opnet [OpNet] Psycho Terat

[Stigmata]

So I've pretty much secluded myself in my little town of Flint. I mostly keep to myself. I've got my parlor and occasionally I'll travel here or there for no signifigant reason.

Anyways, I figured I was sealed away from the notice of most people. Sure my name is known in some circles, but not many. But there I am working on some poor sod who really can't handle the pain, thinking how fragile the little fucker is in both body and mind, and wondering how he slipped through my screening. But I notice a cockroach, nothing big, I don't really pay to much attention, I'm not the cleanest person, is normal. But then there's another, a few flies, a cricket, needless to say, my studio gets over run with bugs of various typs. Pretty disgusting. The little shit I was working on flees pretty quickly. I hear a scream, and a wet popping sort of squish sound, can't believe I didn't see that coming.

Then the nastiest bitch I've ever seen comes in. She called herself Chitin. She goes on this tirade about how I need to not waste my time on the zips, how it's shameful of me to give my blood for research into baseline disease. yada yada. then she tries convincing me that I'm just like her, I just don't know it yet, how I'm holding onto something I've already lost, how I need to take the plunge into what really lies at the core of myself. Whatever. Then she has the nerve to tell me to come with her???? She says she wants to show me the truth? What the fuck? Anyways to make a long story short, we fought, we hurt eachother pretty bad, but I managed to run her and her little bugs off.

So what I want to know is what the fuck was that? Is this normal terat recruitment here? Does anyone know who this chick is? I'm just not sure what to make of the situation. I'm not particularly pleased that she killed my client. That's another whole mess I have to deal with. Ugh... Well even if no one has any insight to share here, thanks for letting me vent.

[Ashnod]

There is no such thing as "Terat Recruitment." Anyone who approaches you, and chooses violence if you don't come with them, is not officially a member. As much as there such things as official Terats.

If we approach a Nova, IF, it's generally because they've expressed beliefs similar to ours or because they've been searching us out.

Basically, you're dealing with someone who thinks it is cool to call themselves Terat. There are more of them than there are actual Terats.

[Stigmata]

Well, it wasn't exactly her who chose the violence. I think I pissed her off when I told her I didn't care what she had to say and wanted her the hell out of my shop. She insisted she was trying to help me, but I actually threw the first punch. Then she was pissed, started hissing at me and you know, it just went from there. I just wanted her to go away, you know maybe try calling first.

So your saying she's not a "real" terat? What the fuck does that mean? How do you decide that?

[Ashnod]

That changes things, but only slightly. The point I was getting at is that most acts of violence committed in our name are done by Novas that are unknown to the core membership. Many of them are these little "cults" that call themselves Terats but get violent when you refuse them or refuse to hear them out.

We do have blood on our hands. I'm not trying to imply that we don't. But we don't have as much as is nominally ascribed to us.

[ronin]

Ashnod.

But you know very well that Chitin is no poser. Very well, indeed.

Why don't you tell Stigmata the truth? Or is he just not "ready" for it yet?

That's what this is all about, isn't it? "Priming the pump", so to speak. "Good cop, bad cop" with nova participants.

.ronin

[Sandy Davis]

Here is vtheproblem with teragen. You can do what everyou want, when a member does that,, they are either called possers, or it is not my fault.After all In the teragen there are no leaders,and everyone is equal, so by all means if one of them does something wrong no one else is to blame...

You know what that reminds me of?et me think.. It stats with a K and ends with a N... but also known as.. what?That's right the KKK!

[Ashnod]

Ronin,

Never heard of Chitin before Stigmata made HER post.

Sandy,

Spoken like someone who's never been in the movement to begin with.

[Jager]

Stigmata, don't judge any movement by just one member, for good or ill.

I have heard that Chitin is part of a Teragen cell operating in the Old Northwest sector and parts of Canada. They have been lying low (and using far more subtle tactics) since they ran across another poster here, Jordan Rossi, a few years back. Chitin's buddies are a Radical cell, aligned with certain elements of the Primacy (a faction under the Teragen umbrella).

Ashnod, your unwillingness to sully your beliefs by comprimising with any faction leaves you with some disadvantages. Of course, you could just as easily drag your soul through the mud by being a no-good, snooping, busy-body like me.

[Neil Preston]

Stigmata, your up in Flint? I am just passing through Detroit when my old man dropped me a line saying that you were next door. Mind if I come up for a bit? I have hit the road for a bit, walking the land so to speak.

[Ashnod]

I'm consistently amazed at how everyone not involved with the Teragen seems to know more about it than I do. I'm either the most ignorant Nova in the world, or everyone is making these "people" and these "events" up.

Personally, I'm up for believing the latter. Of course, everyone will think me delusional, but there's nothing I can do about that.

Goodbye.

[Stigmata]

So should I expect her to come back? Or do you think she's done with me? I don't really know the ins and out of the Teragen. I'm not completely uniformed, but I do keep to myself for the most part. I've realized that I hate most people I meet. The world is full of assholes.

ronin, would you care to enlighten me here? What exactly is the truth?

Neil, yeah drop by. As long as you're not as uptight as your pop. You do know we haven't exactly gotten along in the past right? I'm surprised he would suggest you spend anytime with me at all. You know, me being the anarchic junkie and all.

[ronin]

Ashnod.

Or the third option, which I find still more probable, is that you know a great deal more than even you are letting on.

After all, you're too smart to not play some cards to your chest.

And I never said I wasn't involved with the Teragen.

Stigmata.

I don't know Chitin personally, though I did meet her once, not long ago. And while I do not agree with her or her personal views, she is, insofar as I know, an established (inasmuch as anyone is) member of the Teragen.

As for what game is exactly afoot, I couldn't give you specifics. But regardless of what Ashnod will tell you, the Teragen does occassionally find a reason to actively seek out a virtual unknown for recruitment, and this game of alternating fear and solace is a tactic that has served them well before.

Instead of asking "Why them?", ask yourself "Why me?"

.ronin

[Metropolis]

Yeah, Chitin, I slapped that ass. She hangs with the Harvesters. And I mean the scary monster side, not the dexter egg-headed pencil neck white men side. She's got these crazy tentacle things, lets just say it's good I got a powerful prostate. But what's up with all you bitches talkin about bein a Terat. Who's who and what's what. What have any y'all done that makes you so qualified at judging who's Terat and who's not? Y'all can kiss my ass if you call me a poser. I know what Metropolis is.

Oh and Stigmata, I'll be swingin by ol' Flint and gettin myself some bodywork done. But I suggest you get an excellent tag artist first, and maybe we can talk about what Chiten may have been trying to buzz out. See that's called makin an appointment y'all.

[Sakurako Hino]

*scratches head*

Okay... There is alot of buzz over a Nova I've heard hide nor hair of... I know this isn't my area of forte, but curiosity has been one of my weaknesses.

[Agnelli Celeste]

From what I understand, the teragen have no rules.Just look at some of the members.RREally look.You have rapist, mass murders..Then you gt to the bad ones.

You have a group of people who think they can do no wrong.In what way would the exclude the actions of killing or hurting people?And Ashnod, how ever much of a good reasonable person you are.You do not make up the scale of what every member of your club should be based on.For good or bad, but most members of your club are not worth talking to.

[Arek]

The Teragen has a very strong philosophy, which can be interpreted in numerous ways. That's why it attracts so many different Novas of different mindsets. You could say the same thing about many other organizations...including Utopia, from some sources.

As for members of the Teragen being conpletely removed from laws, restrictions or consequences, maybe there are others who can monitor them, perhaps? No Novas to my knowledge have attempted to erradicate millions of people yet.

..actually, there was one a few years ago who, amazingly enough, had links to Utopia...

[Widget]

Stigmata

To be very candid I find it amazing that some of these people are allowed to wander freely without adult supervision. Or at least a lowjack collar.

I do have one bit of advice for you. Ignore all this rhetoric being bandied about concerning the Teragen. Not only are being terat and being a member of the teragen only vaguely related, but most of these people wouldn't be able to identify the ramifications of the teras philosphy with a library card and three intern researchers to assist them.

Ever notice how often people here point fingers at Utopia or the Teragen without once bothering to consider how ineffectual either group is in making their view predominant? That should have been your first clue.

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[Hugin]

Widget, given that the Teragen does not posses a fully staffed PR firm nor have the ears of nearly every network of not in the free world I would say they, or we, have done a fair job in getting our beliefs out there. That your average baseline unable to actually understand what is being said is of no real concern.

Unfortunatly, with the demonization of our beliefs comes a misperception as to how things are normally done. Now we have the occasional Nova who is attracted not to the true philosophy but the nightmares as presented by N! So, they go out and act the fool, thinking all the time that they are following the path. In time someone will take them to the side and clue them in to how things actually get done.

This is not a matter of the Teragen trying to absolve itself of guilt for the actions of a few wayward members. Why would we bother to do that?

Stigmata, I'm sorry that your first encounter resulted in a negative outcome. I am sure that given the opportunity and perhaps someone better suited to explaining the options available to you there would be a less traumatic end.

[Sandy Davis]

James, not all teragen are bad but I have had to kill three.Seiing as I have only killed 14 novas in my life.. that is saying a lot.

Note I said 3 teragen, and yes they were full members of the teragen..But I killed them in just cuases. Both legally and moraly.If you counted wana bes I think it would around 10.

Now do I kill teragen on sight?No, do I trust them to act on their word..no.I take what they say with more than pinch of salt.Note that I have been a nova for a few years now,and still I have yet to see the light of the teras..SO maybe we are not all ment to rule the world as gods,I don't want to be a a goddess..I jsut want to be me.

[Widget]

Prodigy

When I said, "Some of these people...," did you construe that to be a reference to Chitin or the teragen? It was not.

That a nova with an obvious soldier mindset would interpret an event as indicative of alliances or loyalty is hardly surprising. That a loner with few ties judges the actions and motivations of others through the lens of their own life is equally expected.

That anyone would give credance to such musings is absurd in the face of the evidence. Unless Stigmata chose this machiavellian method to sound out which inhabitants of this forum are in the know and which are merely poseurs. After all, it was not Stigmata that indicated Chitin was a terat.

If that was her intention then it was well played.

Very well played indeed.

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[Stigmata]

It is definatly interesting to get to know you people. I have collected all you have been so kind to share, and will file it away as needed. Not to fret you little Terats, I'm sure my meeting with Papa M will be most informative, so long as he remains a gentleman. I won't write you all off into the same category I place the bugbitch in.

[Sakurako Hino]

*reads past posts...*

Okay, Stigmata, If I were you, and I know I'm not, I have a piece of honest advice that I think you should take heart in. Metropolis has already staggered me with his reputation. If indeed the city is his domain, and he can exert himself to that level of control, I advise you to have multiple escape routes. Ones only you know. That is always a smart strategy to have when dealing with someone who is unknown and has a large rep. And whatever you do, don't call him on his rep. It is better to assume that he is what he says he is. I do not discount him, that is why if I met him, I would take every precaution for my personal safety. If he's a nice guy, hey, your precautions won't come to waste in case someone else decides to interject. It's your soul and mind, Stigmata. I'm sure you will know what is best.

[Centipede]

Sandy:

'Only' killed fourteen? How can you call that 'only'!?

And I thought I was jaded.

In my (limited) experience terats are no less likely to keep their word than any other nova, with the exceptions of Utopians whom I never trust (due to their hierarchy and greater good agenda).

[Sandy Davis]

Let's see. I worked in the line of fire for a few years. I have fought many times, and I have killed only a few times. On day I was in a fight with a group of novas who were doing very bad things.

I wanted to get rid of them, but the problem was this, no legal system would work. They had strange powers that would sway minds, and also they were not too friendly to me. So given that they could either be left alone and wind up killing countless or I could kill them. I am not one quick to kill, and I hate doing it, but I do not regret killing when I had to do.

I could not let them get way, it was unlikely that I could take them in live. It was even more unlikely that if I did get them to anyplace that they would stay their long. in one day iIkilled 5 novas.It was either that or let them do something worse.

Do you want to me to tell you each nova I killed? By no means does it make me happy, but at the same time I am no cold blooded killer. I am just a woman who is not hero, I am just a woman.

By the way, a fact that you should all know, I am the Municipal defender of over 1,500,000 people. Do you think I live life eating cake, and drinking milk?

So when i say I have only killed 14 novas in my life , that is put behind the fact I have fought over 80 novva, and I only lost 3 times.So while killing is horried thing, and wile I do not enjoy doig it..do you think I look for it?

[Centipede]

Sandy: Let's see. I worked in the line of fire for a few years. I have fought many times, and I have killed only a few times.

Have you ever killed baselines?

On day I was in a fight with a group of novas who were doing very bad things.

I wanted to get rid of them, but the problem was this, no legal system would work. They had strange powers that would sway minds, and also they were not too friendly to me. So given that they could either be left alone and wind up killing countless or I could kill them. I am not one quick to kill, and I hate doing it, but I do not regret killing when I had to do.

Though I don't know the story, it doesn't sound like you had to kill them.

I could not let them get way, it was unlikely that I could take them in live. It was even more unlikely that if I did get them to anyplace that they would stay their long. in one day iIkilled 5 novas.It was either that or let them do something worse.

Do you want to me to tell you each nova I killed? By no means does it make me happy, but at the same time I am no cold blooded killer. I am just a woman who is not hero, I am just a woman.

By the way, a fact that you should all know, I am the Municipal defender of over 1,500,000 people.

I did not know that. Where is this? Are you supposed to take on any nova threats on your own? Are you supposed to execute enemies of the city?

Do you think I live life eating cake, and drinking milk?

I have no idea what you mean. I have stopped eating, but I still enjoy milk!

So when i say I have only killed 14 novas in my life , that is put behind the fact I have fought over 80 novva, and I only lost 3 times.So while killing is horried thing, and wile I do not enjoy doig it..do you think I look for it?

Yes! Or more seriously, how would I know. There are novas who enjoy kiling. Those are usually the one with the highest death counts.

So approximately every sixth nova you battle dies.

My own figures are a little worse, 100% fatalities. Nor can I claim to enjoy killing, it would just take a lot to make me fight. Saving one and a half million people wouldn't do it I'm afaid.

[Sandy Davis]

Well, these people were destroying life. Not just killing, had a cult in my city. They were doing bad things to people. I as I could have took them alive, witch would have put others at risk and got them off the street for a month at most.

I have killed a few baselines, but less as when I kill it is normally because the battle is out of control.

It is in my contract to stop, any and all hostile threats to the city in the most humane way posable. You tell me, is killing five people more human that killing or destroying the lives of 500,000 people? If that why not 50,000? I have only killed one nova in a battle where I did not have to, and well. That is a long story

As for the cake and milk, it is the idea that my job is not esay.I do not live in a comicbook,where I can tell you who bad guys is by looks. It is a world where someone who is a threat to me in a fight is going to get hit with kiddie gloves.

Hell I had an arm cut off and a spear threw my spine. Do I kill, yes? Do I want to kill, no? Do I kill nova with less or more guilt than baselines.No.A person is a person to me? We all have those who love and no one life maters more than another life. And the count is 92 novas I fought in battle. I had to look it up.

[Centipede]

Sandy: Well, these people were destroying life. Not just killing, had a cult in my city. They were doing bad things to people. I as I could have took them alive, witch would have put others at risk and got them off the street for a month at most.

I get your point, I just find it strange that you seemingly stand above the law in your unnamed city.

It is in my contract to stop, any and all hostile threats to the city in the most humane way posable. You tell me, is killing five people more human that killing or destroying the lives of 500,000 people?

It seems you took the easy way out. I would have too, though I would never put myself under contract like you have.

As for the cake and milk, it is the idea that my job is not esay.I do not live in a comicbook,where I can tell you who bad guys is by looks.

,,

I can tell who the bad guy is with a look. That's why I would never do what you do. You should try drinking more milk, it's greatly underrated.

It is a world where someone who is a threat to me in a fight is going to get hit with kiddie gloves.

Kiddy gloves of death?

Hell I had an arm cut off and a spear threw my spine. Do I kill, yes? Do I want to kill, no? Do I kill nova with less or more guilt than baselines.No.A person is a person to me? We all have those who love and no one life maters more than another life.

I have to disagree with you on a personal level here. I have no one I love or who loves me. My own life is more important than any other.

[Neil Preston]

Aaaaaa ..... okay? When did this degenerate into who killed how many novas and why did they do it?

Not my problem.

Stigmata, sorry for the delay. I stopped by to do some work at a Free Clinic in Detroit and stayed for a bit longer than I intended. One of the bennies for getting my medical liscence, I suppose.

No. I can't really say that I am like my father all that much. I think you misunderstand him somewhat, but he makes that easy, doesn't he. Anywho, he thinks you are pretty cool, but he would never actually say it.

So, do you want to catch a bite to eat tonight, when you get off work? It seems that I am also a beneficiary of the Vile Bill Endowment Fund, which includes, for some unknown reason, the Roadside Assistance of every motorcycle club and gang from here to Vermont (I was originally hitch-hiking to Canada when I discovered this).

I'm rambling, again. Some of my new friends are heading out to Holland for a big bonfire party and are giving me a ride, so I could stop by and pick you up, or we could just hang out.

Hope to see you soon,

Neil

[Sandy Davis]

THe law is a good thing.It is a great thing.But the law is nto perfect.Now that being said, they used the law to get around the fact the the facts were so clearly stating that they did the crimes that there were video tapes,and later found a web site of there play time.The facts were that they killed those poeple,and di d those things.They even said so in open court.They then changed a few wordd of the judge'ss and they went home free.

Now this in mind in the state of california, the penalty of said crime would have been death.

nd keeping in mind they were trying to kill me,and possed a threat to my life.Witch would be self defence.SO they used the letter of the law to avoid the spirt of the law, so did I.Both legal,and both done.One just has them dead,and the other almost let them kill agian with no fear of anything.

I defend mroe than one city, mainly Santa Cruz. the county has around 850,00 people.

As for loved ones, it is true ther are people like you,and that I would rather someone else die than me.But I do not kill a nova any more freely than i do a basline or a baseline anymore freely than I do a nova.

[Jager]

(stops, listens, pulls out an old LP recording, plays it while dusting off soapbox)

"The greatest threat to any nova is another nova."

It isn't such a hard point to get across, really.

The thing to remember why you are so justly butchering anyone is this; 1)there may be someone who loves/believes in/owes who would not otherwise become an enemy except for the fact that you just killed that person, and 2) now that you have proved to every other nova that you are willing and able to kill your own kind, they will now view you differently; most often in a more hostile light. After all, how much longer is it before you find something they do to be equally offensive and therefore worth of death?

I am not saying that they did or didn't deserve killing. That kind of thing is a personal judgement call and I have yet to meet anyone who could successful pass themselves off as Cosmic Justice. I do say that killing diminishes us all in some way. I ought to know. I have done a great deal of diminishing myself.

(steps off soapbox, takes off record, goes back to snooping around)

[Sakurako Hino]

No offense, Sandy, but I do have to agree with Jager. The only predator a Nova has is one of it's own kind. Although I shouldn't say predator unless they're a soma addict. Then I'd call them a cannibal, and I'd have no choice but to erase their carcass from my line of sight. Preferribly with an orbital laser. Or at least with a pair of brass knucks. Old school is still the best.

[Sandy Davis]

In the end, it all boils down to this.I fight,and kill so others do not have to.I sin,and risk my lie so you do not have to worry about your own life.

I do what ins needed,and not what I want.I offten do not have to fight anymore.Becuase I can say to poeple, that I am willing ot go all the way.Are you willing ot go all the way?Are you willing to die for what you are fighting for.Even when i do fight I rarely kill.As noted one time was 5 at once and they left me no options. In that I kill roughly one in every nine novas I battle.

Also one in every 5 novas I have faught have killed novas,and or more than enough humans to make gravyard of their own work.I do not kill saints

[Avatar]

No, that you don't. You kill people. Regardless of what they have or haven't done, you become that which you supposedly fight against by taking their lives.

Killing is only an option for the unimaginative. A method used by those who seek to take the easy road.

[Apep]

Sandy,

What a fucking saint you must consider yourself. Trying to justify your kills is equally pathetic. You're just as much of a murderer as me. I think its goddamn hilarious. You never sease to make me laugh.

[WANKER]

Bad girl! Bad girl! That was so evil of you Apep!

I wish I could have said that! But, I have never killed another human, nova or baseline.

Perhaps Apep's comment is what it takes for you to see the error of your ways, Sandy?

Is it too late for you to bail out on the contract? Or, are you perhaps satisfied with the situation?

[Stigmata]

Neil,

see you soon

Endeavor,

Thanks for the concern but I'm a big girl. I realize what I'm getting myself into.

[Sakurako Hino]

Actually, that's what I wanted to hear. It's good you're going to keep your head on a 360 Degree swivel. You got a good head on your shoulders, don't lose it.

[Jager]

Ashnod, does being hunted by certain terats mean I am involved with them? Perhaps it does.

Does this mean that you knew that certain terats were going to kidnap and torture Prodigy? One of your own.

Does that mean you knew that certain terats were going to ambush and kill some of my baseline and nova associates?

I never assumed it did. I have never assumed that the Teragen had that kind of chain-of-command. I was under the impression that it was various novas, singularly or in groups, inspired by the Null Manifesto and the Teras philosophy, who kept low-level communication and support networks going for their fellow novas. Hell, more than half of the terats I have talked to have never met Divis Mal, much less yourself.

So, if they were going to meet a new nova, just how would they let you know?

[Sandy Davis]

Apep, you know, with the words you use, I am starting to think the son of mary is something to you.Really.

As for me being like ou?Um I could pull out files of your work, would you like that?This is not a comic book, and I am not supper man.But you on the other hand are nothing like me like me.You are nothing more than a walk corpse..your body just doesn't know it yet.

No, that is nto a threat,and no I am not going ot try to kill you.That would be a waste of time.

[Apep]

You've figured me out. I confess I am a devout christian.

No shit this isn't a comic book. So why don't you stop treating it like one? What are all these notions of good nova/evil nova?

I never said that I was like you, but that you were like me. You are a murderer no matter how you look at it. You've killed a lot of novas and you're little delusions of good and evil do not change the fact that you intentionally murdered them. You ought to get over yourself already. It's not flattering.