks and how to avoid them if they do have sex. But certainly, you can also stress that teenagers should avoid sex until they are ready (whether that is marriage or an earlier time is probably going to vary depending on what country you're in). At least that way you're still expressing disapproval about having sex too early, but you're also providing a safety net for those who do have it. And surely that's got to be the key goal to dealing with any social issue. There are things that no amount of soap boxing will eliminate. So in the absence of an ideal world, surely society's job is to minimise risks to the community wherever possible.[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]Oh no worries. I don't want to force anyone to post, I just want the writers to let me know if they intend to drop out. :catgirl: Your continued awesomeness is most welcome, Sabrina. Thanks. [/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]Okay so I just want to find out who is still able to post in this thing. We are starting to near the end and it'd really be great to finish it if possible. I just want to check in to see who is still interested and who isn't. If not enough people are interested in keeping this going then I may end it slightly earlier. :catgirl:[/font]

[quote name='Somegirl']What about Two story buildings?[/QUOTE] [font=franklin gothic medium]What Petie said. :catgirl: Speaking of all of this, my dog actually knocked the MacBook off my desk once...it flew across the room and crashed on its side into the floor. I'd only just bought it and I was getting ready to kill the dog, haha. It was actually fine though. It landed on a really awkward angle so I was expecting something to be damaged but it was pretty sturdy. Of course, avoiding dropping any expensive electronics is generally a good thing.[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]I've owned PCs my entire life, but I now own two Macs. I have an iMac and a MacBook. I got the MacBook first, then the iMac later. For me it was really a bit of a gamble - there was no real reason why I moved away from Windows XP. It's easily the best version of Windows, especially with Service Pack 3 (which I haven't yet used, but have read good things about). Now I really don't regret my decision. The biggest reason for this is Windows Vista, which is a horrible OS. It's a massive step backwards from XP, which is why a lot of people are trying to downgrade their system from Vista to XP. I'm so disinterested in Vista that I'm skipping it completely. OS X Leopard is infinitely better, for a variety of reasons (particularly stability, security and even - surprisingly - compatibility). OS X has many great native applications now. You can even get the latest MS Office for Mac (which was just released recently). The general consensus is that Office is actually [i]better[/i] and nicer to use on Mac than PC, which is slightly odd. So you've got some great Apple applications but you've also got many excellent third party apps that are compatible with both Mac and PC. That the newer Macs are Intel-based seems to have helped things a lot in this regard. Also now there's far less of a performance difference between Mac and PC (although if you were wanting something purely for gaming I'd go with a PC). I mostly use Apple apps these days, but there are a few programs I use that are really only compatible with Windows (like Paint Shop Pro). So for this reason I use Boot Camp and Parallels (the former comes with Leopard, the latter you have to purchase). It all works very well. I can run Windows XP and OS X simultaneously (Windows XP just appears in a window within OS X, as if it's a native program). I can then use Windows-only programs while I'm also in OS X. Another great feature is that I can drag and drop files between both systems. So I can just pick up a file from my Windows desktop and drag it into OS X. Very easy. It basically means that I get the best of both worlds. I get the stability, performance, ease of use and flexibility of OS X... but I can also use Windows for games and Windows-specific applications. So really you can't go wrong there. Price is an issue, but you probably don't need a MacBook Pro in all honesty. Just go with a MacBook. They're still expensive, but less so than the Pro. And you can still upgrade your MacBook to some extent anyway. It really depends what you're looking for. You can do graphics on any machine - I don't believe that Mac or Windows is necessarily better for graphic design. It's just that Mac is probably a bit more conducive to graphics due to some of its features. As far as durability, I think it really just depends on the model. The MacBook is pretty good - you could throw it across a room and it wouldn't flinch. Same as the iMac. But then again, I've had two Dell desktops and a Dell laptop that were all pretty damn durable. So, you know, I wouldn't base it too much on the brand - no matter what, you will need to treat your computer with care anyway. If you have any really specific questions I'm sure the Mac/PC owners here would be happy to answer them. Hopefully you've got some helpful info here already though.[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]Oprah, eh? Good to see the American education system is still running like a well-oiled machine. Anyway I'm happy to read that your first week turned out okay. See? We told you so! Now that you're settling in you won't have any issues. High school is a lot of fun and once you get going it's not nearly as intimidating as it first seems.[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]I'd like to reserve the next spot. :catgirl:[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]Okay, so, all characters are now back at the ship. Phew. Sorry for the huge delay there guys. I've finally had the chance to sit down and write something (that I am actually happy enough to post). At this point Viktor has invited the stranded passengers to his room for food and drinks. This might be a way for some of your characters to interact prior to the next landmark. Please feel free, however, to move your characters wherever you like - you certainly don't have to go to Viktor's room. My next post will introduce another landmark. This next landmark will probably represent the 3/4 point in this RPG. So we are almost there. If you have any questions please feel free to ask here. Remember that I'm happy for anyone to dive into the story and create their own sub-plots etc as much as they want.[/font]

[center][img]http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/9978/vboavatarey3.jpg[/img] [img]http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/2357/kathykf5.jpg[/img][img]http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/9613/sabavixi1.jpg[/img] [IMG]http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Arichan16/arthur.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/8279/jamiekingse9.jpg[/IMG] [/center] The escape pod?s seats were incredibly old. They were also cheap. They were covered in some kind of synthetic leather and were held together by thin metal frames that were bolted to the floor. It was like something from the 50s; it certainly came nowhere close to what they had experienced on the Von Braun. Zahir?s body was pressed back firmly into the torn and tattered leather. The seats were arranged in semi-circular rows that covered most of the pod?s interior. Viktor sat somewhere at the front of the pod, before a panel of odd controls and monitors. Zahir was amazed that Viktor knew what to do, although it was probably more likely that he had a general idea and was hoping for a little luck. [i]?The pod must have been built ages ago,?[/i] he thought. [i]?Probably before Viktor was even born.?[/i] Although he could not see everyone?s face from where he sat, Zahir already recognized a few of the pod?s passengers. He noticed Jamie King, who worked for the Washington Prime Herald. Jamie seemed to be speaking in hushed tones with his partner on occasion, as the escape pod drifted through space. The ride was now less turbulent and Zahir wondered how close they were to the Von Braun. Arthur sat next to Zahir. His hands clasped the arm rests of his seat tightly. He seemed uncomfortable. He must have noticed Zahir's gaze, because he tilted his head to the side and smiled. 'Sometimes I get a little uncomfortable in small spaces,' he said with an uneasy grin. Zahir put his hand on Arthur's arm reassuringly. 'Don't worry, it can't be much longer.' Although he was still clearly uncomfortable, Arthur seemed to relax somewhat. His eyes darted around the pod's utilitarian interior. 'Never thought I'd find myself in one of these,' he muttered quietly. Zahir nodded as his eyes explored the strange instruments and rusted metal plates on the walls. 'After what we have seen today, I don't think anything will surprise me anymore.' Arthur slumped in his chair slightly and his hands lost their tight grip on the arm rests. 'Zahir...you said that you read those conspiracy magazines...' 'I do. Well, I did,' replied Zahir. 'Why do you ask?' Arthur turned to him. 'Did you ever read about something called "The Shirota Strain"?' Zahir considered it for a moment and finally shook his head. 'No, I don't think so.' 'I don't think many have actually read it. At least, not within the last thirty years,' said Arthur. 'Why is that?' asked Zahir. 'Nobody knows for sure, but there are rumors that all circulated copies of the article were destroyed by NARSIA at some stage. It was to be distributed in the 1996 edition of the Washington Prime Medical Journal. But if you go back and look at archived copies now, you'll find that the page is missing.' Arthur took a deep breath as he propped his head against the seat back. 'The only way to be sure of that would be to compare it to an original copy,' said Zahir. 'I mean, how could they just go around and erase a page without anyone noticing?' Arthur shrugged. 'I'm not entirely sure, although I think the article was noticed as the first print run was being done. It was removed hastily before the journal was shipped. A few clever readers noticed a gap between pages 30 and 32.' The escape pod bobbed slightly and as everybody's attention moved to the monitor slightly above Viktor, they saw a white object come into view. It was the Von Braun. The occupants cheered and clapped as the white dot grew on the screen. 'Almost there,' said Viktor. 'We can't dock at the shuttle bay because we'll be noticed. Our only hope is to dock at the cargo port closer to the bottom of the ship. They only check that space every few hours, I think.' 'So what will they say when they find an abandoned escape pod just sitting there?' asked Katelyn. Viktor paused for a moment. 'Maybe we will have to eject the pod once we're inside.' 'How are we going to do that without being sucked into space?' asked Jamie, who seemed to become more animated now that the Von Braun was in view. 'I'm pretty sure there's an anti-chamber in there,' replied Katelyn. 'As long as we can get the pod in there, we can enter the ship and then open the outer door. The pod should just fall out into space.' Katelyn's tone suggested that she was slightly unsure about the details, although she had not been wrong about the ship so far. The others were inclined to trust her. Zahir smiled. 'Well, we're almost there Arthur. When we arrive you should sleep for a little while. You look exhausted.' Arthur patted Zahir's arm. 'Don't worry, Zee. I'm okay. I am more worried about you; shouldn't you have had bar shifts that you've missed? Won't they wonder where you've been?' Zahir had forgotten about the bar. His heart sunk. 'Er, well, all this time we've been on the outpost...that would have been my sleeping time back at the quarters. By the time we arrive at the ship, I'll almost be due to start a shift.' 'You'll be starting a shift without getting any sleep at all,' said Arthur. 'You must sleep, if even for a couple of hours.' 'It's a struggle in the staff quarters,' sighed Zahir. 'They all come in and out at different times. I'm better off staying awake; I won't get any sleep there anyway.' Arthur looked at Zahir earnestly. 'Come to my room then. I have a first class cabin on the Von Braun. There is plenty of room.' 'I couldn't do that,' stammered Zahir immediately. 'That wouldn't be--' Arthur interjected. 'Why not? You're tired and after the ordeal we've all been through, a hot shower and a few hours sleep is better than being stuck in a room full of noisy staff.' 'Well...' Zahir could not help thinking of Khalid. While it was probably - indeed, certain - that Khalid was quite enjoying his freedom at present, Zahir still felt inexplicably loyal. Nevertheless, he was tired and sore. The occupants of the escape pod had faced the very real possibility of being stranded on the outpost forever. Such a thought caused unimaginable stress and worry; so much so that Zahir could still feel his heart pounding from the thought. 'All right, I will do it. Sorry, I didn't mean to be rude...' 'Think nothing of it,' said Arthur warmly. 'Before we dock with the ship, I do have one last question,' said Zahir. 'What's that?' 'What is the Shirota Strain?' Arthur's smile began to fade ever so slightly. 'I am not exactly sure, Zee,' he said quietly. 'I have read many references to it in different magazines and documents. The life form we saw in that tube on the outpost was designated "167E". I think that the A, B and C designations relate to this Shirota Strain somehow. But I have never actually read the original journal entry.' Zahir was trying to put everything together but he found it difficult. If what Arthur said was true, mankind had discovered an alien tomb embedded deep underground on the Moon. They had sent for back up and engaged in a skirmish with the aliens. When more people arrived they found dead human bodies and what was apparently an alien sarcophagus. They took the body back to Andronov Prime and within a short time all of those who had come in contact with it began to exhibit symptoms of a virus, which then led to the Great Disaster on Earth. How did this relate to the Shirota Strain? And what were the different designations all about? Arthur seemed to sense what Zahir was thinking. 'The only other piece of information I am sure about is that the virus on Earth was called "167A". If A is a virus and E is an alien species, what are B and C?' Zahir shrugged. 'I have no idea. Maybe the body they found in the sarcophagus had died because it was infected with 167A.' Arthur nodded. 'That seems logical enough,' he said. 'So what is the lesson from that experience?' His expression seemed to harden somewhat. 'The lesson is that when man went into space, we were stepping into territory where we did not belong. And then we meddled with something that we did not understand at all. From there, well, the rest is history. Our curiosity and desire to encroach upon everything around us led to our near-extinction as a species.' On the one hand, Arthur's logic made complete sense. After the experience of the 1980s, one would have to question whether traveling into space was more important than mankind's survival. After all, these aliens must still be out there somewhere. What if those engineers on the Moon had stumbled upon a highly sacred ritual and deeply offended the alien race? Perhaps they would seek revenge. Fear of the unknown was, in this case, completely rational. On the other hand, Zahir was sure that there was more to the story. There was a missing chapter at the end, which even Arthur did not seem to be aware of. If the Government had avoided space for decades, why suddenly re-enter it? And why do it in such an extravagant and obvious way? Wouldn't the Von Braun simply be a sitting duck for any alien retaliation? [i]'Maybe that outpost was designed to defend us against their attack,'[/i] thought Zahir. It made sense. Even if that was the case, it made no sense that passengers would be left behind on an abandoned outpost. Zahir felt a vibration under his feet that interrupted his thoughts. The escape pod had already begun to dock with the anti-chamber. 'We're here!' called Viktor. He stood up and faced the passengers. 'Thank you for being so calm over the last few hours. Without that - and lots of quick thinking from many of you - we would never have made it back here.' A cheer exploded in the escape pod as the anti-chamber door closed behind them. 'Now,' said Viktor, 'we need to get off this thing and send it on its way. If any of you wish to join me in my cabin for food or drinks, please do so. I'm on D-1, Room 125. As I'm here representing one of the Von Braun's manufacturers, all of my room service is free. So, please, come and make yourselves comfortable before you return to your own quarters.' The others clapped and smiled. Their relief was almost tangible. Arthur unbuckled his seat belt and stood up. 'Maybe we can join in on the party after a little rest. We got here earlier than I expected, so you still have a few hours before work.' 'That sounds perfect,' said Zahir as the escape hatch opened and the passengers poured out into the Von Braun's cargo deck.

[font=franklin gothic medium]It's been a while since I finished high school, but my main piece of advice is not to panic - you will be totally fine. I remember how huge high school looked when I first started. Soon you will be the oldest in the school and the new kids will look so small to you. :catgirl:[/font]

[quote]I'm currently attempting to work on a Final Fantasy RPG, possibly a spar, but I can't think of a great story element that'd make it worth joining- the basic principle is that the main heroes from every world have been contacted by this goddess [believed by Cloud to be Aerith] who manipulated them into believing that all of the pain and destruction is directly attributed to their inability to stop the calamity of their world immediately. They gather the other heroes to make them repent for their crimes, whether it be by forcing them to do battle with one another, or sending them to do miscellaneous, horrible tasks that they have no choice but to comply with- or something along those lines. Any thoughts? [/quote] [font=franklin gothic medium]I think it's a good concept for a spar. I don't know very much about spars though. For a spar I would tend to keep it simple, but as I said, I'm not too familiar with them - it could be that people who spar regularly prefer more detailed backstories (which yours is, so it should be fine anyway).[/font] [quote]I'm in the same boat for the Human Focus. Do you have any ideas/suggestions for fleshing out the Human Focus idea? [/quote] [font=franklin gothic medium]I'm not really sure. Since there is no super villain, it might be that the characters begin to investigate the origins of their powers? Maybe the meteor came from an alien planet or something? *shrug* I have been thinking about doing a superhero RPG for a while, partly because I'm generally not a huge superhero fan...so I thought it'd kind of be interesting to do my own twist on superheroes. Although what I have in mind is very different to what you're proposing here.[/font]