opnet [OpNet] Saving VanGilder's Topic

[Preston]

I see no reason to further deviate from Mr. VanGilder's topic, so I am moving it here.

Mr. Bill, were did you ever get the idea that I liked you, understood you, wanted to understand you, or gave a damn about your opinion of me? If you are dumb enough to listen to Mr. Chance, it is easy to understand why you ended up in so many jails.

Yes, your a two-time loser. That is no big suprise. Your a whore, too. Yes, I think Elites are whores you ass-faced little weasel. Ha!

What is DeVries going to do about it? Nothing. They are just another souless corporation. DeVries was trying to fuck the city over before I voiced opinion 1 about them. I think all that Viagra has gone to your head.

What are you going to do about it?

Nothing! You do not have the werewithal to put your cushy little lifestyle in jepordy.

Yes. I work with three Elites right now. Yes. The city needs them, and it pays through the nose for them.

I am not asking any one, nova or not, to do what I do, dumbass! I do not care that you can do good for the world and chose not to. Most people don't contribute either. Elites make the concious choice to tear things down, though.

Elites choose to enter a profession that exploits, hurts, and kills people. They do it because they do not mind killing fellow sentiant beings and they enjoy the huge pay-off for the work they do.

You are a Brotherhood? A Brotherhood of Cannibals maybe.

I do not want to understand the "Elite Mindset" or to "earn the right" in your eyes. I am better than you and you cannot face up to it. You and your ilk are murderers. Dress it up any way you choose. I know your kind and that is good enough for me. Thieves, thugs, rapists, and murderers. Now you get to wear masks and sell merchandise based on your image. Big whoop. You are still blood-stained.

You get upset because some other sick Elite fuck is hunting you down on a battlefield? How in the hell did you end up there anyway, dumbass? Choice.

Ashnod? I don't know her. I don't like the philosophy she pawns off as some messiaic message of salvation. I think she is seriously deluded.

On the otherhand, she doesn't take money to kill innocent people or even some not so innnocent people. She is not a prostitute like Mr. Bill or Mr. Chance. She CHOOSES to live outside the system that all of you attack. I call that 'courage of convictions' and as dangerous as she is, she is worth ten of either of you.

As insane as Apep is, she doesn't whore herself out either. Neither does Mr. Meehan.

This isn't sucking up. It is just stating facts. I don't like any of them, nor do I care how the feel about me. They are just a hell of alot better than any Elite.

Mr. Chance, could you say any less with any more words?

Baby was the worst you could come up with?

You don't say anything meaningful because you have nothing meaningful to say. Its most be difficult to believe that Mr. Bill made more sense, even though he was wrong.

You are so full of crap. The press also calls us devils and monsters. Does that make it so? No.

Gulag, huh? Good to see someone feels that Baharain is an acceptable alternative to any real form of justice.

Pump, why would you feel the need to help Mr. Bill de-stress? Let him spend his hard-earned bloodmoney to that effect. Prostitutes, booze, and drugs are his panacea of choice for his otherwise empty life. Oh, yeah. He has his so-called "Brotherhood" as well.

[David 'Dr. Troll' Smith]

I think that in most of the countries that we opperate in, we are part of the system. Laws change from country to country. I'd love to say more about "my own experience" but I'm curently under contract not to.

Yes, I'm about to go out on "my cherry run" as Bill would put it. Maybe I'll be able to talk about it later. Or maybe not.

[Hugin]

Preston, if you are going to allow a thug like Vile Bill to get you so excited, you should really think about another line of work. I can't imagine that he is any different than most of your clientelle. Except of course, you do realize that should he decide to make good on his rather boastful threat that I doubt there is anything you or anyone else in the Boston P.D. could to about it.

Also, what are these backhanded little compliments you've paid to Ashnod, Apep and myself? I was under the impression you despised us through and through. Coming a little close to hypocrisy there officer.

You are either much deeper, and more complex than I have given you credit for or you lack the ability to remain consistent. Which is it?

Though, I do have to say that I do respect the fact that you have the courtesy to have moved this argument off of Liam's thread. Very kind of you.

[Twist]

Hmmmm. At first I was thinking maybe I should object to being called a whore. Then I decided that it doesn't really matter what people call me. I do my job and I do it damned well and it was that or work for Utopia and though they are fine people for the most part it was so not me. When I was stuck in the London Rashoud Centre while I was a minor it did my head in. Damn that place was stuffy.

RE: your prison plans. Do you really think it can be shot down legally? Especially given the dubious nature of the alternative. I mean as long as you can prove it's not excessive. I'm not saying I approve. I don't know all the facts. But it has to better than the black hole that is Bahrain.

Twist

[Fortune's Son]

Quote:

Preston grumbled:
Mr. Chance, could you say any less with any more words?

Yes and I see you're mastering the concept of the rhetorical question. Good for you officer. See what those night courses can do?

Quote:

Baby was the worst you could come up with?

Worst? No, rather it was the most tactfully accurate desription without delving into your insecurities, inability to organize information or logically prove an argument without siting dubious examples only relevant under the loosest possible interpretation.

Did you reach your current position through some affirmative action program? I ask only because if you didn't then you might actually be as intelligent as you claim. That would mean you simply feel there is some inherent advantage derived from playing the part of a blustering authoritarian who only recently learned its a "bad thing" to use epithets in referring to ethnic groups. And yes, Preston, it really is just idle curiosity on my part on the off-hand chance I work in your city again.

To be honest; the only reason I even know your name is that you were included in a brief once. I don't trade insults with people unless I'm trying to rattle them or have some level of respect for them. I don't normally waste time on countering specious arguments because they are specious.

Now; just to prove there's no hard feelings a messenger will be delivering three dozen fresh orchids directly from Thailand. As such an important lawman as yourself must have all sorts of unsavory purse snatchers and other ne'r do wells looking for revenge, the messenger will deliver them to your precinct rather than your home. You needn't call the bombsquad for the small package with your name on it. Its just some very smart metal polish I ran across in Egypt. It'll put a mirror shine on that badge of yours. And I do think highly of law enforcement officials. I just loved you guys on Valor of Heroes last night.

I hope you're still having that sparkling nice day officer.

[Apep]

Sorry Preston, I don't get why your kissing our butts either. You almost make it sound like it's okay that I've killed people because I don't do it for money.

I think if Pump wants to help Bill unwind that's none of your damn business. Hell I'd help him relieve some stress if he wanted me too.

As far as everyone else here, please continue to insult eachother further, it is most amusing. The fun never stops.

[Cin]

What are you hoping to get out of this Preston? You're sure not making friends. In fact, you're attacking some pople that you should probably think twice about. But seriously, what good is going to come of this?

It's well knowns that some pole don't approve of DeVries and thier Agents. People have rpoblems with the "mercenary" concept. Mercs have been arounf almost sence man started fighting wars. The Elite's are just a little more high profile. I guess pople like to take the "you have your powers but aren't using them to battle the forces of evil" platform. Whatever. People are people. We all have our talents. You don't have to tote a gun or Quantum Bolt (or, in my case, both) to be mercenary.

I really don't see why you're not attacking me as well. I worked as a cleaner for years, cleaning up botched opps, breaking laws, killing people. I'm even on the books with DeVries, thought I have yet to take a contract and most likely never will.

Bill does his job and gets paid for it. Would you rather the dozens of hundred of people who would have to replace him risk thier lives, or he just risk his?

I'd switch to decaff and chill out. Push people too far and you'll find that they push back, sometimes alot harder than you think. If we're having coffee and Bill walks in looking for you, well, I think I'd have to spet aside and let you sleep in the bed you made for yourself.

In short, do a "gut check." Why are you doing this? What are you going to accomplish?

[Preston]

First off: KISSING ASS? HA!

I only kiss ass to the people that matter to me. It doesn't happen very often.

The difference lies in the realm of political and moral thought as opposed to thuggery, Ms. Apep and Mr. Meehan. Though I may disagree with you and your outlooks, I understand that my thought on such matters are not the only ones.

You are wrong, but diversity builds strength. Your actions lead me to believe you are more than obnoxious little twits.

Dr. Troll, good luck and I hope you make it. I feel that you have sold yourself short by becoming a hired "gun". Again, Good Luck.

Ms. Twist, if you will look it up, only DeVries mercanaries have the right to carry the name Elites. Other organizations, Peacekeepers for example, do good work around the globe. I have no experience with Morgan, so I will not comment on their business practices. If you seek to emulate Anna DeVries bunch of cutthroats and thieves, that is what I wil call you.

I haven't heard you whine and complain about your fate in life either.

Maybe you can ask Mr. Chance why the 'lowly little baselines' bother him so?

See you can see past his load of crap and smoke and mirrors play with words.

Come Monday, I will be briefed by the legal team handling that side of the project. It comes down to a matter of money and politics versus what is right and the will to see it through. The people of Boston voted for this. Certain powerful interests don't want to see it happen. We will see.

Outside of yourself, everyone else here thinks we are trying to build a death camp. Paranoia rules.

Mr. Chance, let me see:

Backhand

Blah, backhand, blah.

Blah, blah.

Backhand, blah, blah.

Blah.

Mr. Chance, police officers cannot accept gifts in the line of duty. Donate the flowers to the Boston School of the Blind. The children will enjoy them.

Inane farewell.

I hope you didn't spend to much time on that. Why don't you try to get a life and spend more time with your wife/significant other?

Have a nice night, all.

[Roslyn 'Pump' Kluesner]

Quote:

Originally posted by Preston:
Pump, why would you feel the need to help Mr. Bill de-stress? Let him spend his hard-earned bloodmoney to that effect. Prostitutes, booze, and drugs are his panacea of choice for his otherwise empty life. Oh, yeah. He has his so-called "Brotherhood" as well.

Pardon my French, but aren’t you just full of piss and vinegar?

What I do is my business, not yours. If I choose to kick back will Bill, then I do. Hmm.. maybe I’d like to meet other novas? Maybe I would like to talk to an Elite with some experience? Maybe I just like to drink and dance and drive around with the top down. What good is a ’69 Mustang convertible if you do not? So how about you mind your own business. Hmmm?

[Fortune's Son]

Hmm.

Preston;

1. I'm told it is a common practice for major metropolitan police departments to retain the service of mental health professionals.

2. Twist has a better grasp of the correct usage of terms and may be willing to correct misperceptions if asked politely. Alternately there are several good books still in print that you might find educational.

3. I was using a forehand not a backhand. Being a little sensitive to a small jest or two considering the manner you've presented yourself aren't you? Not to mention a little paranoid.

4. I believe the term you're looking for is banal rather than inane

It's apparent you are under a great deal of stress as well as interesting that you feel you are currently "on duty". and conducting "official" business. If you do follow through with number one above you might want to mention that to the doctor. If you're shy about seeing someone affiliated with the department I believe Mr. Meehan once admitted to being a skilled counselor. Don't become a work casualty.

Its a sparkling beautiful day somewhere, officer. Do try to find a little pleasure in it.

[Hugin]

Quote:

Originally posted by Jack Chance:
[QB]...I believe Mr. Meehan once admitted to being a skilled counselor. Don't become a work casualty.

[QB]

Why yes Preston, I would enjoy most thoroughly the chance to wander around in your mind. I'm sure we could find some of the origins to your interesting little peculiarities.

[Fortune's Son]

And just to clear up one small misunderstanding, Preston? The orchids are for the missus. The metal polish was for you. Feel free to donate the flowers as its the thought that counts. They probably won't have a use for the metal polish though.

[ 09-15-2002: Message edited by: Jack Chance ]

[Preston]

Ms. Kluesner, sure, go hang with a mass-murderer. I am not your father or your guidance counselor. It is a free country. You assume that Mr. Bill cannot come to the US because he has been unfairly persecuted? He is a self-professed criminal. Have a blast.

If you dont' want people intruding in your personal life, don't advertise on the bathroom wall. Send Mr. Bill a private message. No, you post it in public. Stop acting like a pampered princess and grow up.

Mr. Chance:

1. Yes, we do have excellent mental health professionals on staff. Why? Are you finally acknowledging your need for help?

2. Vague as usual. I will hazard a guess and say the term in dispute is Elite(s). I got that choice bit from the material DeVries sends to my office.

3. You can play tennis with a racket stuck up your ass for all I care. Your ability to understand anyone else is so filled with self-delusions that it is laughable.

4. Yep, got me there. Banal would have been better. I don't make the assumption that you are uneducated, you twerp. Highly educated individuals can still be utter assholes and morons. They just get to sound pretty doing it.

The rest could almost be funny.

So I have work related stress. What a big suprise!

Do I manage it? Yes. I comes with accepting the choices I make in my life. I don't whine about it or blame society. I handle it in a professional manner.

Sure, Mr. Meehan. Come on down to Boston. I will be waiting.

In case you are wondering, any brainiac with an ounce of legal knowledge understands that if I planned to arrest Mr. Meehan for anything, this would be entrapment. I am sure Mr. Meehan would be out of the pokey so fast the desk seargent's head would spin and the city would be slapped with a healthy lawsuit. I am simple interested in meeting a self-professed Terat. Ashnod chickened out on a face-to-face confrontation.

I will pass on the psychological services. You are a nutter, after all.

Mr. Chance, if you send something to my place of work, it is work-related. Police officers on duty cannot accept gifts. If you send it to my house, it is personal business.

FYI, I often put in 23 hour work days. It comes with no longer having the need for sleep.

I am divorced, so there is no Mrs. Preston. That is a matter of public record. You told me you had been briefed. Must have slipped your mind.

You know were you can stick that polish, right? Try being creative for once.

[Roslyn 'Pump' Kluesner]

Quote:

Originally posted by Preston:
Ms. Kluesner, sure, go hang with a mass-murderer. I am not your father or your guidance counselor. It is a free country. You assume that Mr. Bill cannot come to the US because he has been unfairly persecuted? He is a self-professed criminal. Have a blast.
If you dont' want people intruding in your personal life, don't advertise on the bathroom wall. Send Mr. Bill a private message. No, you post it in public. Stop acting like a pampered princess and grow up.

Please stop saying what I do and do not assume. Mr. Bill does not WANT to come to the US because he has committed crimes here. I have never said ANYTHING about him being unfairly persecuted. And I also believe that he WILL come to the US if given good enough reason, like say introducing somebody who really needs it to The Nasty Black. Your bacge is a shiled, but it cannot protect you as much you think.

As far as me saying something here. Well, Mr. Bill does not seem like one to check his mail much. And I was working under the assumption that people here were adults. Wait a second. People here are adults, with the exception of the juvenile police officer who's beliefs are so weak then when they are challanged or threatened he has to resprt to name calling and insults as a retort.

[Fortune's Son]

Thank you for enlightening me on your interpretation of being "in the line of duty". In the future I will send anything to your home and try to make it relevant to work tasks as the percentage of your time obligated to that is so high. I'm uncertain as to why you indulged in so transparent a lie regarding entrapment though.

The manner you present yourself is considered dealing with your problems?

You don't want help? Okay. Civility is lost on you? Okay. We can deal with it on that basis then. Here's the bottom line, choir-boy. You're unfocused and convey yourself as someone that's a traffic jam coupled with one of life's random misfortunes away from a permanent vacation to the mental ward. Get your shit together and then we'll dance. Either that or take your existential angst to the next logical level.

I don't do suicide assists.

[ 09-16-2002: Message edited by: Jack Chance ]

[David 'Dr. Troll' Smith]

People, cut the guy some slack. The courts just gave him a hard knock, and at the moment he is waiting for them to gut his pet project.

I've been there. You know, when your manager is setting you up so that his boss will fire you? In my case it wasn't with a job I was planning on keeping, but being strapped to the railroad tracks isn't a good feeling.

Preston, hang in there. Just in case you have forgotten, Life is good. Just being a nova is great. Your lifespan more than doubled, any set backs can be overcome in time. Yes, there are problems that come with being a nova, but I for one wouldn't go back.

[Fortune's Son]

Civil as always, Doc. One small correction though; the court didn't give him a "hard knock". They did rule that a particular law violates what is allowable. Some will disagree.

And his pet project is a cage.

Give'em hell on your cherry popper, Doc. Don't forget what you were taught and stay frosty.

[ 09-16-2002: Message edited by: Jack Chance ]

[Hugin]

23 hour days Preston? Often enough that you would describe that situation as 'usual'? Now, I know a few things about a few things and I do happen to know that Boston, while it is a major metropolitan center, does not in fact have an obscenely high crime rate. So, what is it about your life that requires you to work those hours?

Are you so completely invaluable to the force that you cannot be allowed to have a life? Well, while Bill may be a 'whore' as you say, at least he is not a slave.

Perhaps you simply find such intense disatisfaction in your personal life? Failed marriage, inability to be the father you think you should be, these things can eat away at a man who is wrapped up in his job and feels guilty about it.

Or, have you actually taken that extra step and won't admit it? Do you actually see the human life you used to lead as restraining? Do you revel in your newfound ability to focus so completely on a task without having to worry about baseline physical limitations?

Please, don't try to trot out any of that old fashioned noble crap that was old even when Capra was staining celuloid. You'd only be lying. Even if you only worked 5 days a week at that schedule you couldn't even pretend to be able to attempt being a father, regardless of the situation you have with your ex. No judge would ever make any attempt at guaranteeing you a better allotment of visitation if you were so obviously wrapped up in not being a father.

Just curious of course. It's not like you owe any of us an explanation.

[Preston]

Someone somewhere once told me that Mr. Meehan was computer competant?

The divorce happened back before I erupted.

My son is in graduate school, numb-nuts. Maybe we aren't spending time together because he is out of town? Schools back in session and there are cold-case files I have been working on. Yes, last week I put in over 90 hours in four days. I like my job.

Cold case files?

Solving Crimes?

Putting criminals behind bars?

I am a cop, ya know? This is what we do. Mr. Meehan, I will type s-l-o-w-l-y for you.

I am a Nova. I have "super-cop" powers. I can push myself beyond normal investigative techniques and solve normally unsolvable crimes. I examine the evidence, brainstorm, run down some leads, catch the bad guy.

Have you ever wondered why Boston's crime rate is so low and dropped even further in the past year? I 'assumed' you were the Prodigy you claimed to be. My bad.

Ms. Kluesner, keep trying. You were almost funny with the juvie cop thing. I hope everyone who tries to give you well-intentioned advice is equally well-recieved.

Have you ever been to a Del Mar police precinct and had a talk with your local law enforcement?

Mr. Chance, check your court files. I keep up regularly. Swain vs. St. Louis: inwhich an undercover police officer invited someone from outside of St. Louis to come there and commit a crime. The court ruled that since the police officer instigated the incident, it was entrapment. Certainly other cases have gone the other way, but I try to be careful. I don't like leaving legal loopholes.

The Supreme Court has ruled that Opnet communiques are "assumed" to come from outside a jursidiction unless the law enforcement officials knew beforehand that this was not the case.

I am not the FBI or the Directive, Mr. Chance. I have to play be different rules.

Angst? Unfocused? Oh, yeah. Keep believing it, boy. What a crock of shit just to give yourself an out. You have no comprehension about me or any other law enforcement officers, do you? You must glide through life thinking that you have all the answers. I hope you never have any children, because if you do, they are in for a world of hurt. NoChance.

If the conversation so far has been your version of civility, good riddiance. Bring it, you punk. You've got nothing but fancy words, a double helping of ego, and a bounty of self-delusions.

Dr. Troll, thanks.

Yes, life is good. My boy is doing well and earned a partial scholarship to John Hopkins. He is going to be a doctor. Viral/cell research, I think. Since you have already been down the 'paper chase' road, do you have any advice for him? I would pass it on. Me, I am just a simple ole Harvard graduate. Pre-Law. None of that hard science stuff. Too much calculus.

Good luck and stay alive.

[Jager]

Great Googily Moogily!!!

I take a few days to take care of some personal business and Preston pisses in how many people's cornflakes? James, Jack, Pump, Bill, and Apep (well, she might not actually be pissed).

What, was Dr. Troll not at the breakfast table?

,,

Preston, a word of advice:

If you are going to piss in Jack's cornflakes, don't go for the shake or you're libel to end up a eunuch.

Jack, what happened to the Fortune handle?

[Fortune's Son]

Preston,

Again; I don't do assisted suicides. Get some help choir-boy then we'll talk. About quantum, nodes, civilization, why nova powers aren't "powers" and if you ask nicely I might even explain that precedent to you so you can grasp the fault in your reasoning.

Jager,

You missed Ashnod in your head count. The handle still shows up on trading cards. Its not my name though.

[ 09-16-2002: Message edited by: Jack Chance ]

[Dampner]

Jeeez Preston, who rattled your cage, oh sorry I forgot, you didn't get it built yet.

Just how arrogant are you to assume that all Elites kill people?

There's more than one way to skin a cat, sometimes you can walk away with the fur leaving the cat alive.

I mean how many people are killed by cops everyday? You've seen the recruitment posters join LA's largest gang what's that shit all about and you try and run Elites into the ground? And don't get on your high horse saying it's just a few rotten apples, cos if you do I'm gonna get on mine and proudly shout out "I ain't never killed no-one no siree, so your arguement about Elites jus' don' hold water hunney"

[Roslyn 'Pump' Kluesner]

Quote:

Originally posted by Preston:
Ms. Kluesner, keep trying. You were almost funny with the juvie cop thing. I hope everyone who tries to give you well-intentioned advice is equally well-recieved.
Have you ever been to a Del Mar police precinct and had a talk with your local law enforcement?

Almost funny? It wasn’t meant to be, but then again some people try to laugh at things as a defense when things hit too close to the mark. And if that was well-intentioned advice, then you REALLY need to work on your delivery.

I have met the police here in Del Mar many times and know several of them fairly well, some are ven clients of Premier Fitness whom I work with on regualr occasion. They are a very kind and courteous group of men and women who do their job well and tend the represent the ideal many of the police. You could learn a lot from them Preston.

[ 09-16-2002: Message edited by: Roslyn 'Pump' Kluesner ]

[Hugin]

My goodness Preston, you're right, I completely failed to dig into your life and find out everything about you. Actually, no, that isn't correct. I simply don't care enough about you to have searched over your life. I was simply in conversation mode here. Talking with another Nova. All I know about you is based on what you've written here and what I can discern from it. What I got from you is obsession, self-loathing, envy and a handful of other emotional states. My bad, I simply assumed your tragedy was fresher.

[Preston]

Mr. or Ms.Damper, you don't kill folks, huh? I guess you just 'dampen' them down. Shut off their powers. Then what happens? You just walk away? People pay you for this? Why? In a matter of seconds, the problem is coming right back.

That is about as innocent as handcuffing a neo-nazi skinhead to a lamppost in South Boston.

Ask Elites how they rank themselves, Mr./Ms. Damper. Number of novas killed. It is your ranking system, not mine.

I take it you rode the special bus and were not trained to kill others. How nice for you.

Doesn't your payscale go up after a few kills? Aren't the most sought after Elites the ones who have proven they can kill over and over again?

Wow! I had you all wrong. You really are the Boy Scouts of America. My Bad, asswipe.

When did I ever say that all police-men and -women were shining knights? That is why we have civilian oversight committees and an Internal Affairs Department. We have power and authority in society and society needs safeguards.

Ms. Kluesner, I started off asking you a simple question. "Why do you feel the need to help Mr. Bill de-stress", remember? You came back all full of fight. Excuse me if I do find a failing in your choice of male companionship. I gave advice to something I didn't know if you had considered. Apparently ripping people's heads off turns you on. It is a free country.

I am happy to know that you like and 'hang out' with some of the officers in your neck of the woods. At the risk of yet more of your fury, I will ask you to remember that if anything should happen to you, it is their duty to try to help and protect you, no matter what. I have no doubt that they consider you 'one of theres' to protect and take your eruption very seriously. The greatest threat to any nova is another nova. They teach that to us in cop school. Likewise, if Michaelites give you any problems, give your locals the heads up. There are plenty of ways they can use to deal with those creeps.

Mr. Chance. Suicide? I am still here, bud. Your little threats are as meaningless as your existance. I understand your reluctance to answer any of my questions. It must gall you that you don't have any answers. Sorry, but your fancy patter has lost its umph. Try to be more than a one-dimensional caricature of a sentient being.

Okay, Mr. Meehan. I owe you one. You made me laugh.

Envious of you? You do know that you are insane, you nut-job? You have voices of people that may or may not have been killed and/or died during your eruption. God knows what else is wrong with you.

Self-loathing? Why? I don't live in self-imposed isolation. I have a job I love and work with people I respect and who respect me. You are the hermit. Try again, spanky.

Obsession? Yah, a little. Forgive me if I didn't bring up my Red Sox obsession earlier. It didn't really seem to pertain to the topic of discussion.

I am devoted to my work. It comes with the territory. Who wants a policeman or fireman who isn't? Certainly not anyone who has to work with them.

Mr. Meehan, develop some friends and a sembalance of a life. Then you might have some points to come back at me with. Right now, you are just pathetic.

It is ironic that two uber-powerful novas are unable to comprehend that I can be a nova and happy about it, a public servant and happy to do what I can, and a person who is happy with the choices I have made and the joy I find in life.

Okay, I have a foul mouth. If it is any consulation, when my partner catches me typing this she gives me a good slap on the back of the head and tells me to clean up my speech. I like to blame it on a parachiol school upbringing and a few years undercover in narcotics. In reality, I like just cutting lose with how I feel from time to time. It is a free country.

[David 'Dr. Troll' Smith]

Quote:

Originally posted by Preston:
Ask Elites how they rank themselves, Mr./Ms. Damper. Number of novas killed. It is your ranking system, not mine.
I take it you rode the special bus and were not trained to kill others. How nice for you.
Doesn't your payscale go up after a few kills? Aren't the most sought after Elites the ones who have proven they can kill over and over again?

Sounds like you have some issues with Elite culture. But shouldn't mean you automatically have those same issues with every elite. Presumption of lack of guilt, or more to the point, I suspect you don't treat your local elites the same way.

If Ms Dampner were working with you, would you still say the same things? Although hey, I haven't read her file, maybe you have.... (the other problem with my saying that to someone who has visions is that they may be judging someone on what they will do).

Expanding the topic (and eliminating the references to individuals) the existance of elites largely supports the argument that the law hasn't figured out how to deal with novas or countries. (Thus someone like Preston would and should have problems with that.) Violance, especially organized violance, is a breakdown of order, negotiation, and law. It has always been hard to figure out what to do with law disobaying countries... and now they can hire (gotta go....)

[Fortune's Son]

Get yourself clear and then we'll talk. You're talking alone until you get focused.

[Jager]

Bill, Jack; just what are your bodycounts now, anyway?

Bill, I hear your "Breaking Into the Top 40" party was a blast. Sorry I missed it. Seems I picked up this killer Ampwell-knock off recipe you should really enjoy.

[Dampner]

What I object to Preston is your automatic assumption that Elites are blood thirsty, homocidal maniacs. If an Elite were to go off on a baby-killing spree, you can bet your ass that they would get slapped down hard by their bosses, probably even get turned over to a warcrimes tribunal. It just ain't good business sense employing flesh eating psycho's, they're dangerous to their team mates as well. You call me a whore and I'll call you a pig, helped any old ladies across the road lately or are you too busy stuffin' donuts to fuel your quantum ego power? Not very friendly is it? What say, we start again?

I didn't exactly ride the special bus, I know how to kill, I been trained to kill, I just haven't had to do it myself. Normally I do bodygaurd gigs for some paranoid baseline terrified that a Nova is after their worthless hide. Don't get me wrong I been on the battle field, most Nova's freak when their powers go down and try and get the hell out dodge. You've neutralised them without killing them, you've taken the enemies strong point and turned it into a point of weakness.

[Preston]

It is the profession itself that pisses me off. Cut through the hype and what do you get? Elites train to kill and maim others for money. Are you hard up and desperate? Are you a psycho that likes to kill? I don't know every Elite. Hell, I don't know most Elites. I have heard your claims of some sort of moral code that you follow. I see it as a flimsy shield.

I do not despise the employers of Elites any less. Even Boston gave into fear and weakness when it contracted with DeVries. We had a problem that the novas on hand could not deal with. Our only other alternative was to go begging to Utopia for help, again. Previous trips to them had left us so angry and helpless, we grew desperate. All that has ended, now.

Boston and DNTS have mutually terminated our contract. I got slammed hard by just about everyone between myself and the govenor. Apparently not everyone is as concerned about free speech as I am. Sanctions have been handed down. I am not going to bother fighting it. I understand their point of view. They have seen what it is like to have the power of novas on their side and they have been at the mercy of novas.

I guess it is going to be just me and my partner again. This time, we have two years under our belts and have a fricken clue about what is going on.

The very concept of Elites adds to the world's suffering. Killing, stealing, and whatever other criminal endeavor you are paid to commit hurts us all. You do not care. Or, you do not care enough to stop.

I have never killed a nova. I don't ever plan to. I am not trained to kill my own kind nor steal the fruits of their labor.

Baselines may be killing, stealing, and hurting each other. They may pay novas to do it for them. We do not have to say "yes".

Aiding another person's evil does not absolve you. The person who kidnaps runaways and sells them to the rich sadist is no less wrong. He is serving a need, but that need is wrong.

That so many of you do not make that distinction is what I find so damning. We have justifiable claims to power, yet we allow ourselves to be trapped by the circumstances laid before us.

Mr. Chance, since you answer no questions and make nothing more than empty threats and pathetic attempts at ridicule, I have no desire to talk anymore with you. If you decide to be more forthcoming, I may reconsider.

Dr. Troll, have you survived your first "mission"? What do you think of your life as an Elite?

Ms. Damper, I guess I am a victim of watching all the publicity that DeVries puts out on DeVries Elite culture. The ones that show Totentanz and Pursuer killing other novas as well as studying their internal Elite hierarchy. Novas killed, baselines killed, missions completed successfully. All that is figured into how much an employer must pay for their services. Mr. Bill howled out to the whole world that he had become number fourty in the Elite heirarchy. He killed people to get there. Killed novas, broke others down, destroyed things. He did what he was paid to do. I do not find his accomplishments laudable. The rest of you seem okay with that.

I should make one thing perfectly clear. I view my desire for public service to be individually mine. I don't think any nova who doesn't feel the desire to aid mankind should do so. It will burn them out. While thinking about this, I realized this is pretty much what Ashnod told me. It is not "sucking up", it is realization.

I don't care if you decide to live a normal life or live your life like a hermit. All I ask is that you do no harm. Ignore the rest of the world if you like. Most people do. It comes naturally.

[Twist]

Originally posted by Preston:

It is the profession itself that pisses me off. Cut through the hype and what do you get? Elites train to kill and maim others for money.

The same could be said of nova soldiers who work for their respective governments. Many of them took that job instead of becoming an Elite because the pay is good and there's less stigma not because they are patriots.

Are you hard up and desperate?

No

Are you a psycho that likes to kill?

Definately not.

Boston and DNTS have mutually terminated our contract. I got slammed hard by just about everyone between myself and the govenor. Apparently not everyone is as concerned about free speech as I am. Sanctions have been handed down. I am not going to bother fighting it. I understand their point of view. They have seen what it is like to have the power of novas on their side and they have been at the mercy of novas.

I guess it is going to be just me and my partner again. This time, we have two years under our belts and have a fricken clue about what is going on.

Good Luck.

Your bosses should have received some information from Morgan by now if they decide they still need hired support. No one here is going to get offended by you speaking your mind I assure you.

The very concept of Elites adds to the world's suffering. Killing, stealing, and whatever other criminal endeavor you are paid to commit hurts us all. You do not care. Or, you do not care enough to stop.

I've never been paid to commit a criminal endeavor in my life. Except in extroidanary circumstances I wouldn't accept a contract that involved breaking the law.

I don't care if you decide to live a normal life or live your life like a hermit. All I ask is that you do no harm. Ignore the rest of the world if you like. Most people do. It comes naturally.

I thought you were a Catholic not a Wiccan

Twist

[Twist]

I've never been paid to commit a criminal endeavor in my life. Except in extroidanary circumstances I wouldn't accept a contract that involved breaking the law.

actually i tell a lie... strictly speaking i have been hired to break the law. I can't discuss details of course but on two occassions I have been hired to do jobs that involved me going to areas of the world where simply being a nova can be construed to be illegal and in one of those cases what I'd been hired to do was strictly speaking illegal in that country. But if I'd become aware of the situation on my own I would done exactly what I was hired to do anyway.

Twist

[Sakurako Hino]

Quote:

Originally posted by Jager:
Bill, Jack; just what are your bodycounts now, anyway?

Bill, I hear your "Breaking Into the Top 40" party was a blast. Sorry I missed it. Seems I picked up this killer Ampwell-knock off recipe you should really enjoy.

Uhhh... boards funky again... My post got caught in the quote...
here's the deal; VB+Weird Drink=VERY BAD THINGS. That, and we need to come up with a name for said drink...

[ 09-19-2002: Message edited by: Endeavor ]

[Fortune's Son]

Quote:

Preston said,
... and make nothing more than empty threats...

Then you'll have no problem quoting those threats I made to you, hmmm? And if you can't find the threats to quote then you'd have to resort to spewing some random vitriolic rant in a thinly disguisd attempt to cover, hmm? Quote the threats I made to you and prove you aren't in need of professional help. Fail to find those threats to quote and acknowledge the need.

Volley to you, Preston.

And thanks for providing such a simple means to settle the matter once and for all.

Quote:

Jager asked,

...what's your bodycount...

What's yours? I don't do wetwork.

[ 09-19-2002: Message edited by: Jack Chance ]

[Ashnod]

Quote:

Originally posted by Preston:
Baselines may be killing, stealing, and hurting each other. They may pay novas to do it for them. We do not have to say "yes".

Precisely. You said something I agree with.

[Jager]

Too many.

Directly, three: Cyril Granger, Kira, Costas.

Cyril was a Teleporter who developed an aberration that spread lethal diseases around him. He thought it was funny, actually. It worries me the most that I have the fewest regrets for killing him.

The others are public knowledge.

Indirectly: That is debatable. I was a tactical team leader for DeVries back in the day. Novas under my command killed three or four other novas and several hundred baselines. I never made an accurate count. Some of the novas we fought, we lost contact with and we were never sure if they made it out of the country alive.

Do you want to count the people killed by all the people I have worked with and/or trained?

I am glad you don't do wetwork.

You still don't seem to mind killing people, though. I guess they had it coming.

So, have you killed any novas? Any baselines? Or should I say, how many baselines?

[Fortune's Son]

I'm confused as to the nature of your question. It was asked only of Vile Bill and I, from a former Elite, and came on the heels of Preston's reference to the ratings. The nature of the three you list, distinguishing direct vs. indirect, and not listing your nova kills while operating as an Elite only deepens the confusion. Were you referring to the ratings or not? If not then what and why only Vile Bill and I?

I don't contract for wetwork for a couple of reasons. I also don't mind doing a lot of different things under the right circumstances. I'm told that's a trait we share.

[ 09-19-2002: Message edited by: Jack Chance ]

[Jager]

During my time with DeVries, I did not directly kill any novas.

Bill's rating comes primarily from his de-Masking exploits, not his kills. He is good that way.

Jack, if you don't want to answer the question, be good enough to say so.

If I have really confused you, you best lay down, have Jillie give you a cold compress, and drink some warm milk.

Have a nice day.

[Fortune's Son]

Unless I missed a change in N! policies I believe unmaskings do not factor into the ratings. Bill does what he does and earned his spot.

I'll answer your question if you ask it. As you noted when I turned it back to you there is a difference between direct and indirect. Those which affect the ratings and those that do not. You listed novas by name but didn't mention baselines. I can't tell if you're asking "how many novas and baselines have you killed by your hand" or "how many novas have you killed as an Elite". Or something in between.

You distinguish between all these. Why would you think I do not?

Ask your question and get your answer.

[ 09-19-2002: Message edited by: Jack Chance ]

[Jager]

Hopefully Bill can clear up just how he got his rating, then. At least neither one of us is doubting his competance.

Cool enough, my questions:

Since your eruption, how many, if any, novas have you killed? How many, if any, novas have you killed since you have become an Elite?

Since your eruption, how many, if any, baselines have you killed? Since becoming an Elite, how many, if any, baselines have you killed?

Please indicate if the deaths were direct (shot, stabbed, punched, kicked, threw off a cliff, shoved a grenade down their throat, ect.), or indirect (they charge you, miss, and fall into a vat of molecular acid; during a fight with you, they blow up while maxing out; you incapacitate them while another associate kills them; ect.).

If any one else wants to kick in, please do.