Absolute Chaos Discussion Boards
Fic Talk => Writer's Circle => Updates => Topic started by: shadesmaclean on December 11, 2010, 04:15:44 AM
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Been meaning to do this for a couple days...
Tradewinds 01: The Islands
http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10379 (http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10379)
Summary: In the tropical islands of another dimension, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, as one boy's life is blown way off course...
Categories: Original Fiction Characters: OC Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Science Fiction
Rated: PG-13 Warnings: Death, Violence
Series: Tradewinds Challenges: None
Published: 12/08/10
This is the first part of a series I've been working on for more than a decade-- since I was in high school-- but this is the third incarnation of it, rewritten from scratch. "Tradewinds" is the operative title I originally gave the series, inspired by all the stories my friends and I made up together when when we were kids, fleshed-out and adapted into a more coherent narrative, and the name kinda stuck. The story itself is an adventure that stands with one foot firmly planted in both science fiction and fantasy. Set in another dimension, these first few parts telling the intertwining tale of several characters, of ancient martial arts and hi-tech weapons, forgotten secrets and those who seek them, and the beginning of their epic journey to haunted places and lost realms…
excerpt, from the Prologue:
The Island was a lost treasure.
A rare gem, indeed, an emerald star that took no part in any constellation, gleaming all alone in its own corner of an endless sky men called the Ocean. Many miles out of anyone’s way, it was a pristine place, unseen by human eyes and untouched by human hands. So it seemed destined to remain for the Ages.
Or at least until today.
For as the sun slowly rose from its nightly swim, as the eternal waves emerged from untold depths, to the faint chorus of life echoing through the morning mist in the jungle beyond the beach, the light of dawn shone on a young man who lay sprawled out on the sand.
Barely more than a boy, really, but tall for his age. His light brown, almost blond, hair was damp and caked with the same ancient sand as his ragged clothes. If not for the breath of life he still had in him, he would be hard to discern from the rest of the half-buried junk strewn across that stretch of beach.
Now these things were the only lingering hint of last night’s storm.
A moan every bit as ragged as his appearance escaped him as he lifted his head and tried to prop himself up on one arm. But try was all he could do, for he was exhausted so soon after his ordeal at sea. He got only a brief, bleary glimpse of the beach before his head crashed back into the sand.
Sand that his hands, for all anyone knew, may have been the first to ever claw their fingers through, and whose eyes may well have been the first to ever behold. He would do no more of either again for some time.
Chapters 1-3 are already up, and I just added chapter 4. Hope you enjoy the ride! 8-)
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Chapter 5 of Tradewinds 1 is up now. 8-)
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Chapter 6 is up now, and things are have taken a turn for the worse... :o
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Chapters 7 and 8 are up.
Take 2, they're small! ;)
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9 and 10, another couple short chapters. ;D
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Chapter 11 is up, the turning of the tide? :stabbitystab:
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Chapter 12 is out, as things get further out of hand. :stabbitystab:
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Chapter 13 is out, the battle getting still uglier... :stabbitystab:
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And chapter 14, the tragic conclusion of Tradewinds Part 1. :(
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And now, Part 2...
Tradewinds 02: Paradise
http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10394 (http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10379)
Summary: Wherein Max makes a new friend, and begins to adjust to his new life, even as he tries to pick up the pieces…
Categories: Original Fiction Characters: OC Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Science Fiction
Rated: PG-13 Warnings: Violence
Series: Tradewinds Challenges: None
Published: 12/20/10
excerpt, from the Chapter I:
Max felt something warm, wet and abrasive rub across his face.
He vaguely remembered having a dream about waking up on a beach… After being chased out at sea after… what had to be the worst nightmare of his life…
After a moment he became aware of the fact that he was lying on sun-warmed sand. He wondered why he was so tired… Of course, it made perfect sense to be exhausted after such a rigorous ordeal… He knew he must have tossed and turned all night to be this worn out…
Then he felt that strange sensation on his face again, tugging his senses still further into the here and now.
“What’s going on…” he muttered. He dug his fingers through the sand, finding that he still barely had enough strength to make a fist.
Experimentally, he opened his eyes.
He cried out in alarm and confusion as he looked up into the feline face staring down at him. Max rolled away with a yelp. For its part, the creature leaped away in the opposite direction.
Max pulled himself together, as quickly as one could be expected to after waking up in a place right out of a dream. He had to close his eyes for a moment to ward off the dizziness and headache that assaulted his eyes, making him see spots. After all, he was still very sore and stiff; he now knew that he was moving too quickly just yet. As he opened his eyes again and became more aware of his surroundings, it didn’t take him long to figure out their one stark implication: that had been no dream.
Max immediately focused on the creature before him, a cat of some variety. It sat over a foot tall, with short white-and-black fur of curiously symmetrical pattern, even on both sides. The cat, a cub of some feline variety that reminded him of a statue back in Layosha, sat and stared warily at Max. In those greenish-yellow eyes, disproportiona tely large on its young face, Max saw his own reflection for a second.
Though the cub had been startled by Max’s sudden reaction, it had already begun to recover its feline composure, and its look was now one of cautious curiosity…
Hope you like!
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Chapter 2 is up, as Max makes a new friend... :simba:
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Chapter 3 is out, as Max learns the joys of homesickness.. . :(
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Chapter 4 is out, in which Max continues to explore the island with his new feline friend... :simba:
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Chapter 5 is out, as Max begins to explore the interior of the island... :simba:
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Chapter 6 is out, and Max comes up with a name for his feline friend. :simba:
HAPPY HOLIDAYS, AC!
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Tradewinds 02: Paradise (Cont.)
http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10394 (http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10394)
Chapter 7 is out now, as Max takes in the view from the top of his new world. :simba:
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Chapter 8 is out, as Max faces the pain of loss. :(
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Chapter 9 is up, as Max's food rations run out, and he is forced to sample the local cuisine. :o
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Chapter 10 is up, in which Max finds a moment's peace. :goldfish:
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Chapter 11, in which Max finds dinner. :simba:
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Chapter 12, in which Max and his feline friend enjoy fresh seafood. :simba:
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Chapter 13, in which Max dives head-first into a nightmare. ???
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Chapter 14, in which Max must make up his mind. :felix:
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Chapter 15, in which Max plugs his nose and wades into a nightmare. :penguin:
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Chapter 16, in which Max contemplates his new life. :simba:
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Chapter 17, in which Max begins to adjust to his new life. :simba:
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Chapter 18, in which Max confronts a natural disaster. :bricks:
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Chapter 19, in which Max copes with the aftermath. :goldfish:
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Chapter 20, in which Max begins to decide that maybe life's not so bad here. :simba:
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3 years later...
Tradewinds 03: Shipwrecked
http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10437&warning=4 (http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10437&warning=4)
Summary: Wherein Max gets an unexpected visitor, and word of the outside world, an account of smuggling, harrowing chases and treachery…
Categories: Original Fiction Characters: None Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Science Fiction
Rated: R Warnings: Death, Graphic Violence, Violence
Series: Tradewinds Challenges: None
Published: 01/12/11
excerpt, from the Chapter 1:
The dawning of another day in Paradise: the sun shining, birds chirping, the eternal tide washing on the beach, as countless days before it had begun.
Only today there was something new under the sun in Paradise, something new for the waves to break against. Last night’s storm had dragged in what was perhaps not a true first, but was at least a second in the island’s known history. For stranded on the sand was the wreck of a small vessel. It was somewhat larger than the boat that washed up some five years ago, yet was of similar design, sleek and swift-looking. But no more, for the storm had hurled it against some of the rocks that peppered the beach near the cliff line. Now there was a gaping rip in the hull.
Painted above the gash was a symbol that Max had only seen in his elders’ descriptions, a symbol for which he had maintained a great deal of vigilance over the years.
The symbol of the Triangle State Authority.
This particular vessel was no derelict, though; its sole occupant had washed up a short distance away. Already he stood on shaky legs, staggering through the wet sand toward what remained of his ship. He was short and wiry, clothed in the ragged-out remains of light blue coveralls that bore the same insignia as the boat. A steel circlet and a length of chain dangled from each wrist.
His short black hair stood in sand-caked disarray as he scratched his head at the sheer misfortune of his wreck’s location. If it had only washed up farther down the beach, it might still be intact. Beached, no doubt, but almost certainly intact. His green eyes stared intently at the wreck, as if his gaze could somehow undo the damage, betraying ever greater dismay as it dawned on him that the ship that had carried him this far would never sail again.
“Damn…” he croaked…
Chapter 1, in which Max and Bandit receive an unexpected visitor. :penguin:
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Tradewinds 03: Shipwrecked (Cont.)
http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10437&warning=4 (http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10437&warning=4)
Chapter 2, in which some introductions are in order. :fluffybunny:
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Chapter 3, in which Max and his new companion compare notes. :banghead:
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Chapter 4, in which two castaways make a bargain: a tale for a tale. :felix:
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Chapter 5, in which Justin dreams of his childhood as a stowaway... :cheshire:
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Chapter 6, in which Justin begins to tell his tale. :batman:
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Chapter 7, in which Justin recounts the morning that changed his life. :felix:
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Chapter 8, in which Max recounts his encounter with the devilfish. ???
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Chapter 9, in which Justin tells of his ill-fated bargain with Slash. :o
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Chapter 10, in which Max gives Justin some staff pointers. :shrug:
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Chapter 11, in which Justin tells Max about his first smuggling run. :-X
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Chapter 12, in which Max shows Justin the view from the Crow's Nest. ;D
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Chapter 13, in which Justin talks about getting captured by the Triangle State Authority. :bricks:
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Chapter 14, in which Justin stops to take a break from his tale. :)
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Chapter 15, in which Justin tells about his grueling stay at Pullman Mine Camp. :whip:
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Chapter 16, in which Max and Justin talk about the outside world. :)
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Chapter 17, in which Justin tells about his escape during the Pullman Uprising. :stabbitystab:
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Tradewinds 03: Shipwrecked (Cont.)
http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10437&warning=4 (http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10437&warning=4)
Chapter 18, in which Justin and Max discuss justice and tyranny. >:(
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Chapter 19, in which two friends discuss their plans for the future. :)
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And so it begins...
Tradewinds 04: Tranz-D
http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10462 (http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10462)
Summary: Wherein our castaway crew finally leave the Isle of Paradise. Just not the way they expected. Once some doors are opened…
Categories: Original Fiction Characters: None Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Science Fiction
Rated: 18+ Warnings: Death, Graphic Violence, Violence
Series: Tradewinds Challenges: None
Published: 02/02/11
excerpt, from the Chapter 1:
…During Justin’s quiet reverie, Max had gone ashore and grabbed his gear. He now stood near the edge of the forest; it was his turn this morning to scare up some breakfast.
“I was thinkin’ about the raft last night.” So far, they had come to something of an impasse in their plan to build a seaworthy vessel with which to leave the island. “It might take some work, but maybe if we dragged my wreck over to yours, we could build something around that.”
“You mean to attach the Cyexian ship to the damaged part of yours?”
“Which damaged part? Max, you’re gonna have to be more— What the hell…”
Max turned around at his friend’s abrupt change of tone to see both Justin and Bandit, who was still paddling around merrily a moment ago, drifting toward a growing whirlpool now forming in the middle of the pond. The second or two Justin had paused in confusion proved dangerous; even as he began to thrash away belatedly from the mysterious vortex, it was becoming increasingly obvious he was already trapped in its current. Bandit, having been closer to it even as it formed, was faring no better though he paddled mightily.
Both were slowly losing their battle against the pull.
“Max! Help! ”
Once again, Max’s life was about to take another dramatic change of course, in ways he could never have foreseen, and once again Max rushed off to meet his destiny head-on. If he had not made his move when he did, he may have passed out of this tale entirely, for what would happen to them below would prove to be far more interesting than anything that would take place on the Isle of Paradise any time soon.
Without hesitation, Max finished throwing on his pack absently, for he still had it in hand— taking with him the very tools with which he would enter the next phase of his life— and charged out into the water. Later, he would wonder what the hell he had been thinking, but for now he splashed after Justin with all his might. For no other reason than that he was closer than Bandit.
Justin hardly seemed to notice, struggling against the very boots his friend had suggested wearing in the water to enhance his training and were now dragging him down, as Max caught up with him and started hauling against the pull of the whirlpool. It was a noble idea, but of no avail. Max instead found himself twirled about, replacing his friend as the one closer to the vortex.
Max was a strong swimmer, but the pull of the whirlpool was stronger.
The last thing he remembered over his and Justin’s frantic cries, was seeing Bandit losing his own battle and sliding back into the current as he swirled into the gaping hole that had so recently appeared in the bottom of the pond.
The view into that void was almost hypnotizing…
Chapter 1, in which Max and Justin's day takes a turn for the weird. :bananapower:
From here on out, the pace quickens.
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Chapter 2, in which Justin makes a bizarre underground discovery. :cheshire:
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Chapter 3, in which Max follows Justin's trail. :simba:
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Chapter 4, in which Justin meets the automated security system. :stabbitystab:
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Chapter 5, in which something wicked this way comes... :-X
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Chapter 6, in which Max meets the cleaning drones. ???
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Chapter 7, in which Justin fights for his life against the Junkyard Dogs. :dog:
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Chapter 8, in which Max is hunted by the automated security system. :bricks:
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Chapter 9, in which Justin finds the skeletons in this mysterious place's closet. :-X
Beware NK-525...
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Chapter 10, in which a prisoner takes stock of his new surroundings. ;)
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Chapter 11, in which Justin crosses Max's trail. :shrug:
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Chapter 12, in which Max follows a lead. :batman:
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Chapter 13, in which Justin meets the Enforcer. ???
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Tradewinds 04: Tranz-D (Cont.)
http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10462 (http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10462)
Chapter 14, in which Max and Bandit open a most unusual door. :batman:
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Chapter 15, in which Justin runs like hell. :penguin:
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Chapter 16, in which Max finally finds some answers. :dancebanana:
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Chapter 17, in which the Enforcer continues it relentless search for Intruders. ???
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Chapter 18, in which Max gets a crash-course in science and history. :o
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Chapter 19, in which Justin fumbles in the dark. :-[
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Chapter 20, in which Max sees what's on the other side of the rift. :nyahnyah:
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Chapter 21, in which Justin dares to poke his head back out. :thpt:
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Chapter 22, in which Max meets the third main character in this series! :P
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Introducing the third main character in the series...
Tradewinds 05: The Flathead Experiment
http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10494 (http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10462)
Summary: Wherein a certain young man takes a wrong turn on his way home from work one night, the tale of his last day on Earth…
Categories: Original Fiction Characters: None Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Horror, Science Fiction
Rated: 18+ Warnings: Death, Violence
Series: Tradewinds Challenges: None
Published: 02/24/11
Story Notes: The characters and events in this story are purely fictional. Any resemblance to any real person, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Much of the setting of this story is real, though used fictitiously, and creative license was taken with some places, as the author has never attended some of its institutions.
excerpt, from the Chapter 1:
“…some people like to sensationalize everything, from aliens to Elvis sightings. The only people who are trying to prove all this mumbo-jumbo are the world’s most unbalanced and gullible. There is a logical, rational, scientific explanation for everything, and one day science will unravel all of the so-called ‘mysteries’ of the unknown…”
Shades tried to take some consolation from the fact that Chris was even putting Mrs Eastman to sleep. When he looked around, he couldn’t help wondering if Chris himself was the only one paying attention to the last portion of this speech. Of course, he doubted his classmates were too broken up about it; as annoying as this sophomore prodigy could be when he went full-bore, at least his lectures didn’t come with homework. He had burned up enough class time to ensure that there would be no extra work to do this weekend.
He looked out the window at the Rocky Mountains beyond, under a sunny blue sky that offered the promise of another Montana summer.
“Anyone else?” Mrs Eastman asked, looking among her students. The US Government teacher tried not to betray her relief, or her regret. She occasionally liked to have discussions about unusual topics, but not since her college days had she seen someone who could hold forth for as long as Chris Nimrod without panting for breath.
A girl in the second row raised her hand.
“Yes, Amy?”
Shades perked up noticeably at that name. Unlike Chris, he could listen to her all day. And he was especially keen on hearing what she had to say about a subject so near to his heart.
“I’d just like to say that most scientists are way too closed-minded about the paranormal,” Amy O’Connor remarked as she brushed some of her long blonde hair out of her face. Ordinarily content to leave the task of annoying the little know-it-all to someone else, for some reason she felt compelled to put in her two cents on this matter. “Since when did ignoring something just because it doesn’t fit in your explanation of reality solve any of the mysteries of—”
Then the bell rang.
Though Shades was looking forward to hearing her views on the paranormal; he had never dreamed he would ever hear her speak about such a bizarre topic. Now he wished he had said his piece earlier, perhaps he could have filibustered Nimrod and delivered his classmates from terminal boredom, but what was done was done. In middle school, he had written his first “practice” term paper about the Bermuda Triangle mythos; it was an easy extension, research-wise, of his favorite reading material. Though Mrs Eastman sometimes chose weird topics for her tangents, this was the strangest subject he could recall— a whole high school class (mostly Nimrod) spending forty-odd minutes discussing the Great Unknown.
Shades shoved his US Gov text into his backpack as he stood up. Throwing one strap over his shoulder, he turned and gave Amy the victory “V” for her upset against Nimrod. And she again gave him that quizzical tilt of her head, as she always did when he saluted her.
“Don’t forget, there’s a paper on the Civil Rights Movement due Monday!” Mrs Eastman called after her students as they filed out the door. More efficiently, she noticed, than they did anything else in her class. “Have a nice weekend!…”
As an ordinary day takes a detour into the Twilight Zone… :cheshire:
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Chapter 2, in which the subject turns to quantum physics. >:(
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Chapter 3, Study Hall. :tigger:
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Chapter 4, in which Carlos issues a challenge. :taz:
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Chapter 5, in which Amy has a real conversation. 8-)
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Chapter 6, in which Carlos picks a fight, and gets one. :stabbitystab:
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Tradewinds 05: The Flathead Experiment (Cont.)
http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10494 (http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10462)
Chapter 7, a night of selling out to The Man. :whip:
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Chapter 8, a stormy ride home home through the mountains... with hitchhikers. ???
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Chapter 9, in which the radio starts making weird noises. :plugears:
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Chapter 10, in which Shades tries to out-maneuver the hitchhikers. :nyahnyah:
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Chapter 11, in which Shades steps in out of the storm, and seemingly, out of the nightmare. :o
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Chapter 12, in which John answers the call. :-X
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Chapter 13, in which two friends ride together to get to the bottom of this... ???
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Chapter 14, in which John finds out he's as alone as he thought. :o
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Chapter 15, a harrowing chase down a dark forest road. :dog:
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Chapter 16, in which John and Amy search for clues and try to form a plan. :crazy:
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Chapter 17, in which Shades begins an investigation of his own. :o
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Chapter 18, in which John makes a most unusual 9-1-1 call. :crazy:
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Chapter 19, in which Shades as a dread premonition. :banghead:
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Chapter 20, in which Amy takes a wrong turn... :shrug:
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Chapter 21, in which Shades takes his first steps into Non-Euclidean Space. ???
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Tradewinds 05: The Flathead Experiment (Cont.)
http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10494 (http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10462)
Chapter 22, a fruitless search for the Dipper. :'(
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Chapter 23, drying off and taking in the local graffiti. ::)
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Chapter 24, an unexpected distraction. :nyahnyah:
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Chapter 25, a grim warning. :bricks:
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Chapter 26, in which the chase is on. :dog:
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Chapter 27, in which Shades finally gets some answers. :banghead:
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I'm taking a brief detour from Tradewinds, as this stand-alone story just happens to fit in well here...
The Road Trip
http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10511 (http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10462)
Summary: Asleep at the wheel… It really seemed that night that we could have driven right off the face of the earth, and I believe we did, in a way.
Categories: Original Fiction Characters: None Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Horror, Science Fiction, Suspense
Rated: PG-13 Warnings: Death, Violence
Series: None Challenges: None
Published: 03/25/11
Story Notes: Though this is a stand-alone story, it does contain references to places and things that might sound familiar to anyone who's read Tradewinds Part 5.
excerpt, from the Chapter 2:
…I don’t know how long we rode on in contemplative silence, the night seemed to go on forever.
Neither of us had bothered to restart the tape, so each of us was left to our own foreboding thoughts. I know I wanted to say something, but I couldn’t figure out what. Part of me wanted to tell spooky stories again— the only trouble was I was already as spooked as I had been that one night— but I also wanted to make light of the situation somehow. I was sure this was just another of those times when I had managed to give myself the hoodoos, and Mark and I would have a good laugh about it tomorrow.
Then again, at times like that I’ve always managed to convince myself that this time it was for real, that this time the everyday world I knew would start to unravel, and something vast and mysterious would unfold around me.
The main thing that struck me was that I couldn’t remember the last time a car had passed us in either direction, and that only served to add more to my growing sense of foreboding. I remembered telling myself, Well duh, who would be driving in this? Us. And to me, it felt like we were the last people on earth.
Mark made me jump when he finally spoke, saying, “Man, I don’t know if I can keep my eyes open much longer. What say we stop at this Eyrie place and see if they have a damn motel?”
I nodded my agreement. I knew what he meant; as eerie as it was out here, with everything drifting in out of the fog, it was also so quiet. At times I was almost certain this was a dream, and I was going to wake up to find that Mark had been driving all this time in silent boredom. Even when he turned the tape deck back on, it couldn’t quite drown out the underlying quiet.
A quiet that was finally shattered by the flashing lights that rushed out of the mists swallowing the highway behind us. Mark later told me he was so startled that he nearly hit the gas. That probably would have been a bad thing, but on top of what happened next, I don’t really see how it could have made things that much worse. I remember feeling an inexplicable need to be anywhere else but here at that moment.
Mark seemed to cruise for a moment or two in indecision, then he slowed down even more and pulled over.
I thought, Well, at least we can’t get busted for speeding…
On a foggy night… :cheshire:
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Part 2, in which they get pulled over. :crazy:
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Part 3, in which a little graffiti changes everything. ???
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Part 4, in which stopping for some gas yields more questions than answers. :o
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Part 5, in which the next town is as empty as the last. :shrug:
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Part 6, in which getting some answers only raises more questions. :-X
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Part 7, comes the dawn. :penguin:
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And now, the aftermath...
Tradewinds 06: Falling
http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10518 (http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10462)
Summary: Wherein Shades must cope with being all alone, trapped in a life that’s been hollowed out, placing one foot in front of the other, but with each step he takes he can feel himself falling…
Categories: Original Fiction Characters: None Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Horror, Science Fiction, Suspense
Rated: R Warnings: Death, Violence
Series: Tradewinds Challenges: None
Published: 04/01/11
excerpt, from the Chapter II:
…Then another skip.
Again out in the hall, and again John enters that creepy bathroom. This time even slower, and Shades realizes that this whole routine has been slowing down each time, building up a disturbing sense of suspense, as if something is going to happen one of these times. And, sure enough, as John washes his face again, something very different happens this time.
John again looks up at his reflection, and at least this one doesn’t look like the walking dead. This one actually looks normal. Yet there was still something about this one that Shades likes even less than Cadaver John.
Then it finally hits. John’s reflection doesn’t move with him!
Instead, it reaches out for John, grabbing him by the front of his shirt. Pulling him through the mirror like it isn’t even there. His friend seems reluctant to move, but offers no real resistance. He just sits there and lets his reflection haul him over the counter to the other side, where he simply stands there, right where his reflection had, staring out through the looking glass like a puppy at the pound.
John’s reflection, meanwhile, climbs over the counter as if it is nothing more than the world’s most realistic-looking optical illusion. Even though this other looks identical to his old friend in every way, there is still something about this one that Shades trusts about as far as he could throw him.
For its part, Looking-Glass John stands in the same place the original had stood, just smiling back at him with a devious gleam in his eye.
“Shades…” the real John says quietly, eyes pleading to him from within his bizarre prison.
The last thing Shades remembers before snapping out of the dream is seeing his own reflection step in through the door on the looking-glass side, and somehow, even from behind those opaque lenses, he could feel his reflection’s eyes lock on to him…
The nightmare continues… :penguin:
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Chapter 1, in which Shades is in for a rude awakening. :'(
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Tradewinds 06: Falling... (Cont.)
http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10518 (http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10462)
Chapter 2, a most unsettling dream. ???
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Chapter 3, on Away From Home Syndrome. :shrug:
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Chapter 4, no Hollywood ending. :plugears:
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Chapter 5, hiding under furniture. :-X
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Chapter 6, Amy's ceaseless flight. :dog:
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Chapter 7, a game of hide and seek. :-X
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Chapter 8, a study on frustration. :banghead:
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Chapter 9, an awkward conversation. :blushes:
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Chapter 10, too far now to ever close his eyes. ???
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Chapter 11, Nowheresville. 8-)
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Chapter 12, a boy and his cat. :cheshire:
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At last, the plot threads begin to intertwine... 8-)
Tradewinds 07: Away From Home
http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10533 (http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10462)
Summary: Wherein two new friends make the most of Away From Home Syndrome, while an old friend fights for his very survival…
Categories: Original Fiction Characters: None Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Horror, Science Fiction
Rated: R Warnings: Death, Violence
Series: Tradewinds Challenges: None
Published: 04/14/11
excerpt, from the Chapter I:
…Shades just kept accelerating, from a hustle to a brisk stride to a fast jog, dragging Max behind him. After a short way, Max got swept up in the moment, and Shades had to break into an all-out dash to keep up with him. By now they just charged down the halls, customers simply staring at them as they breezed by, so psyched they hardly noticed.
Ordinarily, Shades wouldn’t dare risk drawing so much attention to himself in this place, but the chance at escape was easily worth the risk, as far as he was concerned.
Together, they raced down one hall after another. Shades had expected Bandit to take the lead, of course, but he also found he was impressed with Max’s speed, as he could barely keep up with his new friend. Still, he was glad this stranger took him seriously, for he wanted to see Max and Bandit trapped here about as much as he enjoyed being trapped here himself.
It was a fate he wouldn’t wish on his worst enemy.
“There it is!” Shades proclaimed as they came around the next corner. Ahead was a big block of exit doors, beyond which he could see daylight. Of course, he had seen a few skylights in some sectors, but all of them were placed completely out of reach. “You did it!”
In his rush of adrenaline— and hope— he even started to pull out ahead of Max, who genuinely seemed surprised Shades could keep up with him.
“Alright!” Max still wasn’t entirely sure what he was cheering for, but he was now certain an explanation awaited outside. He just hoped Justin could hang on until he could figure out how to get back to the library.
They were within about twenty yards of their goal when it happened.
Shades was going all-out, as he just couldn’t shake the feeling that something bad was going to happen if they didn’t take this window of opportunity right now… Tunnel vision focused only on the exit door, so he didn’t even see it coming when someone burst out of a little-used side door with a huge hanging rack of clothes. All he heard was Max’s warning to look out, followed by the mover’s cry of alarm as he crashed into it, knocking he whole thing over and sprawling headlong across the floor tiles.
And Max, being unable to dodge in time, tripped over the rack, as well, crashing to the floor next to Shades…
And the trouble escalates... :stabbitystab:
-
Chapter 2, back to Justin's predicament in Tranz-D. :banghead:
-
Chapter 3, Max vs Security. :stabbitystab:
-
Chapter 4, air-conditioned hell. ???
-
Tradewinds 07: Away From Home (Cont.)
http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10533 (http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10462)
Chapter 5, Max and Shades compare notes at Bankshot. :dance:
-
Chapter 6, in which Justin wakes into a nightmare. :bricks:
-
Chapter 7, in which Max and Shades become roommates. :simba:
-
Chapter 8, the sleep of the just. :penguin:
-
Chapter 9, the sleep of eternity. :crazy:
-
Chapter 10, Bandit left alone with the room. :(
-
Chapter 11, a crash-course in mall survival. 8-)
-
Chapter 12, Justin's Last Stand. :taz:
-
Chapter 13, in which Justin comes so close to destroying the Enforcer... :'(
-
Chapter 14, in which Max and Shades attempt to hang out at the pool. :goldfish:
-
Chapter 15, Justin remembers. :batman:
-
Chapter 16, landlocked voyage. :stabbitystab:
-
Chapter 17, repairs complete. :thpt:
-
Chapter 18, fighting stance. 8-)
-
Chapter 19, spook stories. ???
-
Tradewinds 07: Away From Home (Cont.)
http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10533 (http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10462)
Chapter 20, the weight of despair. :'(
-
Chapter 21, garbage or postage? :shrug:
-
Chapter 22, in which Justin remembers more. :(
-
Chapter 23, an S-O-S. :o
-
Chapter 24, in which Justin makes an unexpected discovery. :penguin:
-
And the pieces begin to fall into place... :simba:
Tradewinds 08: Centralict
http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10558 (http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10462)
Summary: Wherein Justin meets another fellow wanderer, Max and Shades risk a dangerous new escape plan, and the pieces begin to fall into place…
Categories: Original Fiction Characters: None Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Horror, Science Fiction, Supernatural
Rated: R Warnings: Graphic Violence, Violence
Series: Tradewinds Challenges: None
Published: 05/08/11
excerpt, from the Chapter I:
…The two of them just stood there for a long moment, simply staring at each other.
Of course, who could blame her? Tranz-D had seemed so empty and deserted, even after the alarms, it was still so devoid of life until she spotted some armored figures marching down one of the halls, so she was surprised that this stranger had not only appeared out of the blue, but also just happened to stumble upon her hiding spot. Enduring some two weeks in hell had certainly taken its toll on the guy: dirty, tattered clothes, disheveled hair, and dark circles under his eyes gave him a crazed look that, combined with his sheer desperation, she found shocking, almost frightening. The double-barrel power pistol he pointed at her wasn’t very encouraging, either.
Of course, Justin wasn’t too happy about the power pistol this strange young woman was aiming at him, as well. After enduring so many days in this ungodly hellhole, he had begun to despair of ever seeing another living human being again, even Max. So he was also a trifle confounded by this turn of events. Whoever she was, she didn’t look like she could have been here for too long; her light blue hoodie, and baggy, multi-pocketed pants looked comfortably warm, and very much intact if a little worn. Not one strand of her straight black hair, which was slightly spiked in front, was even slightly out of place. She looked alarmed, but not terrified; definitely hadn’t been here for too long.
The two of them just stared at each other, waiting for the other to do something.
“Who the hell are you?” Justin finally managed.
“Alex-…” she trailed off, looking first sheepish, then outraged, saying, “Hey! I should be asking you that!” Then she seemed to think better of that, asking, “You’re not with the guards, are you? I didn’t do anything, I swear!”
“You know,” Justin began, “I really don’t think now is the time for—”
His words died in his throat as he saw her violet eyes bug out in shock and horror…
And so the stage is set… ???
-
Chapter 2, Max's first concert. :blues:
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Chapter 3, in which Justin learns some interesting facts. :whip:
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Chapter 4, the Ring of Fire. :stabbitystab:
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Chapter 5, in which Justin and Kato find some welcome info. :wave:
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Chapter 6, escape plan. :cheshire:
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Chapter 7, the warpgate. :thpt:
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Chapter 8, in which Shades has his doubts. :simba:
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Chapter 9, a cornered reunion. :stabbitystab:
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Chapter 10, wherein the pen is mightier than the sword. 8-)
-
Tradewinds 08: Centralict (Cont.)
http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10558 (http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10558)
Chapter 11, the final showdown with the Enforcer! :stabbitystab:
-
Chapter 12, an open sky above. :cheers:
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Chapter 13, in which Justin visits the creepy little shop that wasn't there yesterday. :cheshire:
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Chapter 14, mistaken identity. 8-)
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Chapter 15, Kato asks some questions. :banghead:
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Chapter 16, in which Max finds an ominous tourist attraction. :crazy:
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Chapter 17, a solid lead. :batman:
-
Let the creepy tour begin... ???
Tradewinds 09: The Building is Hungry!
http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10567 (http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10462)
Summary: Wherein our intrepid adventurers face unknown perils as they challenge the twisted depths of the Harken Building…
Categories: Original Fiction Characters: None Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Horror, Science Fiction, Supernatural
Rated: R Warnings: Death, Graphic Violence, Violence
Series: Tradewinds Challenges: None
Published: 05/25/11
excerpt, from the Chapter I:
…And on that note, Justin Black entered the Harken Building, as well.
Max and Shades simply stood there.
Neither was really sure what to say. Shades was once again struck by how things were done in the Sixth Dimension. The sign above that door, along with everything they had heard so far, gave it all the appearance of some ominous tourist attraction. He had a bad feeling about this, and he could tell Bandit seconded the motion. Even Max seemed perturbed.
The numbers kept marching on Shades’ watch display, but he was no longer certain they meant much here. He suspected that days were not necessarily twenty-four hours in this world, and before long, his watch reading would be utterly irrelevant to what time of day it really was. Assuming it wasn’t already. Five, ten minutes, and he watched Max keep glancing from the door to the alley where the words The Building is hungry! were slashed on the wall, before either spoke.
Shades tried to act nonchalant, but there was something about this place that was getting to him more and more by the minute.
“So, do you think we should go in there and help ’em out?” Shades finally asked. He was trying to be a smartass, lighten things up, but somehow it just didn’t quite come off right.
“Yes,” Max replied, and Shades was taken aback at how serious his friend sounded. While they stood outside, the words of that graffito-tag, which had bothered him since he first laid eyes on them, finally rang a bell. From the start, he had a gut feeling he should know this place, and it finally came to him. “Trust me, they’re gonna need our help.”
“What do you know about this?”
“Just Outlanders’ stories,” was Max’s opaque reply.
As they stood there, Max recalled part of a tale he wasn’t meant to hear. His parents seldom spoke of this incident, but the longer he repeated those words in his head, the more certain he was this was the very place they had spoken of. It was an account he had found more than a trifle unsettling when he overheard it as a child. So much so, he had largely managed to bury it in the back of his memory.
Only to be remembered now as he stood before this place.
Both he and Shades seemed to realize that there wasn’t much of anything else to be said about it, so they stepped up to the door. Though Shades was more concerned than ever, he could see Max’s growing resolve to help his friend, and remembered that not long ago he himself had said that any friend of Max’s was a friend of his. Even if he was being an asshole. Bandit gave them a look that seemed to say You guys are nuts, followed by a look of exasperated resignation, then followed.
And the three of them entered the building…
Enter ye the Spooky Door... :cheshire:
-
Chapter 2, in which Shades reconsiders. 8-)
-
Chapter 3, in which Max takes the stairs. :simba:
-
Chapter 4, in which Justin goes upstairs... to the basement. ???
-
Chapter 5, in which Kato weighs her options. :felix:
-
Chapter 6, Shades vs the empty room. :penguin:
-
Chapter 7, in which Max goes downstairs... to the roof. :shrug:
-
Chapter 8, wherein Justin finds a vending machine. :thpt:
-
Tradewinds 09: The Building Is Hungry (Cont.)
http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10567 (http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10567)
Chapter 9, in which Shades hits a dead end. :banghead:
-
Chapter 10, in which Kato stops for lunch. :dancebanana:
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Chapter 11, wherein Kato's friend, Chase, continues his creepy tour. :penguin:
-
Chapter 12, George and the phantom carnival. ???
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Chapter 13, in which Shades stumbles upon the Book of Fate. :o
-
Chapter 14, Justin in frozen storage. :flick:
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Chapter 15, Kato vs the elevator. >:(
-
Chapter 16, Chase vs "them" ???
-
Chapter 17, a conversation with
George Gary Berkowitz. :patpat:
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Chapter 18, Max meets "them" :stabbitystab:
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Chapter 19, Shades and The Easy Way Out. :banghead:
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Chapter 20, in which Justin wanders that halls. :o
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Chapter 21, in which Kato explores the abandoned wing. :plugears:
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Chapter 22, Max vs "them" :bricks:
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Chapter 23, Chase and the fruitless orchard. :thpt:
-
Tradewinds 09: The Building Is Hungry (Cont.)
http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10567 (http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10567)
Chapter 25, George's mad hacking skills. :batman:
-
Chapter 26, Kato's "A" train. :plugears:
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Chapter 27, Justin's joyride. ;D
-
Chapter 28, Chase races against the dusk. :whip:
-
Chapter 29, the late Chad Owen. :(
-
Chapter 30, George cracks the code. :simba:
-
Chapter 31, in which Shades has a most unpleasant revelation. ???
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Chapter 32, in which Justin takes the freight elevator. :penguin:
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Chapter 33, in which Chase wins the bet. :cheers:
-
Chapter 34, in which Shades' great escape plan turns out to be a dud. :banghead:
-
Chapter 35, in which Max visits Chad's last stand. :(
-
Chapter 36, Justin vs the Void. ???
-
Chapter 37, intercom: Max's side. :cheshire:
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Chapter 38, intercom: Shades' side. 8-)
-
Chapter 39, left the building. :bricks:
-
And now, Tradewinds finally regains its sea-legs... :simba:
Tradewinds 10: Reflection
http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10614 (http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10614)
Summary: Wherein an alliance ends in betrayal, and the betrayed try to face the fallout without having a falling out of their own…
Categories: Original Fiction Characters: None Genres: Action, Adventure, Angst, Fantasy, Horror, Science Fiction, Supernatural
Rated: R Warnings: Death, Graphic Violence, Violence
Series: Tradewinds Challenges: None
Published: 07/02/11
excerpt, from Chapter III:
“…I think we’re almost to our stop,” Shades told them. Already he could see the town of Centralict giving way to docks and piers. He was beginning to suspect that the Triad’s escape route was neither as random nor aimless as it first appeared.
Sure enough, the Triad’s car stopped at a pier. The driver didn’t even wait for Shades’ cue to stop, just drove up as close as he dared and no closer. While the other two got out on Justin’s side, Shades dug in his pocket for enough cash to pay the driver, plus a wad of hazard pay, telling him: “Just tell ’em you were held at gunpoint or somethin’.” Cursing Kato for taking the Card, thankful he had gradually withdrawn a considerable amount of cash; he just hadn’t expected to need to rely on it so soon.
Meanwhile, Kato and George got out of the car and ran for the docks, and Chase hid behind the commandeered vehicle to lay down a hard-and-fast cover fire. Shades quickly joined Max and Justin in hiding behind the taxi while the driver ducked below the steering wheel. While Chase covered them, his companions made their way to a large cabin cruiser marked Triad III.
Not until the others were finished unmooring their ship did Chase lob out another smoke grenade and join their flight. The Triad III’s engines already roaring to life as Max and his companions staggered past the smokescreen. By the time Justin could see enough to aim, Chase was already onboard, the ship well underway. Though Justin still fired several useless rounds at it anyway.
“Dammit! We lost ’em!” Justin snarled, at last putting away his guns.
“Not yet!” Shades ventured. “Perhaps we can get a ship—”
“Did you say you need a ship?” a strange voice asked them.
They turned to the source of the voice to find an old man standing on the deck of another ship…
The journey continues… :taz:
-
Chapter 2, getaway car. >:(
-
Chapter 3, hitching a ride. :patpat:
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Chapter 4, the Triad's escape. :nyahnyah:
-
Chapter 5, the Reflection. :-[
-
Chapter 6, Hasahn Abu-Sharrah. :fluffybunny:
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Chapter 7, palaver. :penguin:
-
Chapter 8, breakfast bickering. >:(
-
Chapter 9, Land Ho! :tigger:
-
Chapter 10, deserted estate. :shrug:
-
Chapter 11, not breaking, just entering. 8-)
-
Chapter 12, Justin casing the joint. ::)
-
Chapter 13, Abu-Sharrah's bad feeling. ???
-
Chapter 14, Max stops at the bridge. :felix:
-
Chapter 15, Shades explores the sub-basement. 8-)
-
Tradewinds 10: Reflection (Cont.)
http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10614 (http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10614)
Chapter 16, Max at the crossroads. :shrug:
-
Chapter 17, Shades eats crow. 8-)
-
Chapter 18, Max and Justin at the Top of the World. :-[
-
Chapter 19, Shades' unsettling discoveries. ???
-
Chapter 20, Justin vs the entity. :stabbitystab:
-
Chapter 21, Shades meets the entity. ???
-
Chapter 22, Justin's flight. :cheshire:
-
Chapter 23, Max and the gate. :simba:
-
Chapter 24, "Maxi-mum!" :dance:
-
Chapter 25, wherein they acquire a ship of their own. :cheers:
-
Chapter 26, in which they attempt to refuel their new ship. :crazy:
-
Chapter 27, changing names, changing luck. :dancebanana:
-
Chapter 28, the full tour. :simba:
-
Chapter 29, victory celebration. :party:
-
Chapter 30, breakfast brainstorming. :blues:
-
Tradewinds 10: Reflection (Cont.)
http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10614 (http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10614)
Chapter 31, contraband, conflict. :felix:
-
Chapter 32, the Tradewinds Mercantile District. :cheers:
-
Chapter 33, the bargaining table. :party:
-
And now, a short, one-shot break from Tradewinds:
The Attic
Summary: A little sister's prank goes horribly wrong...
Categories: Original Fiction Characters: None Genres: Horror, Suspense
Rated: R Warnings: Death, Violence
Series: None Challenges: None
Published: 08/05/11
http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10664 (http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10664)
excerpt:
…Compelled by an overwhelming curiosity, Lynn stepped around the corner. There she saw an old trunk. On an unknown compulsion, she opened it.
Before she could see through the thin veil of dust she’d raised, she heard an ominous click from around the corner.
“No…” she breathed, trying to figure out what had possessed her to come in here in the first place.
But before she could turn to run, the dust began to clear, and what she saw in the trunk froze her in her tracks. Curled up in the box was a skeleton. And she recognized the shirt hanging from those bones all too well.
Struck dumb with terror, she fell backwards, stumbling as the strength ran out of her legs. Stumbled right into the open wardrobe behind her. As the coats closed in around her, muffling her breathless screams, the heavy wooden door swung shut…
Sweet dreams... ???
-
...And now back to your regularly scheduled voyage:
(http://i53.tinypic.com/2gt6dsw.png)
Tradewinds 11: Honor Among Thieves
Summary: Wherein an unexpected encounter brings things full circle…
Categories: Original Fiction Characters: None Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Science Fiction
Rated: R Warnings: Death, Graphic Violence, Violence
Series: Tradewinds Challenges: None
Published: 08/06/11
http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10666 (http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10666)
excerpt, from Chapter 1:
…The vessel itself was noticeably larger than theirs, and they marked at least twenty people on deck. Lots of weapons, too, in that ragtag crowd. What held all of their attention, though, was the black flag.
“Pirates,” Max muttered.
The setup looked right. There was also a smaller ship tethered next to them. To all three of them, it looked like they got boarded.
“I don’t think they’ve noticed us yet,” Justin pointed out, not wanting to tangle with them, “so I think it would be a good idea to get the hell outta here before they do.”
Shades was still floored at times by how things were done in this world. They still fly the Jolly Roger here? He was about to concur with Justin’s plan when he spotted something else, saying, “Say, doesn’t that other ship look familiar to you?”
Sure enough, there was something familiar about the other ship over there, smaller than the Maximum, and so completely dwarfed by the ship looming over it that it was hard not to think of the two as predator and prey. And it didn’t just look familiar to Shades; Max and Justin were also pretty sure they’d seen it before. The name was the last confirmation they needed.
Triad III.
“Looks like her bad karma’s finally caught up with her,” Shades remarked.
“Ha!” Justin snorted. “Got what you deserve, you stupid bitch…”
“So,” Max asked his companions, even as he tried to decide for himself, “do we turn away and leave, or do we join in the fight?”
“Why the hell would I want to help them!?” Justin demanded.
“We’ll have to,” Max reminded them, “to get our Tri-Medals back.”
Shades honestly wished he hadn’t brought that back up again. Just when Justin finally seemed to have dropped it. Pushing the limits of the binoculars’ range, he managed to make out Kato’s face in the crowd, remarking, “Sure are a lot of women onboard…”
“Probably Cyexians,” Justin commented. Based on all he’d heard, he could fairly guess how it was done. “I bet they were lured here with some kind of distress signal, and probably all that smoke, and by the time they knew what was up, it was too late.”
“In Brazen Defiance…” Max read. “Definitely a Cyexian ship.”
“I see…” Shades remarked, contemplating these pirates’ tactics. Looking at the shortwave radio at their own helm, pondering its range. No Coast Guard out here. No Navy, either. No one can here you scream out here. “I think we’re out of our league challenging these guys…”
“Luring victims with phony distress signals…” Max knew there were some hard and fast laws of the sea that were so ancient as to be thought sacred. That only the most callous and depraved would ignore. Now that these seagoing predators had found their prey, the skull and crossbones flew as a warning to any passing ships.
Just keep sailing, Shades thought, Nothing to see here, folks. Repeat, just keep…
But Max had no intention of looking the other way.
“You’re not thinkin’…” Shades began…
And so the tale continues... 8-)
-
Chapter 2, a reason to act. :felix:
-
Chapter 2, among the prisoners. :hidesface:
-
Chapter 3, a little ammo and a lot of luck. :stabbitystab:
-
Chapter 4, in which the tables turn. ???
-
Chapter 5, in which the tables turn again. :simba:
-
Chapter 6, back to back... :stabbitystab:
-
Chapter 7, ...and side by side. :whip:
-
Chapter 8, Max vs Striker I. :banghead:
-
Chapter 9, the tables turn once more. :bricks:
-
Chapter 10, Max vs Striker II. :stabbitystab:
-
Tradewinds 11: Honor Among Thieves (Cont.)
http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10666 (http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10666)
Chapter 11, the sinking of the Brazen. :wave:
-
Chapter 12, red sky at night, sailors delight. :cheers:
-
Outro: Wayside :goldfish:
-
The voyage continues...
(http://i53.tinypic.com/2gt6dsw.png)
Tradewinds 12: Keep One Eye Open)
http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10679 (http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10679)
Summary: Wherein the crew of the Maximum try to take a tropical vacation. Yeah right…
Categories: Original Fiction Characters: None Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Science Fiction
Rated: R Warnings: Death, Graphic Violence, Violence
Series: Tradewinds Challenges: None
Published: 08/20/11
excerpt, from Intro:
“…According to the report, they were shooting it out with each other in traffic…”
“While we were stuck here the whole time,” Andrew muttered. “Just once, Terry, I wish we’d get to see a little action around here, that’s all.”
The two stood in silence for a moment, then Andrew piped up again, saying, “Say Terry, do you know anything about this ship we’ve been guarding lately?”
“Nope. Just the name CheckMate, that’s all I know,” Terry told him. For all his partner’s talk about boredom, this was quite possibly one of the most unusual assignments he had ever received. “Some bigwigs are passing through, and they entrusted it to us during their stay. Port Security’s been pretty hush-hush about the whole thing, so I’m not sure exactly what it is we’re guarding. Just that our bosses are being paid a hefty sum to watch it.”
“CheckMate, huh? Maybe we should—”
Before he could suggest any bright ideas his partner would probably object to in spite of his own curiosity, they both paused, hearing a loud splash from inside the hangar itself.
“Jack, what’s up?” Andrew asked their inside man, wondering if he might yet get a glimpse of this mystery ship.
Silence.
“Hey, Jack?” Terry called out, a little louder this time. “You fall in or somethin’?”
“Could you give me a hand?” a voice called back.
“Sure thing, Jack,” Terry replied as he unlocked the hangar door. He turned to Andrew, all trace of humor having taken a back seat to business, saying, “Stay here.”
Then he went in. The darkness inside the hangar cast everything in heavy shadows. Moving toward the light switch, and cursing the complex’s mostly outdated systems every step of the way, when he saw it.
At first it didn’t quite register, even as he looked right at it. Jack’s body lay sprawled on the floor near the edge of the inner dock, soaking wet, one leg and arm still dangling in the water. What held his attention, though, was the fact that his head was turned almost all the way around.
There was no need to examine him; no one survived having their neck that cleanly broken.
His cry of horror froze on the tip of his tongue, though, as he felt an iron- knuckled fist pressed against his back. This sensation barely registered in his brain as it was quickly followed by a piercing, stabbing pain, then total numbness in his back and torso. He gasped as he looked down in frozen terror at the three lavender laser blades protruding starkly from his chest. In the final moments of his life, time seemed to slow down, and all he could do was watch, too numb to utter more than a barely audible squeak, as those shimmering instruments of destruction raked straight down.
“Three down…” a voice behind him whispered darkly.
The last thing he would ever hear…
-
Chapter 1, wherein they weather the storm. :cheshire:
-
Chapter 2, welcoming committee. :blues:
-
Chapter 3, an honest day's work. :patpat:
-
Chapter 4, in which the tour the marketplace. :simba:
-
Chapter 5, silent stone sentinels. :penguin:
-
Chapter 6, on sacred waters. 8-)
-
Chapter 7, surprise attack. :stabbitystab:
-
Chapter 8, in which they find themselves outnumbered. :bricks:
-
Chapter 9, reinforcements, complications. :batman:
-
Chapter 10, Max vs the dark stranger. :stabbitystab:
-
Chapter 11, Justin the sniper. :nyahnyah:
-
Tradewinds 12: Keep One Eye Open (Cont.)
http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10679 (http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10679)
Chapter 12, Max vs the dark stranger II. :stabbitystab:
-
Chapter 13, in which things degenerate into a hostage situation. :hidesface:
-
Chapter 14, in which Shades goes for a ride. :-[
-
Chapter 15, battle plans. >:(
-
Chapter 16, in which Shades has an awkward conversation. :-[
-
Chapter 17, the raiders' defense. :whip:
-
Chapter 18, in which Shades escapes? :angel:
-
Chapter 19, the assault I. :bricks:
-
Chapter 20, another awkward conversation. :-[
-
Chapter 21, the assault II. :simba:
-
Chapter 22, Max vs Erix I. :stabbitystab:
-
Chapter 23, in which Shades escapes for real. :batman:
-
Chapter 24, Max vs Erix II. :stabbitystab:
-
Chapter 25, Justin the sniper, reprisal. :fluffybunny:
-
Chapter 26, Max vs Erix III. :stabbitystab:
-
Tradewinds 12: Keep One Eye Open (Cont.)
http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10679 (http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10679)
Chapter 27, in which Justin picks up the survivors. :goldfish:
-
Chapter 28, infirmary. 8-)
-
Chapter 29, in which they chill at the Island Festival. :cheers:
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An innocent derelict, or something more sinister?... ???
(http://i53.tinypic.com/2gt6dsw.png)
Tradewinds 13: Derelict
http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10691 (http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10691)
Summary: Wherein it came from out of the fog…
Categories: Original Fiction Characters: None Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Horror, Science Fiction, Supernatural, Suspense
Rated: R Warnings: Violence
Series: Tradewinds Challenges: None
Published: 09/19/11
excerpt, from Chapter 1:
…Just when Shades was about to give up, having killed the engines to conserve fuel, as the Maximum coasted to a halt, they all saw it.
It was hard to tell if their ship was still moving, or if the other was drifting in the current, but the other ship at least appeared to sail in out of the fog. The bow thrusting out of the ever-shifting mists, on a direct course to cross their path. Shades sat there watching the rest of the hull materialize one foot at a time, and it wasn’t until Justin gripped his arm in alarm that it occurred to him to restart the engines and change course to avoid a collision. As he veered aside, then pulled alongside the other vessel, noting right off that she was at least twice as long as the Maximum, as they still couldn’t see the rear of the ship as they coasted side by side, thin wisps of fog streaming between them.
The three of them just sat there for a long moment, each lost in their own observations.
Now that he was awake, Max simply watched the unknown vessel, recalling his parents’ tales of haunted places. Likely the same accounts this fog reminded him of to begin with, and the most probable cause of his restless sleep earlier. Yet he could recall nothing about this particular vessel, nor anything even vaguely resembling it.
What’re the odds? Shades wondered.
To him, it looked a lot like pictures he had seen of turn-of-the-century ships from back on Earth. There was certainly nothing about its design or trappings that looked like it was made in his lifetime, he reflected, wondering if he was the first to notice that there wasn’t a single light on. Nobody’s home… Then the thought crossed his mind that perhaps this was just someone else that got stranded in this fogbank.
“Anybody home?” he enquired absently.
Max started, and Justin slowly turned his head.
“Let’s check it out,” Shades said, this time more firmly. Though he had no more clue than his friends what was up with this ship, it shared the same waters as they did, so it seemed a wise idea to investigate…
A bad moon on the rise... :crazy:
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Chapter 2, in which Max and Shades tour the derelict. :crazy:
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Chapter 3, the Sweet Lady of Twylight. ???
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Chapter 4, Shades makes it back... 8-)
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Chapter 5, ...but Max doesn't. :-[
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Chapter 6, in which Shades and Justin debate. >:(
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Chapter 7, the shades of men walk the decks. ???
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Chapter 8, in which Shades challenges the derelict. 8-)
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Chapter 9, in which Max discovers he is not alone. :(
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Chapter 10, in which Shades finds himself at wits' end. :-[
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Chapter 11, Justin's vigil. :shrug:
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Chapter 12, garbled exchange. :'(
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Tradewinds 13: Derelict (Cont.)
http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10691 (http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10691)
Chapter 13, into the mist from which it came... :penguin:
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A short pit-stop turns into a long delay… :-[
(http://i53.tinypic.com/2gt6dsw.png)
Tradewinds 14: No Way Out
http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10697 (http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10697)
Summary: Wherein tomorrow is a long time coming…
Categories: Original Fiction Characters: None Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Science Fiction
Rated: R Warnings: Death, Violence
Series: Tradewinds Challenges: None
Published: 10/02/11
excerpt, from Chapter 3:
“…I suppose we knew it was too good to be true,” Donaldson sighed, “but the school was already in trouble before that, due to lack of funding, and it was only a matter of time before we got shut down if we didn’t do something. That was when Camcron Industries came in with an offer we couldn’t refuse.”
“What kind of name is Camcron anyway?” Max wondered aloud.
“From what I understand,” Donaldson mused, “they’re some big corporation from New Cali. I guess they’re into a bunch of different fields, and the Research Institute that set up shop here was some kind of subsidiary of theirs. The funding they proposed was enough to keep the Academy in the black. Much as I hate to admit it now, even though I didn’t really trust them, the only other choice would have been to dismiss a lot of folks and cut classes back to less than half of what they used to be… so I went along with the rest of the administration, and I’ve regretted it ever since.
“Sure, with the Institute’s funding came new installments to the rest of the campus, and at first the only catch was the construction of the Camcron Building. They just had to build it right in the middle of the island, right in the big field behind the main Academy building, but that was just the beginning.”
“So what were they doing out there?” Shades, of course, had read of his fair share of scandals and shenanigans, so he was already quite suspicious of any corporation just waltzing in and offering to help people without pretense. After all, last he checked, even philanthropy had a tendency to come with hidden strings attached.
“I don’t rightly know,” Donaldson confessed. “The building itself was reserved for only the Institute’s projects. Even we weren’t allowed to see much of the place. I’m not really sure what they were researching in there, but they sure seemed to have a lot of specialists on staff, and they were pretty vague about just what they specialized in. I got ahold of a document once that mentioned certifications in various sciences, especially physics. No matter what they were doing in there, it could just be me, but that building just does not look right on Adnan’s, just doesn’t fit…”
“But what happened to the school?” Shades asked.
“It shut down barely a fortnight after I left,” the old man replied. “I was getting more and more concerned about how the entire school seemed to rely on Camcron after a while. I guess I underestimated just how dependent everyone had become, and my attempts at investigating things on my own— fruitless as it was— ended with the rest of the administration turning against me. I suppose they were looking out for Adnan’s in their own way, but in the end it gained them nothing.”
Ah, fun with office politics… Shades decided to keep that thought to himself, having learned more about it than he cared to after leaving the easygoing atmosphere of Master Al’s shop for the non-stop rumor mill of the service sector.
“You see, not long after I resigned, the school just simply shut down. Not even any advance notice. No explanation given, but the last time I was in town, I was told Camcron just pulled the plug, and by now the whole thing was so far in the red they couldn’t keep the doors open anymore. That was a couple days ago, and I’ve heard no further word.
“It’s the end of an era— even I went to school there when I was a boy…”
Monotonous phenomenon… :shrug:
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Chapter 2, hermitage. :goldfish:
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Chapter 3, tea and conversation. :simba:
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Chapter 4, waiting our the rain. :shrug:
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Chapter 5, Adnan's Island. :cheshire:
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Chapter 6, St Lucy again. ???
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Chapter 7, training exercise. :batman:
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Chapter 8, in which they split up. :felix:
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Chapter 9, Shades' reminiscence. 8-)
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Chapter 10, Justin's reminiscence. :patpat:
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Chapter 11, Max's reminiscence. :simba:
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Chapter 12, in which Shades gets fired. :hidesface:
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Chapter 13, St Lucy yet again. ???
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Chapter 14, in which they conduct a little test. :batman:
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Tradewinds 14: No Way Out (Cont.)
http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10697 (http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10697)
Chapter 15, in which they discuss Project Pythagoras. 8-)
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Chapter 16, in which they investigate the Adnan's themselves. :felix:
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Chapter 17, better luck next time. :-[
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Chapter 18, St Lucy once more. ::)
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Chapter 19, another chat with Donaldson. :crazy:
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Chapter 20, shedding some light. :banghead:
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Chapter 21, in which they uncover the secret of the statues. :simba:
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Chapter 22, investigations and explanations. :batman:
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Chapter 23, in which they explore the sub-basement. :bricks:
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Chapter 24, a boss battle!? :stabbitystab:
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Chapter 25, pausing Pythagoras. :nyahnyah:
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Hey sweetie!!
I just wanted to commend you for being the most consistent author I've seen on this site!! You've probably seen the threads of "cliques" and reviews and yadda yadda yadda, and I just want to tell you that you are truly an admirable author! I see your posted updates, yet no reviews, and you STILL continue to post your work regardless. As I've read Mare point out, it'll probably take some time for readers to warm up to original stories, myself included. Fictional stories of the Backstreet Boys is actually what made me enjoy reading! Lol.
I tend to use you as a perfect example to people that complain they don't get enough reviews because they aren't "popular" or aren't apart of the "clique". I bring your name up, because you're the perfect talented author that posts your stories, posts your updates, and even though there's no reviews, you CONTINUE to post and share your work! You're just simply amazing honey, and I just wanted to commend you on that and tell you to keep doing what you do... though it may seem like your work goes unnoticed, know that you as an author and person truly doesn't go unnoticed! :)
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Chapter 26, in which tomorrow finally comes. :cheers:
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@rebellious_one:
Thank you for the kind words. Sorry I took so long: I posted the chapter right before I went to work, so I didn't have time to reply then.
I'm used to OF playing second fiddle on fanfic sites, and don't take it personally, especially not if the site is based around a specific fandom (such as BSB). Even before I started posting to story sites in the last couple years, I've been posting my work on forums for over a decade, and I'm used to getting varied reception in different places. I've also never gotten much in the way of reviews anywhere, but I've found that at most sites I get a respectable number of views, which means that someone, somewhere, is reading it. Meaning that I've never thought of myself as wasting my time, and thus I continue posting, even at sites where I don't get many hits, because as long as somebody is reading, I owe it to them to finish what I start.
As a reader, I find few things more vexing than an interesting tale that just gets dropped. (Personally, I maintain a policy of never posting the first chapter of something until I've written the last.) In all fairness, though, I've been working on this series for many years, so there were already 15 installments in the series to catch up with where I'm at right now. Once I catch up with myself, it'll slow down to about a chapter a week, to cut back on the wait between installments. (I just wanted to point that out, because I'm not as superhuman my author profile makes me appear to be; individual installments can vary greatly in how long it takes me to write them.
But, while I work on other projects from time to time, Tradewinds is my life's work, and I always come back to it. 8-)
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Here's a short one-shot… ???
Lost and Found
http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10697 (http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10697)
Summary: A child finds what was lost, but loses himself…
Categories: Original Fiction Characters: None Genres: Fantasy, Horror, Suspense
Rated: PG-13 Warnings: Death
Series: None Challenges: None
Published: 10/29/11
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An unsavory proposition goes sideways... :simba:
(http://i53.tinypic.com/2gt6dsw.png)
Tradewinds 15: Against the Odds
http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10737 (http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10737)
Summary: Wherein a new challenger appears, and Max faces a bet that can’t be won…
Categories: Original Fiction Characters: None Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Science Fiction
Rated: R Warnings: Death, Graphic Violence, Violence
Series: Tradewinds Challenges: None
Published: 10/31/11
excerpt, from chapter 1:
“…Pardon me, young man,” a voice said from off to Max’s left, “but my boss has a little business proposition for you.”
“Huh?” Only belatedly, Max realized he was so preoccupied watching the rooftops, that he had failed to notice several men approach the dock next to the ship. “What do you mean?”
“Why, young mariner, I’m talking about your panther,” the somewhat older man, who appeared to be the leader of this group, replied, gesturing toward Bandit, “that fine specimen of a panther. I’ve never seen such markings… How much would you be willing to part with it for?”
Bandit growled softly at the half dozen or so men, a sentiment that matched how Max was fast starting to feel about these guys.
“I’m sorry,” Max told the man, becoming ever more suspicious of them, and this situation, by the second. At times like these, he was reminded that he was not accustomed to people barging in and just striking up conversations without even introducing themselves. That he wasn’t used to the idea of live animals being treated as merchandise. Nor was he used to the idea of people calling his oldest friend an it. “You heard him. My friend’s not for sale.”
“Boy, you don’t seem to understand your situation,” the man informed him as his crew stepped aboard the Maximum. No weapons drawn as of yet, but their manner was all the more imposing as they moved to surround Max. “You must be new to these parts, or you’d know the House calls all the shots here in Bodeen.”
Max noticed that all of them, regardless of their mode of dress, wore the same red arm bands, which he had seen from time to time about town, and, he now realized, still had no more clue what they were about than he had the first time he laid eyes on them.
“Get off our ship,” was all Max had to say to him, increasingly certain that this was going to come to blows.
“Our boss has had his eye on your little pet,” the man continued as if Max had never said a word, “and what Mr Bertona wants, Mr Bertona gets. That just leaves the little question of what you get. The boss makes very generous offers, but he only makes them once, so we can do this the easy way or the hard way. Either way, we’re taking the cat.”
Max glanced about for a moment, noting that anyone who may have been about the docks a couple minutes ago had made themselves scarce in these folks’ wake.
“I said, get off our ship,” Max repeated, wishing Shades and Justin would hurry up and get back. Even more so as he reached for his laser sword, hoping to make them back down peaceably with a little intimidation of his own, only to find it missing. Even worse, he was still in bare feet so soon after waking up, so he didn’t even have his backup blade concealed in his boot. Sensing they were already aware something was amiss on his end, he warned them, “If you lay a hand on my friend, I won’t hold back.”
“It’s seven against one, boy, and nobody’s gonna make a move against us around here, so what’s it gonna be?”
Before Max could reply, one of the henchmen made the first move, but Max had already resigned himself to a fight, blocking the man’s punch and dragging him in the way of the next guy’s kick. Max then back-kicked the one behind him, then moved forward to shake off the two who had just moved in from the sides to pin him—
As Max’s would-be captors staggered away from him, Bandit, who was angling to take a bite out of one of them, was instead struck with the unfamiliar sting of a tranquilizer dart.
“Bandit!” Max cried out, watching his companion snarl in pain and surprise as he reeled and fell over, wrenched the two men straining to pin his arms, kicking another out of the way as he dragged them toward his fallen friend.
The last thought he could remember was of how the dart seemed to have hit Bandit from somewhere above them, when he himself was struck by the familiar zap of a stun beam, square in the back.
“That’s enough of that,” the ringleader remarked, keeping his power pistol trained on Max until he was sure both of their targets had gone silent before reholstering it…
And so the game begins… :stabbitystab:
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Chapter 2, the streets of Bodeen. 8-)
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Chapter 3, a bet that can't be won. :hidesface:
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Chapter 4, back at the ship. :shrug:
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Chapter 5, show time. :stabbitystab:
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Chapter 6, stacking the deck, :whip:
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Chapter 7, the main event. :stabbitystab:
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Chapter 8, evening the odds. ???
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Chapter 9, raising the stakes. :hidesface:
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Chapter 10, the show must go on. :stabbitystab:
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Chapter 11, in which the crowd goes wild! :taz:
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Chapter 12, all bets are off. >:(
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Chapter 13, no escape? :penguin:
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Chapter 14, net loss. :'(
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Chapter 15, Dominik Ma'Quiver. :batman:
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Tradewinds 15: Against the Odds (Cont.)
http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10737 (http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10737)
Chapter 16, the ancient art of Shanshou-kan. :cheshire:
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An unexpected encounter with some familiar faces... 8-)
(http://i53.tinypic.com/2gt6dsw.png)
Tradewinds 16: Castaways
http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10771 (http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10771)
Summary: Wherein the crew of the Maximum take another shot at that tropical vacation thing, and Trouble ensues…
Categories: Original Fiction Characters: None Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Humor, Science Fiction
Rated: R Warnings: Death, Violence
Series: Tradewinds Challenges: None
Published: 12/07/11
excerpt, from chapter 1:
“…You’re still trying to read me word for word, instead of reading between the lines,” Ma’Quiver told Max as they finished another round of swordplay. “I can show you some useful moves, but you have to use this experience to make them your own.”
“I know,” Max replied, taking the opportunity to give his stun blade a rest, as well. Sweating from head to foot, and still more winded than Ma’Quiver after trading blades for several furious minutes. “You’re at least as hard to read as Erix.”
“You’re beginning to see the difference between knowing one book, and understanding an entire language.” Even so, Ma’Quiver had to admit that he had heard of this Erix, and he found Max’s survival against the likes of him more impressive than what he had seen of Max’s fighting at Nikopolas Arena. “The only thing you’re going to get good at with that method is fighting me. It won’t help you that much against other experienced warriors, though. The greatest strength you can wield with a weapon is not just mastery of technique, but being spontaneous and unpredictable in using it.”
“I still feel like I’m making up for lost time.” Five years in Paradise, where all he could do was rehearse form and technique as best he could, but it wasn’t until he started sparring with Shades, who had years’ more formal training than he, that Max had anything to compare his skills to. His battles since then consisting of a series of grueling wake-up calls, this being the only one that offered him a chance to take his training in a challenging new direction. “If I hadn’t started getting more experience sparring with Justin and Shades before those fights, I don’t think I’d even be here right now.”
“Don’t beat yourself up over it,” Ma’Quiver told him, impressed after his own fashion by anyone who would pursue such rigorous training in such isolated solitude. Though he initially had his doubts about stepping into the role of teacher, they were largely dispelled by the company of people who shared his enthusiasm for the martial arts. Even Justin, who was standoffish at first, started getting into it once he noticed how much his skills were improving. To say nothing of simply enjoying his new friends’ more musical training methods. “From what I’ve seen, you’ve come a long way in a very short time…”
Now that I've finally "caught up with" myself, chapters will be released on a weekly basis to reduce the wait between installments.
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Chapter 2, dire straights. :'(
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Chapter 3, the Isle of Castaways. 8-)
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Chapter 4, Bankshot mk2. :dance:
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Chapter 5, dinner and conversation. :cheers:
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Chapter 6, after closing time. 8-)
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I will be boycotting the internet for the next 24 hours. To all Tradewinds readers, I apologize for the delay, but this is a matter of grave concern to all indy authors and artists. If you support our freedom, please join our blackout, and voice your disapproval to Congress about SOPA and PIPA.
http://sopastrike.com/ (http://sopastrike.com/)
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Chapter 7, Cafe la Mer. :penguin:
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Chapter 8, Lamar's Bazaar. :batman:
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Chapter 9, Jolly Roger Arms. :cheshire:
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Chapter 10, R is for "Roulette". ???
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Chapter 11, the Hang Ten Bar & Grill. :cheers:
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Chapter 12, the girl in the green jacket. 8-)
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Chapter 13, Trouble. :o
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Tradewinds 16: Castaways (Cont.)
http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10771 (http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10771)
Chapter 14, the Two-Fisted Rambo Challenge! :blues:
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Chapter 15, put your quarters up! :taz:
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Chapter 16, A New Challenger Appears! :stabbitystab:
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Chapter 17, agreements and understandings . :batman:
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Chapter 18, a place of light and song. :cheers:
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a short story: Paradigm Shift
http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10901 (http://www.absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10901)
A day at work goes sideways, right along with reality as they knew it. Waking dream, delusions of divinity, or reality derailed? :cheshire: