M.L. Crabb's Blog: The Command Deck, page 12
December 29, 2015
Fifty Years From Now
A grim future awaits us in this flash story of mine. Beware of the $ians, for they may snatch you up!
Original photo can be found on wikimedia commons!
2065
Grandpa tells me that I was born ten years too late. I have no memory of what it was like before the world lost its way (though, he says that it had been riding I80 to Stupidville way before 2045). I frown as I gaze at his withered face. It looks serene in the candlelight. I sigh. The power outages have been getting worse. It's been out for three days straight now.
When I see his chest rise and fall, I close my eyes and sit down. Good. I wrestled his mask on just in time. I glance over at the window. He likes to call the deep, dark brown hue "the marriage between a hipster and a trashy sepia filter." I have no idea what it means, but I always laugh because he likes my reaction.
Sand begins to pelt against it. I rise and close the curtains. I'm sick of sand. It wasn't this bad ten years ago. Resources were scarce then, and the only reason Grandpa, Mom, and me have a small cabin is because he was some sort of war hero before all of this.
Am I lucky that I'm sheltered from reality? I don't know. Every once in a while the TV turns on, and we get a glimpse of the outside. The $ians like to parade their wealth by showing us how horrible it is out there. The sad thing is that there are just three factions left these days.
The VAl&ers, us. We live under the military pensions of old in decaying, manufactured neighborhoods--we are a dying breed.
The Fendrz, the ones left the fend for themselves in this mess. Grandpa says they were the working class way back before the world went to hell. They slipped through the cracks and were too poor to buy themselves out of the Disaster of 2045. He says they were always treated like shit.
Then there are the fat $ians, the ones who live in the famed *light City. They come from the upper classes of old or fendrz and VAl&ers attractive enough to be snatched up. Grandpa says that's what happened to Dad right after Mom had me.
I shudder. Is he some Ms. Piggette's husband now? Is he doomed to forever shovel horseshit? Mom says the $ians snatch us up to keep themselves from inbreeding. I don't like to think about it. I keep to VAl&. I don't dare go near the crumbling wall just outside the forest.
They've taken a liking to us in the past year.
Are the fendrz dying off? Have they stolen all the beautiful ones? I'll never understand the radio broadcasts and government pamphlets we get in the mail...What is so wrong with the fendrz that they're left in the ruins of the giant cities of old?
Grandpa remembers when the food shortages began and The Smarter You initiative started. He says it was a bunch of fascist bullshit designed to stop the dredges of society from breeding. They got blamed for everything. Grandpa blames society. People used to be selfish, infantile brats, especially with the rise of technology. He says there used to be gadgets for everything. They had bracelets that counted your steps and pocket 'puters that could access other people--
I don't know what he's talking about. I just know that the fendrz are dying off, and we're next. M@t from the blue cabin has been missing for three days. Dela has been missing for three months. They were the most attractive people in our village...
Grandpa says I'm next.
~FIN
Original photo can be found on wikimedia commons! 2065
Grandpa tells me that I was born ten years too late. I have no memory of what it was like before the world lost its way (though, he says that it had been riding I80 to Stupidville way before 2045). I frown as I gaze at his withered face. It looks serene in the candlelight. I sigh. The power outages have been getting worse. It's been out for three days straight now.
When I see his chest rise and fall, I close my eyes and sit down. Good. I wrestled his mask on just in time. I glance over at the window. He likes to call the deep, dark brown hue "the marriage between a hipster and a trashy sepia filter." I have no idea what it means, but I always laugh because he likes my reaction.
Sand begins to pelt against it. I rise and close the curtains. I'm sick of sand. It wasn't this bad ten years ago. Resources were scarce then, and the only reason Grandpa, Mom, and me have a small cabin is because he was some sort of war hero before all of this.
Am I lucky that I'm sheltered from reality? I don't know. Every once in a while the TV turns on, and we get a glimpse of the outside. The $ians like to parade their wealth by showing us how horrible it is out there. The sad thing is that there are just three factions left these days.
The VAl&ers, us. We live under the military pensions of old in decaying, manufactured neighborhoods--we are a dying breed.
The Fendrz, the ones left the fend for themselves in this mess. Grandpa says they were the working class way back before the world went to hell. They slipped through the cracks and were too poor to buy themselves out of the Disaster of 2045. He says they were always treated like shit.
Then there are the fat $ians, the ones who live in the famed *light City. They come from the upper classes of old or fendrz and VAl&ers attractive enough to be snatched up. Grandpa says that's what happened to Dad right after Mom had me.
I shudder. Is he some Ms. Piggette's husband now? Is he doomed to forever shovel horseshit? Mom says the $ians snatch us up to keep themselves from inbreeding. I don't like to think about it. I keep to VAl&. I don't dare go near the crumbling wall just outside the forest.
They've taken a liking to us in the past year.
Are the fendrz dying off? Have they stolen all the beautiful ones? I'll never understand the radio broadcasts and government pamphlets we get in the mail...What is so wrong with the fendrz that they're left in the ruins of the giant cities of old?
Grandpa remembers when the food shortages began and The Smarter You initiative started. He says it was a bunch of fascist bullshit designed to stop the dredges of society from breeding. They got blamed for everything. Grandpa blames society. People used to be selfish, infantile brats, especially with the rise of technology. He says there used to be gadgets for everything. They had bracelets that counted your steps and pocket 'puters that could access other people--
I don't know what he's talking about. I just know that the fendrz are dying off, and we're next. M@t from the blue cabin has been missing for three days. Dela has been missing for three months. They were the most attractive people in our village...
Grandpa says I'm next.
~FIN
December 20, 2015
The Force Awakens: My Spoiler-Free Review
I had my doubts even through the trailers looked awesome. I refused to let myself get excited, and let me just say that I was blown away by how amazing this movie was!
If you are a fan of Star Wars, you've either seen it or are waiting for reviews to come in because you don't want to be disappointed with yet another Hollywood "BAM, BLAM, BLING SEQUEL WITH SHINY THINGS so you better give us your money right now" sort of deal.
If you fall into the latter category, go buy yourself some tickets right now. Star Wars: The Force Awakens is an exciting, action-adventure film that holds up to the original Star Wars trilogy.
It takes place thirty years after Return of the Jedi. The Empire has fallen, but a sinister group called The First Order rises from the ashes while the Resistance has attempted to rebuild the Republic. TFA picks up the pieces for a seamless transition to its own story. I promised not to post spoilers, but here is a list of my favorite things about the movie (in no particular order).
1. The Costumes
They were true to the original trilogy. The First Order uniforms were sleek, 2015 upgrades to their late 70s counterparts. They weren't drastically changed or bedazzled with a bunch of pointless, distracting bling found in so many sequels and remakes floating around today.
The resistance had fewer changes. You could still see a strong 70s vibe going on with their collars, hair styles, and polyester vests, not to mention the x-wing pilot uniforms did not change much.
Oh, and Captain Phasma has the most badass storm trooper armor and cape I've ever seen.
2. Visual Effects
Everything felt right, like it belonged. As I said with the costumes, TFA feels like a 2015 version of the originals. It wasn't infested with a bunch of lens flares or pointless CGI. For 2 hours and 16 minutes, you are transported to a galaxy far, far away.
3. The New Characters
They were three-dimensional and not afraid to show nitty, gritty emotions. Even Kylo Ren was an interesting character (I'll leave it at that, lest I drop some spoilers!).
4. The Story
Critics say that it feels like they stole from A New Hope. While TFA mirrors A New Hope in ways, I feel that it was different and unique enough to stand on its own.
I give Star Wars: The Force Awakens 5/5 lightsabers. I felt like I was back in the old Star Wars world that I grew up with and loved as a child. This movie is a must see for Star Wars fans and sci-fi fans alike!
If you are a fan of Star Wars, you've either seen it or are waiting for reviews to come in because you don't want to be disappointed with yet another Hollywood "BAM, BLAM, BLING SEQUEL WITH SHINY THINGS so you better give us your money right now" sort of deal.
If you fall into the latter category, go buy yourself some tickets right now. Star Wars: The Force Awakens is an exciting, action-adventure film that holds up to the original Star Wars trilogy.
It takes place thirty years after Return of the Jedi. The Empire has fallen, but a sinister group called The First Order rises from the ashes while the Resistance has attempted to rebuild the Republic. TFA picks up the pieces for a seamless transition to its own story. I promised not to post spoilers, but here is a list of my favorite things about the movie (in no particular order).
1. The Costumes
They were true to the original trilogy. The First Order uniforms were sleek, 2015 upgrades to their late 70s counterparts. They weren't drastically changed or bedazzled with a bunch of pointless, distracting bling found in so many sequels and remakes floating around today.
The resistance had fewer changes. You could still see a strong 70s vibe going on with their collars, hair styles, and polyester vests, not to mention the x-wing pilot uniforms did not change much.
Oh, and Captain Phasma has the most badass storm trooper armor and cape I've ever seen.
2. Visual Effects
Everything felt right, like it belonged. As I said with the costumes, TFA feels like a 2015 version of the originals. It wasn't infested with a bunch of lens flares or pointless CGI. For 2 hours and 16 minutes, you are transported to a galaxy far, far away.
3. The New Characters
They were three-dimensional and not afraid to show nitty, gritty emotions. Even Kylo Ren was an interesting character (I'll leave it at that, lest I drop some spoilers!).
4. The Story
Critics say that it feels like they stole from A New Hope. While TFA mirrors A New Hope in ways, I feel that it was different and unique enough to stand on its own.
I give Star Wars: The Force Awakens 5/5 lightsabers. I felt like I was back in the old Star Wars world that I grew up with and loved as a child. This movie is a must see for Star Wars fans and sci-fi fans alike!
November 27, 2015
Number 54
I'm going to be blunt: I could care less about Black Friday, and "I am thankful for..." posts are about as entertaining as waiting in line at the DMV. Does this make me a bad person? I mean, I am grateful for what I have and all...
With all the fear, hype, and false quotes floating around these days about special IDs and compulsory badges, here is a little "what if" writing experiment. I refuse to defend a certain business man gone politician, but he never suggested IDs and badges.
Photo of the DMV is credited to coolcaesar at wikipedia commons
You are number 54. You watch as the ticker at the DMV flashes 52. Good. Just two more to go, and you can hurry up and get on with your life. You shift the paperwork in your hands as it makes an annoying crinkle sound.
53
You double check that you have everything. In the name of security, the DMV wants everything short of a blood sample. Whatever. You just want to get on with your life and go to that new cafe near your house. You hear they have the best caffè americanos.
54
Thank the gods. It is your turn. You hurry up to the window as the DMV clerk yawns. He motions for your paperwork as you are already putting it onto the counter. He flips through it and marks several copies with a red stamp.
"Good," he mumbles when he picks up the last document. "The amount of people I had to send away today for not providing this." He looks it over, giving it more attention than he did to your social security card.
He types something into his computer. You wait patiently. You are being served, so there is no sense in being annoyed. I just want my coffee, you think.
"Would you like to volunteer for the Religion Acceptance Project? It involves wearing a pendant or necklace with your religious symbol on it," he says and leans forward. The bored clerk stares into his monitor as he reads a disclaimer.
"In the interest of freedom and fairness, we are introducing the RAP, a social experiment which allows participants to immediately recognize another participant's beliefs. The goal is to promote tolerance, acceptance, and to correctly address participants. Participants will receive a voucher for $100 and a pendant in the mail. Participants are required to wear the pendant for a period of six months and will document their observations. At the end of the test period, participants will submit their observations and receive $200."
Three hundred dollars to wear a silly badge? Yes, please.
"Yes," you reply. His fingers click across his keyboard as he submits your information.
"Are you registered to vote?"
"Yes," you reply.
"Stand to the left. Face the camera. No smiling." You obey.
Flash.
You blink and face him again.
"Proceed to Zone C and wait for your number to appear on the teleprompt. Your license will be ready in ten minutes."
You frown as you walk to Zone C. Another ten minutes. You try not to be impatient, but damn it, you want to try out that cafe! It has that rustic, cabin-in-the-woods feel you love so much, but would never admit, lest you be confused for a hipster.
You fidget in your seat. Adding your religion to your license was something you could care less about. It was just another item on a list, and the government already knew everything about you anyway. Besides, they were giving everyone a tax break for it. You could use the extra cash.
Your number flashes on the teleprompt. It is time to grab your license and to finally get your beloved and long awaited americano.
When the clerk hands it to you, you frown. A dark pit forms in your stomach as your heart nearly stops. There it is. Your religion. It is listed right below your date of birth. Shaking, you stuff it in your wallet and hurry out.
This is how it begins.
With all the fear, hype, and false quotes floating around these days about special IDs and compulsory badges, here is a little "what if" writing experiment. I refuse to defend a certain business man gone politician, but he never suggested IDs and badges.
Photo of the DMV is credited to coolcaesar at wikipedia commonsYou are number 54. You watch as the ticker at the DMV flashes 52. Good. Just two more to go, and you can hurry up and get on with your life. You shift the paperwork in your hands as it makes an annoying crinkle sound.
53
You double check that you have everything. In the name of security, the DMV wants everything short of a blood sample. Whatever. You just want to get on with your life and go to that new cafe near your house. You hear they have the best caffè americanos.
54
Thank the gods. It is your turn. You hurry up to the window as the DMV clerk yawns. He motions for your paperwork as you are already putting it onto the counter. He flips through it and marks several copies with a red stamp.
"Good," he mumbles when he picks up the last document. "The amount of people I had to send away today for not providing this." He looks it over, giving it more attention than he did to your social security card.
He types something into his computer. You wait patiently. You are being served, so there is no sense in being annoyed. I just want my coffee, you think.
"Would you like to volunteer for the Religion Acceptance Project? It involves wearing a pendant or necklace with your religious symbol on it," he says and leans forward. The bored clerk stares into his monitor as he reads a disclaimer.
"In the interest of freedom and fairness, we are introducing the RAP, a social experiment which allows participants to immediately recognize another participant's beliefs. The goal is to promote tolerance, acceptance, and to correctly address participants. Participants will receive a voucher for $100 and a pendant in the mail. Participants are required to wear the pendant for a period of six months and will document their observations. At the end of the test period, participants will submit their observations and receive $200."
Three hundred dollars to wear a silly badge? Yes, please.
"Yes," you reply. His fingers click across his keyboard as he submits your information.
"Are you registered to vote?"
"Yes," you reply.
"Stand to the left. Face the camera. No smiling." You obey.
Flash.
You blink and face him again.
"Proceed to Zone C and wait for your number to appear on the teleprompt. Your license will be ready in ten minutes."
You frown as you walk to Zone C. Another ten minutes. You try not to be impatient, but damn it, you want to try out that cafe! It has that rustic, cabin-in-the-woods feel you love so much, but would never admit, lest you be confused for a hipster.
You fidget in your seat. Adding your religion to your license was something you could care less about. It was just another item on a list, and the government already knew everything about you anyway. Besides, they were giving everyone a tax break for it. You could use the extra cash.
Your number flashes on the teleprompt. It is time to grab your license and to finally get your beloved and long awaited americano.
When the clerk hands it to you, you frown. A dark pit forms in your stomach as your heart nearly stops. There it is. Your religion. It is listed right below your date of birth. Shaking, you stuff it in your wallet and hurry out.
This is how it begins.
November 10, 2015
News Flash: It's a Cup
I promised myself I'd never post about anything controversial on here, but...It's a cup.
I work hard to make sure I've got the necessities and plus a few extras. There are important things in life worthy of getting upset about, and then there are the petty annoyances like customers behaving badly and chilly rainy days deserving of a complaint here and there. I got home the other day to find the Internet in an uproar over the color of a cup. A CUP!
Is this what we've become? A nation who whines and loses it's marbles over a cup?
For those who are wondering what the heck am I talking about, Starbucks recently released its special holiday cups. Instead of the regular festive designs, they opted for a minimalist approach.
Photo courtesy of Starbucks
Look at those evil cups. They're up to no good in their plain red dye! The nerve of them. They are the battalion commanders in the War Against Christmas. The ironic thing is that Starbucks still sells its Christmas blend coffee beans as Christmas Blend.
Elly, Jadelynn, and Major Pierson are all enjoying a hot beverage right now (well, Pierson is stuck on Pluto, so he doesn't get to dip into the daring blue Yule cup the empire released for the holidays). Elly and Jadelynn are staring at their bold blue cups. The only controversy there is the fact that they want more!
I work hard to make sure I've got the necessities and plus a few extras. There are important things in life worthy of getting upset about, and then there are the petty annoyances like customers behaving badly and chilly rainy days deserving of a complaint here and there. I got home the other day to find the Internet in an uproar over the color of a cup. A CUP!
Is this what we've become? A nation who whines and loses it's marbles over a cup?
For those who are wondering what the heck am I talking about, Starbucks recently released its special holiday cups. Instead of the regular festive designs, they opted for a minimalist approach.
Photo courtesy of StarbucksLook at those evil cups. They're up to no good in their plain red dye! The nerve of them. They are the battalion commanders in the War Against Christmas. The ironic thing is that Starbucks still sells its Christmas blend coffee beans as Christmas Blend.
Elly, Jadelynn, and Major Pierson are all enjoying a hot beverage right now (well, Pierson is stuck on Pluto, so he doesn't get to dip into the daring blue Yule cup the empire released for the holidays). Elly and Jadelynn are staring at their bold blue cups. The only controversy there is the fact that they want more!
November 1, 2015
You Discover a New Star: it Needs a Name.
The nights grow longer as November rears its sleepy head.
Both star studded images used in this graphic are amazing photographs by hubble/Nasa
Let's say you own a telescope, and one chilly November evening, you are gazing at the night sky. As you shift to adjust your hoodie, you accidentally bump your telescope. It swings slightly downward. Shrugging, you lean forward and peer through it only to discover a celestial wonder previously unknown to humanity.
Image credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, Acknowledgement: Judy Schmidt
Heart pounding with excitement, you document and record your findings. You can't feel Fall's nippy grip anymore because your blood is pumping with the thrill of this discovery. Your hoodie suddenly feels stuffy, but you don't care. You found a new star!
What kind of star is it? Is it a sun to another solar system? Could Vulcan lay just beyond its white glare?
What are you going to name it? Why?
How old do you think it is? Was it with the universe at the very beginning of it all?
What does it look like?
My imaginary star is going to be named Mishiarendil--I won't be the first person to name something after herself! I am a huge sucker for The Silmarillion and all things Tolkien, so I had to pay homage the elves' most beloved star, Earendil!
I want to know what you would name your star! Post your star's name on Facebook or Twitter
I made a blank New Star Fun sheet for those who want to go into more detail!
Click the image to view full size.
Both star studded images used in this graphic are amazing photographs by hubble/NasaLet's say you own a telescope, and one chilly November evening, you are gazing at the night sky. As you shift to adjust your hoodie, you accidentally bump your telescope. It swings slightly downward. Shrugging, you lean forward and peer through it only to discover a celestial wonder previously unknown to humanity.
Image credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, Acknowledgement: Judy SchmidtHeart pounding with excitement, you document and record your findings. You can't feel Fall's nippy grip anymore because your blood is pumping with the thrill of this discovery. Your hoodie suddenly feels stuffy, but you don't care. You found a new star!
What kind of star is it? Is it a sun to another solar system? Could Vulcan lay just beyond its white glare? What are you going to name it? Why?
How old do you think it is? Was it with the universe at the very beginning of it all?
What does it look like?
My imaginary star is going to be named Mishiarendil--I won't be the first person to name something after herself! I am a huge sucker for The Silmarillion and all things Tolkien, so I had to pay homage the elves' most beloved star, Earendil!
I want to know what you would name your star! Post your star's name on Facebook or Twitter
I made a blank New Star Fun sheet for those who want to go into more detail!
Click the image to view full size.
October 24, 2015
Spook Yourself. Halloween is Coming.
In just 7 days we will get to wear costumes in public without being judged for it. Want to be a badass Jedi? Do it. Craving to channel your inner witch, vampire, ghoul, or goblin? Do it. Beam us up, Scotty, because we are ready!
What are you going to be for Halloween? Share your awesome costume ideas on Facebook or Twitter !
The rules have changed at my work. I was told I could wear something as long as I am still in my uniform. You better believe I am going to push this to the limit! ;) I haven't made my final decision yet because, let's face it, pushing the limit takes some serious brainstorming. I'm leaning towards some kind of steampunk cat (cat ears, a tiny top hat, and one of my gothic/western vests).
As for my characters, they don't need to follow any rules!
From left to right: Jadelynn Jackson, Elly Reynolds, Major Pierson, and Aaron Winters*
Jadelynn: I found these adorable cat ears for only 5 credits! I don't care what everyone at the office thinks! I'm still 12 years old at heart! *Takes selfie*
Elly: I am the queen, and nobody can tell me otherwise. I wanted to be a witch again, but being the same thing two years in a row is lazy...Darn it. I love my witch hat!
Major Pierson: I hate you, Elly. I hate you. I hate you. This outfit is stupid. Why did I agree to this!? A jailbird!? *Grabs a glass of whiskey*
Aaron: ... *Yes, that is Aaron as Thranduil.
What are you going to be for Halloween? Share your awesome costume ideas on Facebook or Twitter !
The rules have changed at my work. I was told I could wear something as long as I am still in my uniform. You better believe I am going to push this to the limit! ;) I haven't made my final decision yet because, let's face it, pushing the limit takes some serious brainstorming. I'm leaning towards some kind of steampunk cat (cat ears, a tiny top hat, and one of my gothic/western vests).
As for my characters, they don't need to follow any rules!
From left to right: Jadelynn Jackson, Elly Reynolds, Major Pierson, and Aaron Winters*Jadelynn: I found these adorable cat ears for only 5 credits! I don't care what everyone at the office thinks! I'm still 12 years old at heart! *Takes selfie*
Elly: I am the queen, and nobody can tell me otherwise. I wanted to be a witch again, but being the same thing two years in a row is lazy...Darn it. I love my witch hat!
Major Pierson: I hate you, Elly. I hate you. I hate you. This outfit is stupid. Why did I agree to this!? A jailbird!? *Grabs a glass of whiskey*
Aaron: ... *Yes, that is Aaron as Thranduil.
October 14, 2015
Selfies on Mars. What's Next, Pluto?
I've watched a lot of NASA and space exploration centric films lately (Apollo 13, Interstellar, and The Martian).
Original photo courtesy of Curiosity, the Mars rover
Like every other person who probably saw The Martian, I immediately went to NASA's website (well...I go there every day anyway to check out New Horizons, so this really isn't altering my Internet habits any) and flooded myself with images of Mars and selfie obsessed robots.
Photo courtesy of NASA. Find all the images of Pluto you want here!
We live in an exciting era. We are on what I hope is a brink of a new age for humanity. I mean, we sent New Horizons to Pluto, and there is talk of a manned mission to Mars. Right now the possibilities of what we may discover are endless. I just hope we don't mess it up before we can even cross the bridge of a new age...We humans tend to be greedy and warlike.
Until we know every last inch of our solar system and have sent a person to every viable planet, I will be daydreaming my own futuristic societies and writing science fiction. Until then, I will also devour every decent sci-fi book I can get my hands on!
If you could go to any planet, which one would it be?
My answer is obvious: Pluto!
In other news, I've finally gotten myself a smartphone. Yes, ladies and gents, I am just now jumping into the 21st century as far as telecommunications is concerned. A combination of my hard-headed defiance, "They are too big!" and realistic "I don't have the money." were the factors in my tardiness for joining the rest of the world.
Shocking! Space and Buzz Aldrin on the moon? I surprise myself.
Original photo courtesy of Curiosity, the Mars roverLike every other person who probably saw The Martian, I immediately went to NASA's website (well...I go there every day anyway to check out New Horizons, so this really isn't altering my Internet habits any) and flooded myself with images of Mars and selfie obsessed robots.
Photo courtesy of NASA. Find all the images of Pluto you want here!We live in an exciting era. We are on what I hope is a brink of a new age for humanity. I mean, we sent New Horizons to Pluto, and there is talk of a manned mission to Mars. Right now the possibilities of what we may discover are endless. I just hope we don't mess it up before we can even cross the bridge of a new age...We humans tend to be greedy and warlike.
Until we know every last inch of our solar system and have sent a person to every viable planet, I will be daydreaming my own futuristic societies and writing science fiction. Until then, I will also devour every decent sci-fi book I can get my hands on!
If you could go to any planet, which one would it be?
My answer is obvious: Pluto!
In other news, I've finally gotten myself a smartphone. Yes, ladies and gents, I am just now jumping into the 21st century as far as telecommunications is concerned. A combination of my hard-headed defiance, "They are too big!" and realistic "I don't have the money." were the factors in my tardiness for joining the rest of the world.
Shocking! Space and Buzz Aldrin on the moon? I surprise myself. October 7, 2015
Glory, Pride, and the Maiden Vain: Part 4
Dráiden's love is missing! He's tried everything to get her back, but it is as if she's vanished into thin air. When she is dragged before him, beaten and bruised, he will stop at nothing to make the elves pay. Little does he know that not everything is as it seems.
Part I: Luthandra Raikin
Part II: Dráiden Kaldor
Part III: Elven Tidings
Part IV: The Sham
Three days. It had been three days since Luthandra had gone missing. Dráiden folded his arms across his chest as he leaned forward in his throne. He had no idea what the master of the Blacksmith’s Guild was meandering on and on about. Her maid, Braynia, claimed innocence and ignorance of the disappearance, but he had her locked up anyway.His groom was interrogating her in the dungeon below at this very moment. I cannot lose the only one who ever treated me with respect. I just...I can’t. He wanted the family that was his birthright. He wanted at least seven children, and he wanted to live to see--“My lord?” The blacksmith asked, clearing his throat as though he had just repeated himself. “Yes, yes,” he replied. Dráiden rose and waved his hand. “Proceed.” “The Blackmsith’s Guild thanks you.” Before the man could bow, Dráiden was already descending the steps of his dais and heading out the side door. The interrogation was more important. If anyone get get someone to talk, it was Preston. The grey stone walls of his castle were a blur as he hurried down the dark steps that would take him to the place he was loathe to admit he had. The air felt cooler as he continued his descent. A shriek echoed against the stone walls when he snaked around a corner.The warden posted at the dungeon’s black doors opened them when he saw his lord approaching. “I saw an elf!” came a wild scream. “Before I went to bed! That’s the only-” Something wet thudded against something soft. Dráiden marched past the rows of cells leading to The Iron Door. The two prisoners locked inside cried out to him in desperation, groping at him with feeble arms.He did not hear them.Candlelight flickered through the tiny slit of a window in The Iron Door. No rose petals ever adorned the dreadful room which it guarded. “I’d never hurt her! She’s my friend!” Dráiden pushed the heavy thing open. The woman was laying on a blood stained table. His groom was folding a soiled cloth with his back turned. “Please. Help!” The woman arched her back, struggling against the iron bands that secured her limbs to the table. “I swear it. I would never hurt her! It wasn’t me! I SWEAR!” Bruises adorned her otherwise homely face. Splotches of blood marred her not-so-white chemise.“She speaks the truth,” he hissed. “Release her.” He knew a lie when he heard one. No one could stand Preston’s games for long. “I was just about to finish up with the same conclusion,” Preston purred, wiping his hands on his cloth. “The elf...that’s the bit that makes me nervous,” he licked his lips with a twitchy frown. “We live no where near Avanduil’s kingdom,” Dráiden sighed. “King Ciallmhar of Alainn is many things, but,” he muttered and suppressed the urge to shiver. “I will send a bird.” Dráiden paced the space between the table and his groom. He wiggled his nose at the stale stench wafting throughout the room. “It would behoove him to look into the matter, as we are neighbors.”“Yes, sir. I shall have one sent at once.” He flopped the rag onto the table as Braynia whimpered. “Get that cleaned up and send her to my beloved quarters first,” Dráiden scowled. …Five days. Five days had passed, and not a word, a sign, or a bird...Nothing. Sleep had escaped him, and he was gripping Arrowheart’s hilt, tempted to slide her out and destroy the balcony in front of him. It’s as if she’s vanished by some wizard’s trick. It all screamed elf magic to him, but Ciallmhar was not the type to instigate trouble. The elves kept to themselves when they weren’t trading with the neighboring lands. A door swung open behind him, slamming against something hard.“My Lord!” Preston cried. “Your betrothed! She has returned!” Dráiden spun around and ran past his groom. “Dark tidings...dark tidings are ahead.” Presten scurried in front of him, leading him to the throne room.Luthandra trembled on her knees as two wardens struggled to grab her arms and stand her upright. Sobs escaped his beautiful bride’s face. When the wardens managed to get the woman to her feet, Dráiden froze.The blood burning beneath his skin churned, and it was as if Winter had come screaming at him in a violent whirlwind of ice and snow. Purple bruises lined her skin. Dried blood caked her mouth and nose. Her chemise was nothing but brown rags, barely providing any modesty. Dráiden tore his cloak off.Preston grabbed it and wrapped it around her shoulders. She shrank away from him, whimpering like her maid. “My love,” Dráiden croaked, shooing Preston away with a wave of his hand. He neared her in three gentle strides, cupping her chin. A grotesque bruise marred her left eye. “My love,” he rasped again.“The...the…” she wheezed, lowering her face. Shame dripped from the sorrowful expression in her eyes. Dráiden winced and scooped the light thing up in his arms.“Get my healer!” he cried. “No one enters her quarters except Preston!” …Preston hovered over her with a mug of hot tea in his right hand. Dráiden had kicked the healer out as soon as Luthandra’s wounds had been tended to. “My sweet,” he croaked, holding her weak hand. A bandage had been placed over her left eye. “Your wounds, as fate has blessed you, will heal. You will be beautiful in a few weeks time.” His eyes washed over her face, and he leaned over her to stroke her cheek with his other hand. She shied away from him with a grunt, turning her face away. “They...they,” she whispered. “I was taken. Raped,” she shuddered. “Beaten.” Preston arched an eyebrow and set the mug on the table beside her bed. “Who?” Dráiden asked. “Who did this to you? How?”“Elves. They took me with their magic in the night and...and.” The woman shuddered again and sat up. She buried her face into her hands. Sobs raked her form. Preston neared him.“King Ciallmhar won’t know what hit him,” Draidon hissed, rising. “My lord,” Preston whispered. “Perhaps we should wait a few days. Traumatic experiences warp one’s view-”“CIALLMHAR’S ELVES DID THIS!” He clenched his fists. “And for that, the Kingdom of Alainn will know what it means to waken a Kaldor.” he thrust his arm out and pointed at the window. “Summon the wardens.”“My lord if I may protest. We need more information. Perhaps her maid can question her about-”“She is to be the Lady of Westridge! Undermine me again, Preston, and you’ll be the subject of one of your interrogations.”The groom blanched, but he bowed. “I’ll summon them.”“We ride tonight.”
Part I: Luthandra Raikin
Part II: Dráiden Kaldor
Part III: Elven Tidings
Part IV: The Sham
Three days. It had been three days since Luthandra had gone missing. Dráiden folded his arms across his chest as he leaned forward in his throne. He had no idea what the master of the Blacksmith’s Guild was meandering on and on about. Her maid, Braynia, claimed innocence and ignorance of the disappearance, but he had her locked up anyway.His groom was interrogating her in the dungeon below at this very moment. I cannot lose the only one who ever treated me with respect. I just...I can’t. He wanted the family that was his birthright. He wanted at least seven children, and he wanted to live to see--“My lord?” The blacksmith asked, clearing his throat as though he had just repeated himself. “Yes, yes,” he replied. Dráiden rose and waved his hand. “Proceed.” “The Blackmsith’s Guild thanks you.” Before the man could bow, Dráiden was already descending the steps of his dais and heading out the side door. The interrogation was more important. If anyone get get someone to talk, it was Preston. The grey stone walls of his castle were a blur as he hurried down the dark steps that would take him to the place he was loathe to admit he had. The air felt cooler as he continued his descent. A shriek echoed against the stone walls when he snaked around a corner.The warden posted at the dungeon’s black doors opened them when he saw his lord approaching. “I saw an elf!” came a wild scream. “Before I went to bed! That’s the only-” Something wet thudded against something soft. Dráiden marched past the rows of cells leading to The Iron Door. The two prisoners locked inside cried out to him in desperation, groping at him with feeble arms.He did not hear them.Candlelight flickered through the tiny slit of a window in The Iron Door. No rose petals ever adorned the dreadful room which it guarded. “I’d never hurt her! She’s my friend!” Dráiden pushed the heavy thing open. The woman was laying on a blood stained table. His groom was folding a soiled cloth with his back turned. “Please. Help!” The woman arched her back, struggling against the iron bands that secured her limbs to the table. “I swear it. I would never hurt her! It wasn’t me! I SWEAR!” Bruises adorned her otherwise homely face. Splotches of blood marred her not-so-white chemise.“She speaks the truth,” he hissed. “Release her.” He knew a lie when he heard one. No one could stand Preston’s games for long. “I was just about to finish up with the same conclusion,” Preston purred, wiping his hands on his cloth. “The elf...that’s the bit that makes me nervous,” he licked his lips with a twitchy frown. “We live no where near Avanduil’s kingdom,” Dráiden sighed. “King Ciallmhar of Alainn is many things, but,” he muttered and suppressed the urge to shiver. “I will send a bird.” Dráiden paced the space between the table and his groom. He wiggled his nose at the stale stench wafting throughout the room. “It would behoove him to look into the matter, as we are neighbors.”“Yes, sir. I shall have one sent at once.” He flopped the rag onto the table as Braynia whimpered. “Get that cleaned up and send her to my beloved quarters first,” Dráiden scowled. …Five days. Five days had passed, and not a word, a sign, or a bird...Nothing. Sleep had escaped him, and he was gripping Arrowheart’s hilt, tempted to slide her out and destroy the balcony in front of him. It’s as if she’s vanished by some wizard’s trick. It all screamed elf magic to him, but Ciallmhar was not the type to instigate trouble. The elves kept to themselves when they weren’t trading with the neighboring lands. A door swung open behind him, slamming against something hard.“My Lord!” Preston cried. “Your betrothed! She has returned!” Dráiden spun around and ran past his groom. “Dark tidings...dark tidings are ahead.” Presten scurried in front of him, leading him to the throne room.Luthandra trembled on her knees as two wardens struggled to grab her arms and stand her upright. Sobs escaped his beautiful bride’s face. When the wardens managed to get the woman to her feet, Dráiden froze.The blood burning beneath his skin churned, and it was as if Winter had come screaming at him in a violent whirlwind of ice and snow. Purple bruises lined her skin. Dried blood caked her mouth and nose. Her chemise was nothing but brown rags, barely providing any modesty. Dráiden tore his cloak off.Preston grabbed it and wrapped it around her shoulders. She shrank away from him, whimpering like her maid. “My love,” Dráiden croaked, shooing Preston away with a wave of his hand. He neared her in three gentle strides, cupping her chin. A grotesque bruise marred her left eye. “My love,” he rasped again.“The...the…” she wheezed, lowering her face. Shame dripped from the sorrowful expression in her eyes. Dráiden winced and scooped the light thing up in his arms.“Get my healer!” he cried. “No one enters her quarters except Preston!” …Preston hovered over her with a mug of hot tea in his right hand. Dráiden had kicked the healer out as soon as Luthandra’s wounds had been tended to. “My sweet,” he croaked, holding her weak hand. A bandage had been placed over her left eye. “Your wounds, as fate has blessed you, will heal. You will be beautiful in a few weeks time.” His eyes washed over her face, and he leaned over her to stroke her cheek with his other hand. She shied away from him with a grunt, turning her face away. “They...they,” she whispered. “I was taken. Raped,” she shuddered. “Beaten.” Preston arched an eyebrow and set the mug on the table beside her bed. “Who?” Dráiden asked. “Who did this to you? How?”“Elves. They took me with their magic in the night and...and.” The woman shuddered again and sat up. She buried her face into her hands. Sobs raked her form. Preston neared him.“King Ciallmhar won’t know what hit him,” Draidon hissed, rising. “My lord,” Preston whispered. “Perhaps we should wait a few days. Traumatic experiences warp one’s view-”“CIALLMHAR’S ELVES DID THIS!” He clenched his fists. “And for that, the Kingdom of Alainn will know what it means to waken a Kaldor.” he thrust his arm out and pointed at the window. “Summon the wardens.”“My lord if I may protest. We need more information. Perhaps her maid can question her about-”“She is to be the Lady of Westridge! Undermine me again, Preston, and you’ll be the subject of one of your interrogations.”The groom blanched, but he bowed. “I’ll summon them.”“We ride tonight.”
September 29, 2015
Warning! Strange Glittertastic Content
What's on your warning label?
Are you made of blunt content? Does your warning sign scream creativity? Do you spiral out of control with awesomeness? Warning labels are everywhere. They live on cleaning supplies, construction sites, equipment...you name it. I once spotted a home-made one that said "Warning: Death will Occur!" Well, at least it wasn't in comic sans.
Wouldn't it be interesting if we each came with our own warning patch sewn on our sleeves? You'd immediately know if someone is made of the same brand of awesome as you are.
Strange
I enjoy science fiction and all most things weird. I cosplay, collect action figures and memorabilia, and am not shy about my interests. Strange new worlds are things I like to theorize about and weave tales through.
Glittertastic
Cats, memes, and fabulous, oh my! I can't help but enjoy a certain corner of the Internet. Who would have thought that it would evolve into the random entity of hilarity that it is today!
I'm pretty sure I should come with at least a dozen warning labels, but for brevity's sake, I'm going with strange and glittertastic!
Create your own warning label and post it on Facebook or Twitter!
Click on the image for full size, right click, and then save. Use your favorite photo editing program to insert your brand of awesomeness!
Coming Soon
Star Trek TOS cosplay uniform review
Glory, Pride, and the Maiden Vain Part IV: The Sham
Are you made of blunt content? Does your warning sign scream creativity? Do you spiral out of control with awesomeness? Warning labels are everywhere. They live on cleaning supplies, construction sites, equipment...you name it. I once spotted a home-made one that said "Warning: Death will Occur!" Well, at least it wasn't in comic sans.
Wouldn't it be interesting if we each came with our own warning patch sewn on our sleeves? You'd immediately know if someone is made of the same brand of awesome as you are.
Strange
I enjoy science fiction and all most things weird. I cosplay, collect action figures and memorabilia, and am not shy about my interests. Strange new worlds are things I like to theorize about and weave tales through.
Glittertastic
Cats, memes, and fabulous, oh my! I can't help but enjoy a certain corner of the Internet. Who would have thought that it would evolve into the random entity of hilarity that it is today!
I'm pretty sure I should come with at least a dozen warning labels, but for brevity's sake, I'm going with strange and glittertastic!
Create your own warning label and post it on Facebook or Twitter!
Click on the image for full size, right click, and then save. Use your favorite photo editing program to insert your brand of awesomeness!
Coming Soon
Star Trek TOS cosplay uniform review
Glory, Pride, and the Maiden Vain Part IV: The Sham
September 21, 2015
Review - Psi Corps Replica Pin
I am overdue for a review. I got a little Babylon 5 gem in the mail, so here's the scoop!
This is my in-depth look at the Psi Corps replica badge you see floating around places like Ebay and Amazon. You can view Amazon's listing here:
Don't be fooled by the crappy product photo. At first glance, it looks like a cheap, plastic replica not worth your time. I'm happy to say that I scoured the Internet for reviews to confirm that the badge is metal (not that cheap Halloween-bend it-break it metal either).
Imagine the way my heart sank when I pulled this out of the packaging. I was fully prepared for a broken badge.
Phew! A perfect badge.
My thoughts:
1. As I said before, it's made of a decent metal and has a good weight to it which makes it feel like a proper badge. Sign me up for the Psi Corps right now!
2. The clasps in the back are just as the descriptions say: military style.
3. The size is perfect. It appears to be as large as the ones seen on the show. I couldn't be happier with that aspect of it.4. The casting/mold has dents in it to give the badge a realistic worn feel, but not to the point of being ugly and unwearable (see the large image above). 5, There is a slight deviation from the badges on the show (I can see why this would anger people, but the product image--as crappy as it is--shows you this). The psi symbol in this badge is curvy, whereas the ones seen on the show are blocky.
The difference between psi symbols got me curious (hey, I *am* a huge fan, after all!) Where did the curvy version come from? Take a look at the collage of screencaps I gathered below and click on the image to enlarge it:
I looked in my Babylon 5 Images folder to see if I could spot anything obvious. There was one possible deviation from the blocky version (circled in bright green). It's hard to tell if the badge in that picture is an instance of the curvy psi, or if just looks that way due to the angle. If it is the latter, where did they pick up the curvy version from?
There it is.
So why did they mass produce the curvy version instead of the show's more prominent blocky version? I can only speculate...It could be that phantom badge I circled in green, an early prototype that was nixed in favor of the blocky version, but was somehow sent to the manufacturer instead, or maybe Alfred Bester didn't like the idea of exact replicas being mass produced for Mundanes...I don't know!
If there are any Babylon 5 fans who know the answer to this, I am all ears!
There you have it! More than you ever wanted to know about the Psi Corps replica pin!
Conclusion 4/5 Teeps - The only reason it gets docked a point is because it is not an exact replica of the ones in the show.
Would I recommend this to a friend? Unless you are a stickler for something that is 100% true to the original, then yes. If you are a fan of Babylon 5, it is a fun replica to have and a nice little addition to any collections you own. Get on Ebay, Amazon, or what have you and purchase one right now!
*Tosses in more photos just for fun*
This is my in-depth look at the Psi Corps replica badge you see floating around places like Ebay and Amazon. You can view Amazon's listing here:
Don't be fooled by the crappy product photo. At first glance, it looks like a cheap, plastic replica not worth your time. I'm happy to say that I scoured the Internet for reviews to confirm that the badge is metal (not that cheap Halloween-bend it-break it metal either).
Imagine the way my heart sank when I pulled this out of the packaging. I was fully prepared for a broken badge.
Phew! A perfect badge.My thoughts:
1. As I said before, it's made of a decent metal and has a good weight to it which makes it feel like a proper badge. Sign me up for the Psi Corps right now!
2. The clasps in the back are just as the descriptions say: military style.
3. The size is perfect. It appears to be as large as the ones seen on the show. I couldn't be happier with that aspect of it.4. The casting/mold has dents in it to give the badge a realistic worn feel, but not to the point of being ugly and unwearable (see the large image above). 5, There is a slight deviation from the badges on the show (I can see why this would anger people, but the product image--as crappy as it is--shows you this). The psi symbol in this badge is curvy, whereas the ones seen on the show are blocky. The difference between psi symbols got me curious (hey, I *am* a huge fan, after all!) Where did the curvy version come from? Take a look at the collage of screencaps I gathered below and click on the image to enlarge it:
I looked in my Babylon 5 Images folder to see if I could spot anything obvious. There was one possible deviation from the blocky version (circled in bright green). It's hard to tell if the badge in that picture is an instance of the curvy psi, or if just looks that way due to the angle. If it is the latter, where did they pick up the curvy version from?
There it is. So why did they mass produce the curvy version instead of the show's more prominent blocky version? I can only speculate...It could be that phantom badge I circled in green, an early prototype that was nixed in favor of the blocky version, but was somehow sent to the manufacturer instead, or maybe Alfred Bester didn't like the idea of exact replicas being mass produced for Mundanes...I don't know!
If there are any Babylon 5 fans who know the answer to this, I am all ears!
There you have it! More than you ever wanted to know about the Psi Corps replica pin!
Conclusion 4/5 Teeps - The only reason it gets docked a point is because it is not an exact replica of the ones in the show.
Would I recommend this to a friend? Unless you are a stickler for something that is 100% true to the original, then yes. If you are a fan of Babylon 5, it is a fun replica to have and a nice little addition to any collections you own. Get on Ebay, Amazon, or what have you and purchase one right now!
*Tosses in more photos just for fun*
The Command Deck
The RSS gnomes sometimes munch on my formatting. In the event of a RSS gnome emergency, please visit my blog at http://mlcrabb.blogspot.com
...more
- M.L. Crabb's profile
- 3 followers
