I Live In A World Made Of Cardboard

SuperKamiGuy1 Administrator Posts: 2,572	I Live In A World Made Of Cardboard Sept 25, 2020 22:21:43 GMT SuperKamiGuy1 likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by SuperKamiGuy1 on Sept 25, 2020 22:21:43 GMT

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I Live In A World Made Of Cardboard Sept 25, 2020 23:19:26 GMT SuperKamiGuy1 likes this

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Post by SuperKamiGuy1 on Sept 25, 2020 23:19:26 GMT

Chapter 0: Prologue

Doctor Shane Spellman was not having a good night. He'd been working himself to the bone at Silver Boulder Community Hospital lately, working quadruple shifts while running on coffee, micronaps and willpower. Shane wasn't going to complain of course, he'd saved a lot of lives in surgeries but he was running on fumes now. He needed to get home and catch up on his sleep. He'd seen the results of death by overwork far too often after all. He needed to get home. He just needed to get home and recharge his batteries. Unfortunately the odds were stacked against him here. Even with the heavy metal music blaring to keep him awake, the wipers going full tilt and the energy shot in his system he still felt like he was drifting in and out of consciousness. Even with the headlights cutting through the sheet of rain pouring down on the sleek wet roads the world was a blur with random images floating aimlessly around in his vision. This wasn't just rain either it was a downpour as heavy as anything he'd ever seen! It was like he was driving through a waterfall! The drops struck the already wet sidewalk, pitting the surface like they were bullets from above. The day had been simply dark and overcast, but in seconds it became a wall of water. The whole world simply felt low resolution, a bad quality movie and he began slapping himself to stay awake.

"Come on man! Come on! Fight! You can do this! Stay awake! You can do this! Stay awake! Stay awake! Stay awake!"

After smacking himself back awake, he focused on his driving and navigated the winding rode. Just when he was relaxing in his seat again he noticed two bright yellow lights shining through the rear windshield of his car and coming in fast! "Oh what now?"

The vehicle behind him bumped into his car and rattled him. "GAH! Dammit! What the hell is your problem?!" He yelled back at it. The driver obviously couldn't hear him but kept coming regardless, bumping into his car a second time and then a third time!

"I gotta get the hell out of here! This guy's fucking crazy!" He dared to speed up his car to get away from this lunatic only for the other driver to speed up with him! His tires drove through the rain slicked streets and splashed through the water. "WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM? SERIOUSLY?!" Shane cried out as he went into a wide turn only for the driver to speed up further, ram into his car and push it forward and off the road and off the cliff!

Shane screamed for help at the top of his lungs as the truck that had ran him off of the road barreled on by and Shane's Mustang was left spinning side over side as it free fell through the air!

"OH MY GOD PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME PLEASE!" He screamed at the top of his lungs. "SOMEONE PLEASE! HELP MEEEEEE!"

His car suddenly stopped as if it landed on something firm. The sudden stop jolted him and he screamed again before he realized he wasn't falling anymore. In fact...it felt like the opposite was happening! He couldn't see too clearly but it felt like something was lifting his car up into the air again! But it didn't feel violent or scary like what had just happened to him. It felt like he was floating somehow! But that was impossible! So what was happening? What was going on? He couldn't wrap his mind around this! It felt like a dream!

Shane was snapped out of his thoughts when he felt the car shake again and then it was slowly lowered down until it was set down on the rainy road again. Safe and sound aside from how freaked out Shane was at the moment. He heard something on the roof now, something that sounded like someone patting the roof of the car and he looked around for whatever the source could be and caught a glimpse of a raincoat before it appeared to vanish. He heard a clap of thunder overhead and put the breaks on, got over as far as he could and turned on his emergency lights and kept his foot on the break as he tried to rationalize all of this.

"What the hell was in that energy drink?" Shane questioned.

Over the metal and thunder and downpour, he could've sworn he heard something that sounded like the crashing of metal not far off.

Bobby Jack was an alcoholic. Years of alcohol abuse had left his cheeks rosy and his mind dull-witted. He knew drying out would be a painful process and he had no intention of ever going through it. He was determined to stay drunk until he died. He never had a sober day if he could help it. He did everything drunk. He drove, shopped and went to work drunk. He never had less than four full bottles of Gin and a case of beer in the house. That was his emergency rations and he immediately went shopping if he reached that level. It was breaking him down but he didn't care. It kept his mind cluttered. It kept him from thinking about her. About Thelma. About her leaving him. About the mistakes he'd made. About the fire. He sniffled and grabbed the bottle of Imperial Torrid Vision Beer from the cupholder and chugged it until the memory went away. The burn scars on his hands under his gloves were enough of a reminder already. He didn't need those memories popping up all the damn time on top of them. What little he could see outside was hazy and shaky. He threw the bottle down and wiped the frothy liquid from his bearded chin. Not even caring. He simply pressed on the gas pedal. He wasn't even sure what he was doing out here at night. He probably just wanted to clear his head at first and somehow ended up out here. It didn't matter. The rain didn't matter. The storm didn't matter. The thunder didn't matter. None of it mattered. He simply pressed on. Pedal to the medal. He just wanted to drive and drive until he outran his own thoughts and figured out where the hell he was going.

Bobby kept going until he felt his truck bump into something and jolted out of his thoughts. "WHAT THE HELL? HEY! WHO HTE HELL ARE YOU? HEY! GET AOFF THE ROAD DAMMIT! WHAT ARE YOU TKRYING TO DRO HUH?!"

He shouted and pressed on the pedal, hitting the smaller car in front of him and pushing it forward. "Hey! Hey! Get off the road!" He yelled at him and did it again. The smaller car sped up to try and get away and were he in his right mind, Bobby would never have done anything, but he was drunk off his ass and in a fowl mood already so he just laughed and sped up to chase after him.

"WheEr yOu gNiOoG HuH? wHeRe yCoUsE SgOinG?" He giggled and chased after him. "Whhhyyy yOu rUnNiNg hUh? WhErHe yOu gOiEnG ThElMa? OdN'T Gooooo!" His truck swerved in the rainy night as he chased after the tiny little clown car until he rammed into it with his truck and ran it off the cliff road. "Serves you right." He muttered.

A minute later there was a crashing of thunder overhead and something darted in front of his truck. Bobby screamed as his truck collided with something heavy. The metal of his truck crumpled and snapped as it impacted this hard and solid object in front of it. The steel, aluminum, fiberglass and carbon fiber mix of the hood of his truck was crushed inwards by whatever it had crashed into. The tires squealed and the truck titled upward and then came back down. Bobby Jack was left shaking back and forth in his seat while he screamed at the top of his lungs.

"AAAAAH! AAAAAH! AAAAAH! AAAAAH! AAAAAH! AAAAAH! AAAAAH! AAAAAH! AAAAAH! AAAAAH! AAAAAH! AAAAAH! WHAT THE FUCK? WHAT THE FUCK WHAT THE FUCK WHAT THE FUCK?!"

The truck settled down on the ground but he didn't notice and only continued to scream.

A moment later he felt the truck impossibly slide sideways across the ground until it was backed firmly against a cliff wall. He tried to slam down on the gas pedal but his truck wasn't going anywhere anytime soon. The lights were out and he couldn't see what was happening either!

"HEEEEELLLP! HEEEEEEELLLP! SOMEBODY! SOMEBODY HELP MEEEEEEE! AAAAAAAAAHHHHGGH!"

Bobby Jack screamed into the stormy night. Even through the thundering downpour he could swear he heard something cutting into the side of his truck. The battered drunken man hesitantly reached over to the door and he slowly pushed it open and leaned out. He was immediately blasted in the face with a barrage of water droplets and freezing wind. He screamed again and struggled to get his bearings, drunkenly flailing around in the dark. In the middle of all of his struggles however, he looked to the side and in a flash of lightning he saw something that should've been impossible.

Perhaps it was because he was drunk and rattled from the impact of the crash but he could've sworn he saw a ghost in a raincoat. It was only for a moment however before the light faded.

Something dented the roof of his truck and he shrieked and slammed the door shut. He looked up at it and he saw a heavy dent inwards from the roof of his truck.

He heard a quiet giggle at the door and screamed again.

By the time the paramedics arrived Bobby Jack was huddled in the fetal position in his wreck of a truck.

Along with the rest of the catastrophic damage to his truck, they also found something utterly bizarre.

The Greek Letters χῖ and ϰ carved into the side of truck.

It had been two days since the crashes and Shane had gotten the sleep he so desperately needed and now he was speaking to the police about what happened.

"I honestly don't know how else to explain it." Shane told the police as he rested in the hospital bed. "Sure, I was tired as hell, but I know when I'm falling and that lunatic ran me right off the road, you saw my car's remains right?"

"Yes we did sir."

"Okay, right, so, whatever his case was, he drove me off the road and I know, I know for a damn fact that I fell off that cliff. By all rights, I should've died. I should have. But...I flew. Somehow I flew. I don't know how to explain it. But...I did. My car was...floating somehow!" He chuckled. "I know how it sounds. I know I know. I've been driving myself crazy trying to figure out what happened. But that's all I've got. Somehow, someway, my freaking car flew back up the cliff and then it was set down on the road again." He relaxed on the bed. "All I can say is, it's a freaking miracle and I'm not going to question it."

"Well a miracle sounds about right. There's no other way I can explain a car floating back up on a mountain road unless of course you weren't actually knocked off the road."

"But I was! Like I said, I can't explain what happened! Something or someone was looking out for me that night!" He insisted. Shane suddenly remembered something else that he saw that night. "Actually, there was one other thing I saw that night."

"Really? What is it?"

"I was dead tired that night and I was just almost killed before being miraculously saved that night so I guess, take this with a grain of salt. But I could swear I saw something else out there that night. Someone else. Someone in a raincoat. He or she patted my car before, I don't know, vanishing." He closed his eyes and relaxed in his pillow. "I know how this sounds, but I'm not crazy. I know someone else was out there that night besides us even if I have absolutely no way to prove it. So anyway." He opened his eyes and looked at the police. "What about the other guy? How's he holding up?"

"Well I gotta tell ya: He's going to jail. He was far, far too drunk to be on the road like he was, then there was the collision and running you off the road. We have no idea what crashed his truck but I wouldn't worry about him ever driving that again. That heap's headed to the scrapyard. As for the driver, he's going to need some physical therapy and time in the hospital before he's ready to face the judge though. Can we count on you to make the court date?"

"It would be my genuine pleasure, officer." Shane promised.

"Thank you. Alright, I think that does it for today. We'll contact you if we have any further questions, doc. You rest up for now okay?"

"Happily. Thank you officer."

"Thank you doctor. Get well soon."

The officer left the room to speak with his partner.

"So what do you think?" Officer Bryson Dudeck asked him as they took a seat in the hallway.

Officer Edgar Lightcap took his phone out and looked at the pictures of the wreck. "I can sure as hell believe that Bobby tried to run that poor man off the road and that he was drunk off his ass, sure, but I can't wrap my head around what he must have run into. That little Mustang sure as hell didn't do this to the truck. But what on Earth he could've collided with boggles my mind." He showed him the picture. "Look at this! The hood of the truck just collapsed! What could've done that? A boulder? Another truck? We didn't see either of those and this isn't a fragile vehicle either. It's a 1995 Freightliner Classic 18 Wheeler and something made it's hood implode on itself when this guy was speeding down a rainslicked road. What could even do that?!"

"Only thing I can think of is another truck traveling at the same speed but like you said we didn't see anyone and the impact of such a collision likely would've killed the poor guy." Bryson reasoned. "This is...something else. Maybe a boulder fell or something I don't know." He took the phone and switched the pictures until he got to the one with the letters carved into the trailer. "I'd also love to know just what in the hell could've done this and what those letters are."

"Oh. Yeah, uh, that's Greek. I believe. Yeah. They're from the Greek Alphabet. Chi and Kappa."

"What?"

"Yeah, see, it's like this. Kappa is the 10th letter of the Greek alphabet and it's used to represent the k sound in Ancient and Modern Greek. They got the Roman and Cyrillic K from Kappa." He pointed at one of the letters. "Here's where it gets interesting. "See this? It's the cursive form of Kappa which is used as a simple font variant of lower-case kappa, but it is encoded separately in Unicode for occasions where it is used as a separate symbol in math and science." He explained to Bryson. "And this other one is Xi, which is Chi, the 22nd letter of the Greek Alphabet in some local forms. Of course, it could also just be Xi, which is the 14th letter of the alphabet." He shrugged.

"Well damn. That was good man." Bryson complimented him.

"Mythology was a hobby of mine growing up, which lead me to studying Greek for fun. Some of it stuck with me. Thank you though." Edgar replied proudly.

"So any idea what could carve them into the solid steel of a trailer?"

"I've got nothing." He confessed. "This is way above our paygrade."

They sat in silence trying to think of a plan.

"Want to talk to the drunk again and then get some food? They have a Subway here."

"..Screw it. Let's go. It'll be more productive than just sitting here."

"So how fast would you say his truck was going again on that road? Rough estimate?"

"Pfft, I don't know, dude was smashed so I'd probably lowball around 60 MPH or so."

"Mmmm hmmmm." Bryson nodded this and started 'writing' on the air with an invisible 'pencil' while he calculated this out in his head. "Alright let's see here.
60 mph is roughly 96 kph or 26.67 m/s. Assuming it took his truck at least one second to come to a complete stop against whatever it smashed against, the deceleration would be: (26.67 - 0) / (1) or 26.67 m/s^2 where 26.67 m/s : Initial velocity, 0 m/s is the Final velocity, 1 s is the Time it took to stop, and 80000 pounds = 36287.39 kg. The force would be mass times deceleration or 36287.39 * 26.67 which equals 9.7 * 10^5 N or roughly 970,000 N. The momentum of this vehicle would be 36287.339*26.67 = 9.7 * 10^5 kg.m/s. The Kinetic Energy of this vehicle, while it is moving, would then be: 1/2 * 36287.39 * (26.67)^2 which is roughly 1.3 * 10^7 Joules or 13 million Joules which is....an insane amount of force. That would splatter just any living thing it came into contact with."
He paused for a few seconds as he calculated it out. "Sixty-six thousand eight hundred fifty-eight pounds per square inch, thirty-three point three tons I believe."

"...Well damn. And you thought what I did was impressive?"

"I've always been good with math." Bryson admitted. "I help my kids breeze through their mathwork whenever I can."

"Then why become an officer instead of a mathematician?"

"Oh that's my retirement plan. I became an officer because I wanted to make a better world for my kids."

The Officers walked the halls of the hospital until they arrived at Bobby Jack's hospital room where the drunk driver was currently laying in his hospital bed encased in plaster casts and bandages. Normally they would feel bad for someone in this condition, but he was a drunk driver who'd nearly killed someone, so their pity well was bottomed out. "Well hello, Bobby. How are you today?"

"I-I-I...I need...a drink."

"You can have water. You won't be touching the sauce for a long time." Edgar scolded him. He sat down by his bedside while Bryson remained standing. "We'd like to ask you a few more questions regarding the crash."

"I...was drunk. A little. I'd been drinking." Bobby confessed.

"Your BAC was 1.024%. A half a liter of vodka will represent about 2g of liquor. You, Bobby, had thus consumed the equivalent of five bottles of vodka. Between that and the crash I'm not entirely sure how you're still alive." Edgar admitted.

"...I'm going to jail aren't I?"

"Most likely. But hey, silver lining! You get to relax in a nice comfy bed until you recover! Then you can worry about the court date."

"Well then. What exactly can I do for you? Why are you here?"

"Just some more questions about the crash. Do you remember anything about what you ran into? Did you see anything else on the road that night? A truck? A boulder? A tank? Do you have any idea what carved up your truck's trailer?"

"I...I don't...oh yes, yes there was someone else out there that night! I-I saw a ghost! A ghost! There was a ghost out there! Sure I was tipsy and it was raining and storming and I was just in a car wreck! But I saw it!" He tried to sit up but obviously his body was not going to move so he sighed and lied back. "I saw it. A ghost in a raincoat. I-I-I think it was red...but...I was bleeding. It was a ghost in a raincoat. She did it. She destroyed my truck. The Raincoat Ghost did it!"

"A ghost in a raincoat. Okay. Right. Sure."

"Again? Again with the raincoat? What is this, some kind of urban legend?"

"I know what I saw." He tried to turn to look at them but he was unable to do so with the neckbrace. "I saw it. I saw her. She was there outside of my truck. Laughing at me and punching in my roof. She did it. She destroyed my truck..."

"Right, okay, do you remember actually running into anything?"

"The ghost did it. I know it. I didn't see my truck hit her but she did it. Somehow."

"So that's a no. Okay then." He stood up and the officers walked out.

"Well he's officially gone bye-bye."

"Yep. What are the odds of them both coming up with a girl in a raincoat though?" Bryson asked him.

"Easy." Edgar grinned and began his lengthy yet rational explanation. "Check it. It was raining and storming and they'd both just been in a crazy accident. Somehow, Shane was able to survive the attempt to run him off the road, drove back up onto the road in a stroke of insane luck, and bumped against the wall. So he's rattled, scared, likely hyperventilating and panicking, maybe his brain's shaking, I don't know, and then in the middle of all of this, staring out at the rain, his mind goes back to a memory of playing in the rain as a kid where he played with some girl in a raincoat and in his scared and panicked state, he hallucinates her for a second or two and then he calms himself down. Same with Bobby. He was drunk off his fat ass, hit something big and heavy and crashed his truck, I wouldn't be surprised if that was all he hallucinated. As for the writing, it's a freak accident. Either some bits of rubble fell down from the cliff or something flew backwards from the impact point and it happened to slice up the trailer."

"Well, okay, sure, but what about the dent on top of his truck?"

"It happened in the crash." Edgar replied with a shrug.

"Huh. Yeah I guess that all makes sense. Alright then. Subway?" Bryson offered.

"Sure. I'm getting a Meatball."

"Italian B.M.T. for me."

"Sounds good. Come on, let's get some food, report in and consider this case closed."

"Heh heh. A raincoat ghost though?"

"I know right?"

The partners had a good laugh on their walk to the elevator.

'And despite the shock of his sudden crash, Doctor Spellman is expected to make a full recovery without issue. When interviewed about his crash, he replied that he hopes that people will learn from Bobby Jack's unfortunate crash that drinking and driving can only lead to tragedy and horror. Just because they were fortunate enough to survive does not mean everybody will be so fortunate. While the source of the truck's destruction is still unknown, authorities are not ruling out falling rubble and the investigation into the safety of the cliff road is being revised.'

"Now what the fuck does it say about me that I find this whole thing fucking hilarious?" Cecily Kristina Trent asked while she took ammunition out of the box, pocketed it and replaced it with blanks before sliding the shelf shut. This lovely ball of sunshine is currently wearing an all black hooded tracksuit complete with boots and gloves. The only part of her that isn't completely black was her primarily white mask complete with drawn on black eyebrows, bright pink lips and painted on Glasgow smile. "I mean, I've driven on that road, right? It's an open road! How the fuck do you crash a truck on it? Shit, why would you even be driving an 18 wheeler on it? That's just asking for a disaster to happen!"

"The moron was drunk off his ass, it happens. He's lucky to be alive though. The odds of that must've been about one in a million." Gerald Lee Watson replied. This heavyset mammoth of a man was dressed similarly to Cecily with the exception of wearing a latex Frankenstein's Monster mask, green with fake 'bolts' dotted around it. He was currently picking the lock of a case with a shotgun inside of it until he finally got it and he slid open the door and swapped out the shells for fakes, closed the door and locked it. He patted the case and stood up and brushed off his knees. "Anyway, that's it for these. What's next?"

"The ladies are setting up the cameras now while Marm's scoping the basement. We're going to put on one hell of a show this time. For right now, I say we go look at what else we can grab down here before we move on."

Gerald grabbed his phone, turned it off and placed it back in his pocket. "Right-o! Let's mosey."

Fern Kellen Garland hummed to herself while she placed the cute little teddy bear with the hidden cameras inside of it on the shelf with the collection of stuffed animals the cabin's owners already kept there. Completely inconspicuous but it would capture everything all the same. Plus it was just downright hilarious to pull this old trick on people. For some reason nobody ever expected it despite nanny cams still being a thing. With the camera pens in place and the one they placed in the bathroom that was this room all ready to go. The clown mask wearing young lady in the black jumpsuit merrily skipped out of the room and waved to her partner in crime, Mariel Mortimer Gilliam.

Mariel was a tall and lanky woman who stood with Gerald as the tallest of their little family. She wore the same hooded jumpsuit as the others with a latex devil mask on her face.

Mariel waved back to her as she stepped out of a room she'd placed the cameras in then showed her the ammo she'd stolen. "Boy are these guys going to be in for a surprise when they get home." She giggled. "So how about you? Everything good on your end?"

She saluted.

"You know, you can talk. It's just us here."

"Sorry. Just getting into character. I'm an actress you know."

"Who killed a supposed rival for upstaging her."

"And to get into the group." Fern reminded her. "Besides, she had it coming. Bitch couldn't carry a tune in a bucket and yet they put her in over me. Never made sense to me. I went and solved that problem though didn't I?"

"You sure did girl, you sure did and we're glad to have you with us." She laughed and pocketed the ammo. "Come on let's keep going and see what else we can get into."

Marmaduke Art Summers moonwalked through the basement while keeping an eye out for anything that could be of use. So far he'd seen some old books, board games, furniture, a shovel, a rake, some power tools, a weed whacker and general gardening tools but nothing they needed to be too concerned about. They'd hide the tools, set up the cameras and they would be ready to go. He stopped dancing and got to work.

The masks eventually met back up in the cabin's living room and he handed them the tools. "I'm all good on my end, how about you?"

"Ready to go."

"All set."

"Everything's ready."

"Mission is go."

"Excellent. Let's hide these tools, step out and wait."

While leaving the cabin, they made a note to re-lock it and hide the key in the same place before walking off into the woods to wait.

After a few hours of waiting in shifts, Gerald finally saw the cars pull up to the cabin and pulled out his walkie-talkie. "They're heeeeere!"

"Excellent. We'll keep an eye on them for now but don't make any moves yet. We wait until nightfall to make our move." Marm replied.

"Gotcha. I'm out." He turned it off and pulled his mask up to eat some jerky.

"I don't get why we can't just ice them now or blow up the cabin or something." Fern reasoned.

The others looked at her like she was crazy. "Oh my dear, dear, girl. You have so much to learn about what we do. It's a performance, alright? A performance. Our audience expects a certain amount of presentation before the end. Sure a quickie can be fun and all that but you don't want to blow the audience's load too early. Work up to it. Have some fun with it before the climax." Mariel explained to her.

"Gee, thanks for that specific wording, Mariel."

"You're welcome."

"Just hold onto that bloodlust, girl. We are going to paint that cabin red tonight. I guarantee it." Marm assured her.

Jameson Cymone Southgate parked his silver 2011 RS5 Audi in front of the cabin smooth as silk and turned off the rap music he'd had playing. "Ladies and gents, we have arrived! Southgate Sunny House Cabin!" Standing 6' 4" tall, and athletically built with bronzed skin, Jameson always has an air of fun about him.
He has a handsome chiseled face with a cleft chin, a flat nose, large ears, defined cheekbones and thin lips. His brown eyes are large, and he has neat eyebrows. His dark brown hair is short and kept well combed.

From the outside his cabin looks luxurious. It has been built with white pine wood and has tan stone decorations. Large, triangular windows add to the overall look of the house and have been added to the house in a very symmetric way. The cabin is equipped with a large kitchen and bathrooms, it also has a warm living room, five bedrooms, a large basement and a roomy dining room.

Jilly Lora Walton took off sleeping mask and batted her eyes as she woke up. "Mmmuh? This it? We finally here?" Standing 6' 1" tall, and solidly-seixly built with tan skin, this lovely has a haughty, if tired at the moment, feel about her. She has an angular face with a square jaw, a straight nose, and angled lips. Her blue eyes are icy and she has fancy eyebrows. Her blonde hair is short and thick, and is tied back. She wears fancy, attention grabbing, form fitting clothes that are that are vividly-colored and show off her figure. "Sorry, I feel asleep." She yawned. "But this place looks awesome! Really, I cannot wait for the grand tour!"

"Mi casa es su casa, babe!" He grinned. "You guys are going to love it here. This is one of the coolest places ever!" Jameson stepped out of the car, closed his door and then walked around the car to open Jilly's door for her.

"Seen it all before. Six friends go to a cabin. Is Tamara Home?" Alisya Elroy Hill asked with a smirk on her face as she bookmarked her Detective Sullivan: The Case Of The Priestess Of Pain! Novel and shut it. Standing tall and of average build with fair skin, Alisya has an out of place feel about her.
She has an oval face, a well-formed nose, and very thin lips. Her green eyes are prominent and she has curled eyebrows.
She has long, straight, light brown hair. She usually wears immaculate, sporty clothes that are mostly light-coloured and poorly-fitting, and she wears fancy jewelry. She is usually seen wearing a custom-made hat and horn rimmed glasses.

Dyson Lesia Austin kissed her cheek. "You're the poet of legends, babe." He complimented her. Standing short and slender with fair skin, Dyson has a responsible feel about him. He has a narrow face and nose, and thin lips. His hazel eyes are narrow and he has groomed eyebrows. His fine black hair is shoulder length and slick. He usually wears immaculate, unique clothes that are mostly neutral-coloured and loose and flowing.

"And you are a sweetheart. That was a haiku though." She replied while Jilly stepped out. The couple hopped out after them while the bright red 2017 Honda Civic Hatchback nearby opened its doors and Parker Thompson Belanger and Joanne Kimberlee Brent stepped out.

Standing 6' 3" tall, and with olive skin, Parker has a focused feel about him. He has a wide face, a pointed nose, and full lips. His green eyes are large and he has thick eyebrows. His brown hair is short and curly, and is unconventionally styled. He usually wears immaculate, masculine clothes that are mostly light-coloured and modest.

Standing short and of average build with dark skin, Joanne has a possessed feel about her. She has a long face, a turned-up nose, and thin lips. Her brown eyes are triangular and she has no nice eyebrows. Her brown hair is mid-back length and fine, and is usually braided. She usually wears old, formal clothes that are mostly light-coloured and loose, and she wears goggles. She is usually seen wearing personalized clothing.

"Oh thank God we're finally here man! I need to stretch my legs and piss like a racehorse!" Joanne joke while she stretched her arms. "Yo James! Where's the bathroom?"

"I told you not to get that shake!" He called back with a laugh. "Bathroom's right inside! Right around the corner, end of the hallway. We've got several!"

"You want me to get your bags then?" Parker offered.

"Just for a minute." She replied. "Super sorry. I promise, once I'm back on empty, I will run back out and help with the rest."

"Don't worry about. I can handle the bags. Promise, honey buns."

"You are the best."

Jameson walked up to the door, retrieved the hidden key, unlocked the door and opened it up for his friends.

Joanne ran past him and down the hallway.

"Wow. She can really book it when she wants to." Jameson noted.

"Nature calls man, nature calls." Jilly laughed.

"Fair enough. Come on in guys!"

While Joanne was busy in the bathroom the rest of the group filed into the cabin and hauled their bags upstairs. "Okay everybody! Choose a bedroom!" Jameson told his friends. "Once we're all set up we can start this party off right!"

"First come first serve homies!" Jilly told them while she and Jameson made a beeline for the master bedroom.

"And of course they grab the big one for themselves." Dyson chuckled as he grabbed the first room he saw along with Alisya.

"Uh hey, Parker? You want any help with those?"

"Not a problem. I got them!" He replied while he carried the heavy suitcases over to the next bedroom, set them down, opened the door and then dragged them inside. "See? Just...fine!"

"Well okay then!" She laughed while carrying her suitcase into her own room.

After tending to her business and washing her hands, Joanne returned outside to grab the rest of her belongings. She was strutting back inside when Parker came back down the stairs. "Hi babe! How'd it go with the suitcases?"

"Just fine, Joanne! Got our room all picked out!"

"Oooh! Is it the Master Bedroom?"

"Sadly no, Jameson took that one but I got us a very nice one regardless."

"All good!"

The friends retrieved their belongings, closed up their cars and locked them up. After finally getting set up they finally gathered together downstairs to grab refreshments.

"So Jameson? What's with the shotgun?"

"Home defense. But it's mostly just for show." Jameson admitted while he handed Dyson a beer. "I have licenses and training though so it's all good."

"Sweetness. You planning to do any hunting?"

"It's a shotgun, not a hunting rifle, not much reason to go out with that. Besides, we're here to get drunk and party. Shotguns do not mix well with that."

"That's fair."

"Like the man said, we're here to party and have fun!" Jilly informed the group while accepting her own beer. "So lets put on some tunes already and get this party off right!"

"Speaking my language Jilly! Joanne? Would you like to do the honors?"

"Happily!" She replied and she finished setting up the WiFi Internet Table-Top Radio Network Music Player. She hit the play button and the music came out.

"Now that is what I'm talking about!" Jameson cheered while breaking out the chips and salsa. "Take a load off guys! It's Spring Break and we are using it! Now relax while I whip up the pigs in the blankets!"

"WHOOO!" The group called out.

"Wow, these guys are more fun than I thought!" Gerald noted as he watched them.

"We're watching them on the cameras now. Even got a good show in the bathroom." Marm replied to him.

"You'll have to show me later."

"Will do."

"Men." Mariel scoffed sarcastically.

"Oh I don't know. I could go for that Jameson guy." Fern noted while she observed him. "I might just give him one last ride before we kill them all."

"Fern No. We don't leave genetic material behind. That's fucking evidence. Literally and figuratively." Cecily scolded her. "If you're that fucking thirsty, then just hit up a bar or two after we're done. Or hit a strip club like I do."

"Fine fine fine." She rolled her eyes.

"She's right Fern. Don't leave evidence behind. Just slice up the bodies, torch them and leave. That's how we do things. Quick, clean and simple. The fun comes from the slicing and dicing part after all." He placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed it hard. "Understand?"

"Yes sir. I got it man. I got it."

"Good." He released her. "Come on now. Just relax. It'll be dark before you know it and then we can make our move."

"Right. I understand." Fern rubbed her shoulder. "Why do we torch the bodies again?"

"We've been over this, Fern." Mariel groaned. "First of all, it's fun, which is why we do this in the first place. Second, it makes life difficult for the coroners and police."

"Oh. Right. Yeah."

"Now sit back and observe. The show is on."

The Malevolent Masked Murderers watched the party goers as they celebrated their get together at the cabin. They toured, they feasted, they drank, they danced, they watched TV and they got changed into their swimsuits to go party in the lake. Much to the masked maniacs delights.

Time passed and night fell. Marm radioed for Gerald to wait for them as they closed in on his position.

The night brought such a silence that the crackle of the campfire was all that could be heard, like a crazy natural music. The flames that licked at the wood and the red sparks both danced in the cool breeze. Jameson sat close on a mossy log, his face toasted warm and his back cold, mesmerized, relaxed. It was like the fire was charming his worries from them and sending them heaven bound along with the dark smoke. As the sun went down, the fire became bright and vivid, as though someone had shown a spotlight on it. The intensity and excitement of the flames was like they were dancing in the moonlight. A lake nearby had the reflection of a distant glow, like a bright sun on land. The colors were brilliant reds, oranges, and faint yellows.

The friends were currently gathered around the campfire and naturally telling stories. Each of them had taken their turn and now it was up to Jilly to bring it home and she was right in the middle of her own story!

….The house was adorned with antique everything, not a piece of furniture seemed to have been purchased in at least the last 60 years or more. Mr. Palmer showed him the room, and bided him good night. The man was nice, but the whole situation still left Jeff unnerved. He just tired to tell himself that he had watched far too many horror movies as a child. The bedroom had a canopy bed, one old lamp, a single window, and a red carpet. The house was eerily quiet as Jeff laid himself down on the bed. Quiet…except for a creek here, and a thump there. By now, Jeff’s imagination had him too paranoid to sleep, as he heard Mr. Palmer outside the room, walking up and down the hallway outside. Up he went, and down he went. Then, the footsteps stopped, right outside his room. Jeff waited, yet nothing happened. A half hour passed, and yet he heard nothing except the rain beating outside, and the wind howling as the storm blew on. Finally sleep slowly overcame Jeff, even with his nervousness heightened.

Slowly, his eyes closed, though he thought he could almost hear something scratching at his door…
Jeff awoke, the stormed had passed, and daylight was shining through the window curtains. Happy that all his nervousness was for nothing; Jeff got out of bed, and checked his watch. He had slept in until 11:20, and had to leave quickly before the people from the garage got to his car.

Leaving the room, he was greeted by Mr. Palmer. Palmer asked him if he had slept well. Jeff replied that he had, though he had trouble falling asleep. Palmer laughed and asked if he was afraid of the old house at night in the middle of nowhere. Jeff admitted that maybe, he was a bit afraid, but he felt silly for it now. He thanked Palmer, and said he had to leave quickly to get to his car. He turned to leave, when suddenly, something banged his head and everything went quite dark. ..

When Jeff came to, he was tied to a chair in the basement. The place reeked of horrible smells. Mr. Palmer walked up to him, with a large knife in his hand. Jeff screamed and tried to free himself, but only tired himself out. He looked up in horror at Mr. Palmer, and asked him why he was doing this, and why now. Palmer answered that last night, he would have been nervous, full of fear, and ready for any attack Palmer would do. No, that wasn’t the right time, everyone expects attacks at night. But during the morning…people are more relaxed and the fear is low, making them blind to any chance of harm.

Jeff asked him again, why was he doing this, what was he going to do with him and said someone, like the garage people, would find out what happened. Mr. Palmer said that mishaps happen on highways at night, mainly during storms, so hardly anyone would even think twice as to why he was gone. If anyone actually did start asking questions…Palmer said he had ways to discourage that kind of activity…As for why he was doing this, Palmer simply said that Jeff need not worry about that, in fact, he need not worry about anything anymore…Jeff looked into Palmer’s eyes as he walked towards him, his eyes were completely black, and Jeff tried to scream…

She ran a finger across her throat while making a "Gccchhhtgh!" sound. "He dead!"

"WHOOOOOO!" The friends cheered and drank.

"Good one Jilly!"

"Thanks James!"

"Well thanks guys, I certainly needed all that tonight." Alisya joked.

"Oh don't honey, I'll keep you safe." Dyson promised her.

"My hero!"

"We've got nothing to worry about here guys. Jameson is loaded remember." Parker assured them.

"Locked and loaded. I doubt we'll need them but, you know, we have them in the insane event we actually do."

"Better to have them and not need them, then need them and not have them, I guess." Joanne added with a shrug.

"Exactly." Jilly agreed with her. "It's best to not have to use them but in the off chance someone tries to break in, we've got Jameson here to send them packing."

"Fastest gun in the west, babe." They kissed and the friends shared a laugh and resumed their conversation.

They eventually finished their campfire conversation and Jameson put it out with a bucket of ice water. The friends returned to the cabin and took turns taking showers and getting changed. Finishing his shower first, Jameson returned downstairs to set up the oven to heat up some pizzas for movie night. He hummed to himself while dancing to the music through the living room over to the kitchen. He pulled the fridge open, pulled out the pizza boxes and closed it. That was when a wall of black appeared out of nowhere! "Jesus!" He shouted and jumped back in surprise. A glove snapped up and covered his mouth as Frankenstein's Monster rushed him and pushed him backward! The pizza boxes clattered to the floor while the giant grabbed his head with his other hand and began slamming his head against the countertop before throwing him to the ground, getting on top of him and bringing his arms down on his face!

Jilly finished her shower and turned it off. She dried off with the towel and started changing into a jean and t-shirt combo. She finished putting her shirt on and she turned around to look at herself in the mirror. That's when a masked woman appeared in her vision. "Sup?" She asked while cracking her across the jaw, grabbing her head and tazing her neck.

Dyson slipped on his jeans after enjoying a nice long relaxing shower with Alisya. This week was shaping up to be a damn good one. "Well I don't know about you babe, but I am feeling pretty damn refreshed!"

"You and me both, honey!" She replied from the bathroom over the hairdryer.

"Maaaan this is going to be the best Spring Break we've ever had." Dyson sighed sincerely.

There were four knocks on the door.

"Yeah hey guys we'll be out in a minute we're just...cleaning up!" He chuckled.

More knocking.

"Guys, seriously just give us a minute why don't you?" Dyson asked and opened the door only for a pair of young ladies to rush him, grab his mouth, trip him onto the bed and taze him. He was flung to the floor and one of them left for the bathroom while the other dealt with Dyson.

Alisya had finished drying her hair and set it back up. "So babe!" She called out "You ready to go chow down?" She asked as she stood up only to be greeted by a way too tall woman in a black outfit with a devil mask on her face.

"J-Jilly...I-is that..."

The woman sprinted across the bathroom at her and she screamed and backed away! She tried to knock the chair over only for the woman to leap over, keep coming and slam her against the wall before bringing her to the floor and tazing her unconscious!

"Parker? Hey, Park did you hear that just now?" Joanne asked him.

"Hear what?"

"I could've sworn I heard someone screaming. I think it was Alisya!"

"I mean, they were in the shower together." Parker reminded her while they dressed. "I'm surprised that's the only scream we heard."

She threw a pillow at him. "You are so bad!"

"And you love me for it!" He joked and put the pillow back. He walked over to the door and pulled it open. "Tell you what, if you want, I'll go check in on them and-" He was cut off by a scream of pain as a masked man rushed into the room, jabbing a tazer into his neck and then throwing him against a shelf. He hit his head on it and dropped to the floor groaning in pain. The masked man stood up straight and rushed Joanne who dived back into the bathroom. She tried to close the door but he just kicked it open and jabbed at her with the tazer but she dodged him, fell against the shelf and began throwing everything she could find at him. He just shrugged it off until she threw a small mirror at him which he paused to swat aside and rushed her down, grabbed one hand and jabbed the tazer into her neck!

Jameson woke up with a killer headache. He couldn't see anything but black. There was only darkness around him even as his vision struggled to return to him. He tried to speak but his voice came out muffled. Like something was keeping his mouth shut! He tried to stand up but he felt something binding him in place! It took him a minute but he began to notice he had a bag over his head! When he tried to scream for help his voice barely came out muffled at all due to what he now noticed was tape covering his mouth! He could feel ropes binding his body to what he could only assume was a chair and he had something else binding his hands...zip-ties? He couldn't tell. He began frantically squirming and muffling out cries of fear as he tried to get up but it was useless. He couldn't even get the mask off until it was ripped off of him and he was greeted with the sight of a man in a vampire mask in a black tracksuit staring him in the face.

"BOO!" He laughed and sat back.

Jameson tried desperately to scream but his mouth was bound by the tape and nothing came out. He looked over to see Jilly and his friends tied down similar to him and a group of masked intruders sitting back and staring at them and one of them was holding a camera pointed at them.

"I'm sure this all must seem very strange to you guys, but rest assured, it's fine. It's all going to A-Okay folks." The ringleader assured them. "It's fine. Alright, we're all fine here. We're just going to kill you." He explained while the music continued playing on the radio.

The friends struggled in their seats while he laughed. He hopped up and gestured to the camera. "Ladies and Gentlemen! Hello again my very dear friends it is good to be back! And we have a spicy little treat for you tonight for one night only! We present to you: The Southgate Sunny Slaughterhouse Cabin Massacre!" He called to the audience while making a grand sweeping gesture over to their victims. "And here are our friendly contestants! Say hi to your fans everybody!"

They screamed through their tape gags.

"Fantastic!" He turned back to the camera as the designated camerawoman circled around the sofa and filmed the killers. "Now, I'm about to go over the rules for all of our fans. No quick deaths. We don't do that here. We like to take our time, don't we guys?" He asked while turning to the killers who cheered him on until he motioned for them to relax and turned back to the camera. "And of course, after we're done, we're going to blow this place to hell and back and barbecue the bodies! It's our little way of sending our guests off to hell with style." He turned back to the friends. "Now I'm sure I've kept you waiting long enough, but hey! Those bathroom and nudity scenes were certainly great right?" He laughed.

The friends screamed again.

"Oh yeah, ah, tldr? We hid cameras throughout the cabin including in your bathrooms and bedrooms! Great stuff. Quality material." He laughed. "Anyway! We've kept you waiting long enough, time to start the dying and as always, it's ladies first! Clown, would you like to do the honors?"

The creep in the clown mask nodded and hopped up, walked over to a coffee table and she crouched down and picked up a nice sharp kitchen knife and strolled back over to the victims. She paused to pose for the camera before strolling back over to the victims where she strolled back and forth like a lion in a cage a couple of times before she stopped in front of Jilly and booping her nose. She screamed as Clown raised up the knife while Jameson violently thrashed against his bindings in impotent rage! He shook his head no and screamed against the tape as the others struggled against their own ropes! She raised the knife up but then the lights in the cabin switched off!

There was a moment of confusion before the Clown suddenly shrieked and then something crashed against a far wall and dropped to the floor.

"...What the hell was that?" Frankenstein asked before there was a crashing sound behind them and a sound of something heavy falling to the floor.

The killers screamed this time and looked around for their friends.

"FERN? FERN WHAT HAPPENED?!" One of them yelled out.

"GERALD?! GERALD ARE YOU ALRIGHT?!" The ringleader yelled out.

"It's the cops man! It's gotta be! It's them!" The camerawoman shouted and set down the camera and went for the victims. "LISTEN UP PIGS! IF YOU TRY ANYTHING I WILL SLICE THEAAAAAIIIIIIIEEEEEEE!" She screamed as she was pulled up into the air and tossed into a wall!

"WHAT THE HELL?! WHAT IS HAPPENING?!" The ringleader shouted.

"Screw this. Screw this! I'm out of here!" Mariel shouted and turned and ran out the door.

"MARIEL? MARIEL GET BACK HERE!" Marm shouted after her. "Shit!" He turned to the victims. "What...what is going on? How are you doing this? TELL ME! TALK! WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!" Before he could make any moves on them however he was yanked backwards and pulled out of the cabin and tossed to the ground outside. He rolled side over side and then stopped. "Uuunnggghhh."

"MARM! MARM! OH SHIT MARM!" She ran back over to him and pulled him up to his feet.

"UUuuoooowwwww...what...what is going on?" He groaned as she helped him to stand.

"I have no idea. Something freaky is going on in there. Something fucked up. We have to get the hell out of here."

"Can we? Wait, where's the camera? Did we even upload the footage yet?"

"No, we did not. We were going to wait until after we'd edited everything together. The camera is back in the cabin and yes, yes we can get away." She replied as she helped him to walk and then she took the keys out of her pocket. "I swiped these remember?"

"'Atta girl. You're the best, Mariel." He told her.

"Don't I know it? Come on, let's grab that car and get the hell out...o...f..here?"

"What? What are you...what are you looking at?" He asked her and then he finally caught what she was staring at. Someone sitting on top of the Honda and staring at them. They couldn't see the figure too well due to how dark it was and there being no lights on left them having to make out the figure's shape from what they could see in the darkness. They took off their masks to get a better look the new visitor. The best they could see was it was a figure of average height wearing either a jacket or a coat with a hoodie on but they couldn't make out much of the visitor's figure. The coat looked somewhat red though.

"What the hell is this? Is there someone else here? Was somebody else sent here?"

"I...I have no idea...it's new to me."

"Okay then." She pulled out a handgun and pointed it at the figure with full intent to just blow away this new element and quickly squeezed the trigger. Only for the visitor to just tilt his or her head to the side quizzically and raise a hand in the air. What happened next was impossible to believe. They could barely see it through the muzzle flashes but the bullets seemed to ricochet off of her hand complete with metallic pinging sounds! The bullets were sent flying off into the woods.

Mariel tried to speak but she could only stammer in disbelief while Marm stared in horror. The next thing he knew there was a thudding noise next to him and he turned to see Mariel laying on the ground dazed and groaning in pain with the hooded figure standing next to him. "N-n-n-n-ow...l-l-let's jus...jus..b-be reasonable here..." He stammered out before being kicked in the balls hard enough to make him scream in pain before he was tossed into a wall and blacked out.

Back inside of the cabin, Jameson felt the ropes and zip ties tear off of him. He immediately fell out of his chair and fumbled for the tape and tore it off of his face! "GAH! Dammit! JILLY? JILLY!" He turned around and he grabbed at his girlfriend and then she wrapped her arms around him in return. Having been freed of her own bindings along with the others.

The friends heard the sound of things being dragged outside followed shortly by something else jumping down from the second floor and then another dragging noise. Alisya grabbed at a light and turned it on to illuminate the room.

It was empty! Besides the camera there was no sign of the masked intruders. However there were some cracks in the wall where presumably the fat man had been slammed against and another one in a far wall where the other had been tossed into. The knife that the masked woman had grabbed earlier was laying on the floor now close to where the crack was.

"Uhhhh what just happened?" Joanne asked.

Dryson looked out the window for any sign of the killers and he was amazed by what he saw there. "Hey guys! Guys check this out!"

The friends gathered next to him and stared in amazement. The masked intruders were laying in a circle with their masks laying on the ground next to them with the ropes from before tying them together.

"I'll say it again....what the hell just happened?" Joanne asked again.

The friends were currently in the hospital talking to police officers in separate rooms while Jameson and Parker were being treated by doctors.

"And then! And then! And then! So, the crazy bitch was going to try and stab Jilly, right? We were tied down! There was nothing we could do! She was going to kill Jilly and then the lights turned off and then we heard things crashing and breaking and the killers started screaming and we think they were hitting walls and stuff and then two of them tried to run and there gunshots and then something took them down!" Alisya rapidly explained to the police before pausing for breath.

"Okay, so, run that by me again?" The officer asked her.

"We really didn't see anything." Jilly confessed. "The lights turned off and everything went insane. There were crashing and banging sounds and screaming and we don't know what happened. Something untied us and the lights turned on and we looked out the window and they were tied up outside. I know this sounds crazy, and yeah, we'd had some drinks in us, but what happened was outright insane. We have no way to explain what happened to them." She drummed her hands on her lap. "Uh, did you see the camera footage?"

"Yes ma'am. We have their full confession along with the hidden cameras they planted in the cabin, the ammunition they stole, the gardening equipment they stole and where they were recording all of the footage."

"I okay then, uh, wait, ammo? They stole ammo from us?"

"Yes. We double checked the shotgun shells and they had been replaced by confetti shells. Even if they had been fired, it would've just thrown confetti everywhere. The rest of the ammo around the cabin had been replaced with blanks. It looks they did this when they first broke in to set up the hidden cameras. Along with hiding the gardening equipment and power tools, my guess is they wanted to rig the fight as much in their favor as they could." The police officer explained to her.

"I...okay...wow that's...mind blowing. I guess it explains a few things like how they were able to navigate the cabin so well." She thought about this. "So, the footage? D-did they....upload it anywhere?"

"No. It was on their computer but they never got a chance to upload it."

She sighed with relief. "Oh thank you God."

"We're going through their computer now but it is not looking good for them. The evidence on their computer alone should be enough to shut the case. Not even touching the fact that they were wanted for murder. At least one of them was already wanted for murdering an actress. The others were suspected in several more. And with them locked up we can start investigating their audiences and business partners. We're going to blow the lid off of this whole thing."

"And then they were all thrown around like ragdolls and then someone or something freed us and we saw them tied up outside." Dryson explained. "I'm sorry if it's not all that helpful but that's the best way I can explain it. The lights were off and it was dark outside so we couldn't see what was happening. I don't think it was one person though, our rescuer I mean, even with the lights off I don't see how any one person could have done that. I bet this was done by a group of people. Like, maybe, a group of vigilantes who'd been tracking those creeps or something. Although, to throw those psychos around like that, they must've been built like The Rock. I have no idea how one of them got thrown up to the second floor though. I've got nothing for that."

"Hmmm, well, that certainly sounds about right. There's no way one person could've done all that after all." The officer tapped her pen against her chin. "There is something else we noticed though." She showed him a picture from her phone. "Any idea what the story with these is?"

Dryson leaned closer and looked at the pictures on her phone. "What in the world?"

"Hmmmm? Where'd those come from? Were those cut into the grass or something?" Joanne questioned.

"That's what we think. Have you ever seen them before?" The officer asked her.

"Uhhhh not in the grass but in all fairness, we didn't look at the grass when we were coming in. However...those look recent. Like it just happened last night or earlier. If they'd been there for awhile, presumably they would've filled in by now. Judging by the shape of the cuts, we can presume it was done by a knife. In fact, I'd say it was by a kitchen knife. Do you think the masked freaks did it?"

"Presumably but we're not sure why they would do something like that. Normally, we'd assume they were marking their territory except...there's something else going on. A short while ago, a truck mysteriously crashed up on King's Passage over by Silver Boulder Community Hospital. That would be crazy enough but the truck also had these exact same letters carved into its trailer. It was originally written off as a freak accident from the crash but now...now I'm not so sure. Something is definitely up with this but we can't put our finger on it."

"A truck? Can I see?"

She pulled up the picture and showed it to Joanne. "What in the world? What in the world could carve into solid steel like that?"

Similar incidents began popping up the rest of the week.

A domestic abuser was pulled out of his house by an unseen force and found several blocks away groaning in pain on the ground.

An attempted mass shooting was foiled when the gunman was pulled outside and smashed against a car hard enough to dent the side of it. Bizarrely the gun was found melted to the ground next to him!

An attempted massacre at a camp was halted when the would be masked killer was dragged away from the campers and brutally beaten. The killer was found laying in a heap with his arms and legs broken.

A sinking boat was pushed by an unseen force back to shore.

A shootout between police and criminals was resolved when the criminals were hit by softballs hard enough to knock them over. The officers were unable to find the alleged pitcher but somebody did mention seeing a person in a raincoat despite it not raining.

In a later incident, members of the Wetboro Cult had water balloons dropped on them by an unseen force during a disorderly protest. No perpetrator has been found so far and several people chalked it up to an act of God.

More and more incidents popped over the week. Despite how far apart they were, there would occasionally be one or two linking factors in each of them.

The occasional glimpse of somebody in a raincoat and sometimes the Greek Letters Xi and K would be found carved into something.

Chi and Kappa. The Raincoat.

The Internet began running with this of course and word began spreading about this phantom savior. It was impossible to tell truth from fiction with everyone trying to figure out where this raincoat hero was coming from. Who he or she was. Why he or she was doing this. Who or what she was. Soon they started calling this hero simply The Raincoat or Chi Kappa or Chi Kappa The Raincoat.

The Raincoat.

The Raincoat.

The Raincoat.

Who was this mysterious Guardian Angel?

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"It's a Government Conspiracy man! I'm telling you!" ViewVideo personality VastVid, real name Haze Dressel, exclaimed into his microphone. "The Raincoat is a Government Spook! No human can do any of that, it's simply not possible! All of these incidents are government coverups and this raincoat freak is behind all of it! Do not trust The Raincoat! Only listen to me! I am the truth! The Raincoat is trying to control your mind!"

"I think it's all a viral marketing campaign. Some kind of wild alternate reality game for a crazy thriller superhero movie coming up." KnowledgeableTelevision
theorized. "I mean come on. No way anybody can actually do that stuff. It's all an act. Oh those people in the hospital? Actors! They're all a company of actors! I mean come on. Come on."

"Yeah, I saw Knowledgable's video but I don't see it." AloofTv shook her head. "I mean think about it, those injuries are real. Those people who got attacked are real. Those accidents were real. There's something more going on here. I think The Raincoat is like a government robot or something. No human can do that."
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"Superpowers?" A man on the street laughed. "Come on. Take it from me. That's all fake."

"Listen to me, that thing isn't a superhero, it's an alien monster and it's going to eat your brains!"

"What kind of superhero wears a raincoat though?"

"You know what I think? I think it's multiple people. There's no way any one person can do that. But multiple people could! It's all smoke and mirrors. The Raincoats are government spooks. They rig up the fight in their favor ahead of time, take out the bad guys, and then disappear! It just looks like magic but it's all just practical effects!"

"It's a robot."

"It's a freak."

"It's fake."

"It's a hero!"

"It's a man!"

"It's a woman!"

"It's a ninja!"

"It's a government spy!"

"It's a foreign spy!"

"IT'S RIGHT BEHIND YOU! Psych!"

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Who is the Raincoat?

Who is the Raincoat?

Who is the Raincoat?

Who is the Raincoat?

Who is the Raincoat?

Who is the Raincoat?

Who is the Raincoat?

Who is the Raincoat?

Who is the Raincoat?

Who is the Raincoat?

Who is the Raincoat?

Who is the Raincoat?

Who is the Raincoat?

Who is the Raincoat?

Who is the Raincoat?

Who is the Raincoat?

Who is the Raincoat?

Who is the Raincoat?

WHO IS THE RAINCOAT?

SuperKamiGuy1
Administrator

Posts: 2,572

I Live In A World Made Of Cardboard Sept 25, 2020 23:21:47 GMT SuperKamiGuy1 likes this

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Post by SuperKamiGuy1 on Sept 25, 2020 23:21:47 GMT

Chapter 1: School Days

Rockwick, Highoak.

Jasmine Berry adjusted her glasses in her reflection until she was satisfied followed by double checking her green eyeglasses straps which complimented her green t-shirt. She leaned back and checked her outfit for the day. A green t-shirt and blue jeans and tennis shoes.

The hazel eyed girl with shoulder-length brown hair kept in two pigtailed braids twirled in front of the mirror and checked herself out. She beamed. Finding her outfit more than acceptable for the current day. Spring Break had been perfect for recharging her batteries and hanging out with her friends but now it was back to school and there would be no rest until Summer Vacation in a couple of months and then she could really party with them.

But that was for the future. Right now, School had to get ready for her. She grabbed her bag and bounded out of her room and down the stairs.

After enjoying breakfast, Jasmine hurried out of the house to the bus stop. Their little town of Rockwick was an amazing jumble of different styles: rickety wooden shops, marble and brick houses, huge stone churches. Everything had been beaten down and baked by the sun - and sunlight was everywhere: in the dust, in the vivid colors, in the smells of spices and overripe fruit. The town was a maze of narrow winding streets, as complex as the heart. A wild and winding whose floor pattern must have been designed by a crazy person and yet the inhabitants of Rockwick had learned to navigate it. The chaos had a method to it and once you learned to navigate it, it was plenty of fun. Plus they enjoyed the occasional laugh around newcomers to the town who kept getting turned around and confused by the layout of the town.

After navigating the twisting turns of the town, she finally arrived at the bus stop where her friends were relaxing. Misty Pendleton, Brian Palmer and Ada Caldwell. "Hey guuuuuys!" Jasmine called out to them while waving wildly. They looked up and cheered and waved back.

"About time you got here! Were trying to sleep in?" Misty teased. Misty is young woman of average height with long light-blonde hair she kept tied in a long ponytail, healthy tanned skin and she has blue eyes like the sea. She's wearing a white Nirvana T-shirt and Cream Colored Boho Cropped Skinny Jeans with gray thigh high socks, and red Mary-Jane Shoes.

They high-fived up high and down low and then walked back over to the bus stop.

"Not even close! I just had to navigate a maze that's all. I don't live quite as close to the stop as you do."

"Hmph. Excuses are like derrières, darling." Misty scolded her.

"True but some... derrières are nice and slappable." Jasmine fired back with a smirk.

"That is also true but please do mind your manners. We are proper ladies after all."

"Still staying in character for the play I see."

She placed a hand on her chest and then she extended her other hand while gesticulating dramatically. "I am a proper actress after all. I have no choice but to immerse myself in my roles if I am to ever walk the fabled Red Carpet!"

"You are aware that Hollywood is full of a-holes right?" Brian asked her. You can't help but compare this gentleman to a glorious phoenix. His wide eyes are turquoise and gleam mysteriously. He has shoulder length, straight, bright red hair that is styled in a way reminiscent of a Robin blowing in the wind. His body is notably sleek. He's wearing an orange t-shirt, black jeans and dark shoes.

"Quiet you. Do not design to tread upon my dreams!"

"Can and will." He joked with her.

"Never change, you guys." Ada laughed. This buxom young lady in the Splendid Roller Rugby Tee and a Skort puts you in mind of a dignified swan. She has coffee-colored eyes. Her luxurious, straight, dark hair is long and is worn in a utilitarian, businesslike style. She is tall and has a leggy build. Her skin is pale and she has knobby ears.

"I wouldn't dream of it." Misty smiled.

The crew joked around until the bus rolled up and they filed in. While it was driving them to school though, Jasmine kept her eyes peeled outside the whole ride. "Where are you?"

"Still looking for her huh?"

"I haven't seem Clementine all week! Didn't you notice that? Even discounting the fact that our town is designed like a maze, she just disappeared during Spring Break and she never takes the bus. We only see her at school, she's closed off and I want to know why. I want to get to the bottom of her mystery."

"Clementine Kane is an introvert. What's wrong with that?" Brian reasoned.

"Nothing." Jasmine replied. "But I want to know. I'm fresh off of Spring Break, my batteries are recharged and I want to solve a mystery."

"Okay and?"

"And I'm dragging you guys into it with me."

"I mean, is it even necessary?" Ada asked her. "So she's slightly enigmatic and her socks never match, what's the big deal? Just because she's quiet is no reason to stalk her or anything. If you have to ask her something, why not just straight up talk to her?"

"I know what you're saying, but she's always walking around with those earbuds in or working in the library and she disappears during lunch. Seriously. People have seen it. She grabs her food, bounces and then she comes back around the corner after lunch is over. Just like how she disappeared during break. Where does she go? What's her story? I want to get to know her so I can stop going crazy over this."

"Clementine...Clementine...wait, isn't she the shy girl with the earplugs and the socks? Wears a skirt? Freckles?" Brian asked.

"That's her. You know her?"

"Not too well. I've heard she's taking all of the AP Classes though so she's probably a Brainiac. I bet those earbuds are like books on tape or something."

"Maaan if she's taking all of those her family must be loaded." Ada drummed her fingers on the seat. "The courses are free but the tests aren't. They can charge you up to $92.00 for those. Depending on her hours, they could be racking up $644.00 or more. Not to mention figuring out how many tests each class would give you over the course of a year and if she's taking them every year that could get out of control fast. According to salary data for farmers, ranchers and other agricultural managers from May 2016, the average salary is $75,790 a year. In contrast, they make a median salary of $66,360, with half getting lower salaries and half being paid more. They must have some crazy good products if they're able to afford it year after year."

"Mayhap they are selling that dreadful Tomacco plant like those awful Brannons?" Misty questioned in a joking manner.

"Thankfully. Nobody's seen those creeps after they were ran out of town and their crops were destroyed. She must come from money."

"I dunno. I figure if somebody in Rockfort was rich, we'd know about it."

"We won't know until we ask and I think that's the best way to do it. If we see her in the hallways we can ask her to hang out with us if she gets some free time. Quick, clean and simple."

"Huh. Okay yeah that's way easier. Lets just do that."

They got comfortable in their seats while the bus navigated their quiet little, crazily designed mazelike labyrinthine mountain town until they reached their school and the driver parked so they could file out.

The school's design was suitably bizarre fitting with the design of the rest of the town. It looked like bigger than normal school building mixed with the Selfridges Building's design, with a steel framework and sprayed concrete façade, all in a shape resembling a spider. It was a little strange to an outsider and indeed most citizens of Rockwick were surprised whenever they first laid their eyes upon it but it grew on you as you got used to it. Despite it's bizarre exterior the interior was nice clean and modern. The design was intended to put you at ease as you wondered the halls of Rockwick High in comfort with navy blue diamond carpeting, nice clean hallways and classrooms, comfortable chairs, spacious lockers, good lighting and more! Rockwick High was a very nice place to attend school if you could get over how weird it looked outside and how weird it could be to navigate before you get used to it.

As the students filed in from the various school buses and their parents dropping them off or the bikers riding up to it, Jasmine kept an eye out for Clementine. It took awhile to pick her out of the crowd but she eventually spotted her rounding a corner. She was wearing her usual outfit. A black jacket over a white blouse with buttons, black fingerless gloves and a dark pleated skirt, mismatched socks and black and white shoes. She has short, layered, hair and freckles across the bridge of her nose. Her hair is more rosewood than black walnut, more like fresh chestnuts with their glossy skins in autumn light. She has a tall and skinny almost lanky figure of average height and yet she's carrying her big heavy backpack like it weighs nothing. She had her white and gold earbuds in as she casually navigated through the waves of people like they weren't even there!

Jasmine smiled. Time to make a new friend.

It took a bit of effort for Jasmine to catch up to her due to Clementine simultaneously power walking and expertly navigating the crowded hallway. Even with all of the students coming and going from all sides she casually navigated around them so fluidly it was like she was a ghost. Thankfully once the crowd cleared up a bit Jasmine was finally able to catch up with her and she started power walking next to her. She was still having trouble keeping up but she was close enough to be able to get her attention. "Hi there!" Jasmine greeted. She didn't hear her over her music though so she tried again and waved to her. "Hello!" She waved. "Hi, I'm Jasmine! I don't think we've met or anything, we don't have any classes together, but I thought I'd take the chance to get to know you today right? So, ah, I'm Jasmine and you're...you're Clementine right?" She asked her.

Clementine finally noticed Jasmine and looked around before pointing at herself. Jasmine nodded and offered her hand. "I'm Jasmine Berry."

Clementine slowly took out one of the earbuds and Jasmine noticed it was almost like was bracing herself before she answered. "Hello?"

"Hiya. I'm Jasmine Berry!"

"Oh. Okay. I'm Clementine Kane."

"Nice to meet you, Clementine." She offered her hand until Clementine reached out and gently shook it.

Jasmine noticed how light her handshake was. It was gentle. Like you were shaking hands with a baby. She also looked a little nervous when reaching out but she still went through the handshake regardless. "Hello."

"Hi. I've noticed you around school before but I don't think we've officially met. You're in different classes then me and all so we obviously haven't had the chance so here I am introducing myself to you now." She explained. "So, uh, anyway, hi again. What are you listening to?"

"Oh right. This is...Luna Lazarus's lectures."

"Luna Lazarus? The Super Super Genius from Rosewater?"

"Yes."

"Man oh man you can actually keep up with her lectures? I tried to but it was way too advanced for me." Jasmine confessed.

"Yes. It's very advanced but I can understand it. Her work on biology, medicine, computer science, physics, electronic engineering, neurology, psychology, and genotype interactions are impressive. To say the least and I enjoy listening to her lectures. They're soothing and thought provoking."

"Seriously? So is she like an expert in everything?" Jasmine asked incredulously.

"As I understand it, she's an expert in all fields of science and can speak and write all languages flawlessly without exception." Clementine replied casually. "She's certainly very impressive. But she doesn't go here and we do. So can I help you with today?"

"Well, to be honest, I thought you looked lonely and I haven't seen you around in awhile or hanging out with anyone so I thought I'd extend an olive branch."

"Oh thank you. You're very kind." She glanced at a clock. "However, we should probably hurry to our classes, Jasmine."

"Right, yeah, of course. I hope I get a chance to introduce you to my friends later. See you later, Clementine."

"I would like that. Thank you." She replied. "I'll see you later, Jasmine." She put the bud back in her ear and disappeared into the crowd.

"That went well. That went really well." Jasmine told her friends as they caught up with her.

"Well? Analysis?"

"She's cool. It turns out she's just shy. We just have to ease her out of her shell." Jasmine assured them as she walked to class with her friends. "It turns out she's a Lazarus fan."

"Really?"

"Yeah. You were actually right about the books on tapes thing. She's been listening to her lectures and even better? She can actually keep up with them."

"Woah seriously?" Brian asked. "I think she's cool too but I got lost in those lectures...and her eyes."

Misty ruffled his hair in response. "She is so, so far out of your league, she's in another galaxy playboy."

"Don't give up on your dreams, Brian!" Ada cheered him on.

"Don't encourage him."

"I'm the wing-girl. I encourage my homies. Speaking personally however, I have my eyes on someone waaay more exotic."

"Oh? And who would that be?"

Ada pointed to a poster someone had placed on a wall.

"Ohhhhhh him huh?" Brian asked. "You really think he's real? Or...she? Or whoever this guy is?"

"Could be? How else do you explain what happened to those people?"

"An excellent question for another time. We have got to get to class." Jasmine reminded her friends. "Going to be one hell of a Lunch Topic either way."

"We'll hold you to that. In the meantime, I want everyone to form theories and whomever comes up with the craziest one wins a prize." Brian offered his friends.

"As for said prize, we'll come up with that when we get there." Ada joked and the friends parted to their respective classes.

"So...like, I don't know whether The Raincoat is a robot or something else entirely, but I do know that he or she was able to carve the Greek Letters χῖ and ϰ carved into a metal truck trailer. Falling rubble wouldn't just do that no matter how many rocks fell down on the truck. They might wreck the trailer sure but there's no way that falling rocks would coincidentally do that kind of damage to a truck. Something else happened there."

"Like what? Like there's some kind of superhuman out there?" Brian asked her in disbelief.

"I don't know. Maybe? It's the only explanation I can come up with. Seriously what else would do that to a truck?"

"Okay, but, supposing that, if there really is a superhuman out there, why not use their powers to make money and get rich like a sane person?"

"Maybe he or she isn't interested in that. Besides, if The Raincoat did go public, you just know the government would go after him to cut him up and dissect him to find out how his powers work."

"Seriously, Jazz? You of all people are drinking the conspiracy-aid?" He chuckled.

"I mean...when you look at the dimwits in charge...I'm just saying!"

"That's fair. Anyway, I'll catch you later!"

"We can bring this back up at lunch!" She promised and walked away.

Jasmine arrived in her math class and took her notebook and math homework out as she prepared for the lecture.

"Psst, hey Jazz, you hear about The Raincoat?" A student asked from behind her.

"Yeah, he's all everyone's talking about lately, Benny. It's crazy right?"

"Crazy is right. I heard he's an alien robot and he's preparing the planet for invasion." Benton 'Benny' Hobbs was a lean and tall student wearing a green t-shirt and grey pants with messy light brown hair and hazel eyes. He was well known as one of the most easygoing and laid back students at the school.

"Heh, who knows? You might just be right about that. It would explain his super powers." She reasoned. "Hey, you think his spaceship talks to him too?'

"Oh yeah. It tells him to take the world and seduce the beautiful women."

"An alien sex mission? Really?"

"Hey, if Kirk can go out into space to seduce green women, there's no reason that aliens can't come here to do the same."

"Gross. But fair."

"Heads up guys!" Another student called to them as the door opened up and their teacher walked into the room. Well, not so much walked in as...moonwalked into the room in her usual fashion. Because one thing the class had learned about Miss Sofia Snyder is that she never did anything normally besides her outfits. She wore an all white skirt-suit with blue leggings and shoes with her chocolate brown hair tied in a short ponytail. Her eyes were framed by black framed glasses.

Miss Snyder moonwalked into the room and danced over to her desk before stopping and taking out her headphones and turned off her phone. "Hello again class! Welcome back to Advanced Geometric Algorithms! I'm super happy to see you all back here again and I hope you're all rested up, bright eyed and bushy tailed from break because I'm going to put you through your paces kids! But first, if you would all pass your Spring Break Homework up to the front desk of each row so I can collect them and assign any bonus points you earned!" She called to them all in a singsong voice.

Everyone who completed the Extra Credit Spring Break Homework Assignment passed the papers up to the front desk in front of them until the pile reached the front desks of each row where she gathered them and placed them in her desk for later grading.

"Thank you much kids! I'm so happy to see you're taking your education seriously! Now, if you will take your textbooks out and turn them to Chapter 3, we can begin today's lecture!" Miss Snyder informed them cheerfully.

The students did so and she did a spinning pirouette before striking a disco pose and she began writing on the board while beginning her lecture.

"The proteomic research deals with the systematic analysis of complete profiles of the proteins expressed in a given cell, tissue or biological system at a given time. In this field, 2D–gel electrophoresis

(2–DE) is a well–established and widely used technique to separate proteins in a sample. A 2–DE gel

is the product of two sequentially performed separations in acrylamide gel media: isoelectric focusing as first dimension and a separation by molecular weight as second dimension. The result of that

process is a 2D pattern of spots each representing a protein. There is a variety of staining methods to

display protein spots: Coomassie blue and silver-staining and / or fluorescent and radioactive labeling. Mass spectrometry and the visual (usually computer aided) comparison (matching) with already

analyzed gel images of such a sample are used to identify proteins. The visual analysis of such 2–

DE image series intends to identify those proteins that change their expression (size, intensity) and

reflect/cause certain biochemical and biomedical conditions of an organism, see [26]. However, this

Computer Science Department, University of Arizona, email:alon@CS.Arizona.EDU

y

Institut f¨ur Informatik, Freie Universit¨at Berlin, Takustr. 9, D-14195 Berlin, email:name@inf.fu-berlin.de

z

Deutsches Herzzentrum Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, D-13353 Berlin

x

Supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, grant FL 165/4–2.

{

Supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, grant AL 253/4–3.

1

requires high throughput analysis tools and the major challenge is to obtain both robust and reliable

algorithmic solutions that work automatically, or at least need only little user interaction. As we

will see, this goal in conjunction with efficiency requirements makes it necessary to start with simple

(sometimes oversimplified) modelling assumptions.

A second strand of research was initiated in [22]. Here the challenge consists of creating analysis

software that is able to perform interlaboratory gel image comparisons and to deal with images from

various databases via the Internet.

The intensive research on these questions emphasizes the strong demand from the practitioners

for better algorithmic solutions.

The aim of this paper is to demonstrate how ideas from computational geometry help to meet

these challenges in the context of the two most basic problems in gel analysis: Spot detection: Given a scanned 2–DE gel image identify spot regions. Gel matching: Given two images by their spot lists, perform a matching procedure to identify

those spot pairs that correspond to each other, so that the matching reflects both geometric and

spot intensity resemblance of the images.

In this paper we survey algorithmic studies and implementation work that was done while developing

the 2–DE analysis software system CAROL ([9]). It contains both new results (Section 2, Subsection

3.4) and partly published ones (Section 3, [17]). Interestingly, this application problem has also lead

to new theoretical questions in geometry.

In Section 2 we address the spot detection question in the following context. Originally the

CAROL project was designed to answer only matching queries for gel images. It turned out that

available spot detection algorithms did not adequately support the underlying philosophy that is based

on the similarity of geometric point patterns. Thus the spot detection approach presented here aims

at determining the point pattern of a gel as precise as possible rather than computing exact shapes

and volume data of spots. We assume that each spot has approximately the shape of an axis-parallel

ellipse. This is a widely accepted, but surely simplified, modeling assumption, see for example [5] or

[14]. However, spots that are very close to each other may partially overlap and “merge”. This can

lead to rather complicated local pixel regions, as depicted in Figure 1, compare [20].

In [23] a spot detection algorithm is described that relies on a watershed transformation applied

to the gradient image. The most difficult part is the interpretation of twin spots, streaks (left side

in Fig.1), and so–called complex regions (right side in Fig.1) as unions of ellipses. This especially

applies to the case of oversaturated regions in silver stained gels.

Figure 1: Twin spots, streaks, and a complex region

In fact, in [23] the latter case of interpreting complex regions was left open and in the implementation

the user had to edit these complex regions by hand. Here we present an algorithmic solution to this

2

question based on a Linear Programming (LP) formulation. To the best of our knowledge it is the first

algorithmic attempt to deal with spot detection of complex oversaturated regions in a single image.

An alternative approach has been studied in [6], where the information of multiple already aligned

images is used for a subsequent spot detection.

There is an inherent uncertainty in the images due to the electrophoresis process itself which is

highly susceptible to faults and geometric distortions. The reader may argue just by looking at the

images, that there is no hope to come up with a perfect spot detection algorithm. This is certainly true.

Yet we can cope with this ambiguity, at least to some extent by computing a ranked list of proposals

how a complex region could be covered instead of computing only the “best” covering, which could

be erroneous. Then, in the matching algorithm, we have the possibility to accept the matching of two

ambiguous regions if there is a pair of proposed coverings that match.

The matching algorithm itself is described in Section 3. Assume that a source and a target image

are given by their spot lists. We first transform the lists into geometric point patterns, where a spot is

represented by the ellipse center coordinates and additionally we code the real size/intensity of the spot

into a single integer value. The lists can be of significantly different size and, additionally, we allow

the images to show only partially overlapping sections of the gels. Thus the task is to find a maximal–

cardinality one–to–one matching of the spot lists, so that this mapping respects both the geometry of

the images and the relative spot intensities i.e., relatively intensive source spots should be mapped to

relatively intensive target spots. The geometric matching criterion is based on similarity of imaginary

edges which link spots. Two edges are similar if their length ratio and the difference of their angles

formed with the x–axis are within preset tolerance bounds. Our algorithmic solution, which we call

global–via–local matching, works in two stages. Firstly, we compute matchings for several small local

patterns, which are chosen in a grid–like fashion. For this local matching we use a modified alignment

method known from point pattern matching ([2]) combined with geometric hashing. A significant

speed–up is gained by reducing the set of all source / target edges to those belonging to the history

of the incremental Delaunay triangulation of the spot lists in the order of their decreasing intensities.

Having sets of matching candidates for each of the local patterns, we select a subset that is consistent

with the overall grid topology. The matching spot pairs computed this way later serve as “landmarks”

in the second stage. Landmarks were also used in previous algorithmic solutions, but they had to

be set manually. The novelty of our solution is to generate them automatically. The subsequent

extension from landmarks to a maximal global matching is rather standard by local neighborhood

comparisons. Since this step uses mainly geometric information, it is capable to match spots with

different intensities, that correspond to significantly regulated proteins. Moreover in the extension

step it is possible to exploit the proposal lists for ambigious spot regions, as computed in the spot

detection. This way, we present a first step towards the simulation of how an expert would compare

images by visual inspection, namely, by intertwining the spot detection with the matching process.

Figure 2 shows two 2–DE gel images originated from a transfection experiment of cultured EaHy

cells with 800 (left) and 1000 protein spots. Their original size is about 23cm by 29cm. For the

purpose of illustration in Figure 3 and 4 more details are shown of the small rectangular window

regions marked in Figure 2. (For simplicity ellipses were replaced by circles.)

In both Sections 2 and 3 we also refer to related theoretical issues and open problems in computational geometry that could further improve our solution. In Section 4 we outline implementation

issues and describe experimental results.

2 Spot Detection in Complex Regions as an Ellipse Covering Problem

Spot detection is to a wide extent an image processing problem. In fact, if the spots are well separated, classical methods like filtering and watershed transformation on the gradient image provide a

satisfying algorithmic solution, see [23]. As mentioned above, the core combinatorial problem is the

interpretation of complex pixel regions as unions of axis parallel ellipses.

The following formalization is a compromise stemming from discussions with practitioners who

solve these covering instances by peer review. First, we remark that complex regions are typically

saturated (black), and therefore gray level information does not help for the detection. We assume that

a connected pixel pattern R is given, which is fat in the sense that there are neither short horizontal

nor vertical cuts consisting of only two pixels. In the application R is usually a simply connected

subpattern of a 100 100–pixel square.

Spot sets detected with black spots indicating the local matching

To make use of the powerful machinery of geometric approximation algorithms we identify pixels

with their center points. Then the region R can be represented by two sets of points C and F , where

C is a sample of points to be covered (inside R) and F is a set of forbidden points (outside R). One

can obtain these sets walking along the boundary of R and choosing points inside and outside within

a small distance. This approach somehow mimics the general practice of experts who are looking

for ellipses approximating long parts of the boundary of R. The advantage that both sets are of small

cardinality has to be paid for by the fact that the computed cover could have some hole in the interior of

the region. To avoid this one also can choose C as the set of all grid points in R (from an appropriately

dense grid). Then, of course, the cardinality m of C can be quadratic in n, the size of F .

Now we can formulate the approximate covering problem from the application point of view. For

numbers 0 ; 1 the problem is to find a smallest-cardinality set E of axis–parallel ellipses

fulfilling the following conditions.

1. (Fitting) Each ellipse E 2 E respects F , i.e., it does not intersect F .

2. (Intersection) The boundaries of every pair of ellipses E;E0

in E intersects in at most 2 points,

and area(E \ E0) minfarea(E); area(E0)g.

3. (Covering) S

E2E E covers at least a (1 )–portion of pixels in C.

The aim to find minimal–cardinality coverings is in accordance with Occam’s razor principle, since

the smallest cardinality set is, in absence of a master gel, the simplest hypothesis to explain how

a complex region could have been evolved. At first sight one would require to cover all points in

R, however in order to cope with noise the covering condition allows to leave a small portion of

points uncovered. The fitting condition ensures that the selected ellipses do not cover much more

than the region R. From the way the gel production process spreads a protein in the two dimensions,

practitioners usually conclude that two spots do not form a cross. We incorporated this notion in the

intersection condition.

Following the standard methodology of set cover approximation, our ellipse covering problem

splits into two parts:

1. Find a basic set E of ellipses such that each ellipse E 2 E fulfills the fitting property, and

R S

E2E E.

Select a minimum cardinality subset E E which respects the intersection and covering properties.

Remark that (the boundary of) an axis–parallel ellipse can be represented by the solutions of the

equation

(x c)

2

a2 +

(y d)

2

b2 1=0 (1)

with parameters a; b; c; d 2 IR, where (c; d) is the ellipse center, and a and b are the lengths of

the halfaxes. Thus a straightforward approach is to discretize the parameter space of all possible

ellipses, and define E to be the set of all inclusion maximal ellipses fulfilling the fitting property.

One way to avoid misinterpretation of streaks is to exclude ellipses of an ”extreme” shape, i.e., to

require a=b 2 [1=; ] for a suitable constant 1. This also reduces the complexity of E. The

selection of E E can then be easily done in a greedy fashion. We implemented this approach,

however both runtime and the quality of the solution did not meet our expectations, see e.g. Figure 5.

In Subsection 2.3 we study from a theoretical point of view how to improve on both, making use of

advanced geometric data structures and techniques. In Subsection 2.2 we present an alternative LPbased approach, which avoids the explicit construction of a large basic set E, and instead combines

construction and selection of ellipses. Experimental results show that both quality and runtime of the

LP-approach are superior to the simple brute force solution."

www2.cs.arizona.edu/~alon/papers/jcb.pdf

Jasmine continued taking the notes as she followed along with the lesson with the others but while doing so she couldn't help but jot down the theories she'd heard so far about The Raincoat in order of her favorites.

Android?

Alien?

Alien Android?

Robot?

Mutant?

Government Agent?

Viral Marketing Campaign?

Hoax?

She ended up circling Alien Android as her favorite theory and went back to her notes.

After the lecture ended they worked on a computational geometry assignment.

In a process similar to what was presented in class. The main steps (and the algebra needs to be completed) are:

Complications The convex in is d=4.O(n^2 )

as per Clarkson-Shore Theorem:

point She Object / object.

5 points form a butterfly (configuration) from 2 abcd tetrahedrons, abce glued to each other in an abc triangle. The butterfly / configuration in conflict with w objects, these are the points seen by at least one of the tetrahedra. These points and the fifth point of the configuration are located on different sides of the super-plane containing the tetrahedron.

so:

N_(≤w)=O(w^d E(N_0 (n/w) ) )=O(w^3 n^2 ).

The probability that a weight configuration will be created isw: Therefore the expectation of the number of butterflies formed:p_w=O(1/w^5 )

∑▒〖〖p_w N〗_w=⋯=O(n^2)〗

A. You can calculate enoughAgThe level of normalcy N In linear time by a trip on, for example KDFS (to be specified). Complexity of the convex in 3 dimensions eTheA. The Euler formula holds that there are at most ribs and at most wigs, when it is the number of vertices.O(n)3n-62n-4n Per wig of K corresponds to a vertex of N (the direction of the external normal to the wig), for each arc of K corresponds to a large circle arc of N (the normal directions of the planes supporting the side), and to each vertex of K corresponds to a wig of N.

B. It can be shown that in unspecified cases, the planes can be rotated until one of the specified cases is obtained. It is important to show that there is a direction in which such a rotation only reduces the distance, by using the Pythagorean theorem.

D. We will construct the normal diagram and the reverse diagram. We will useDD'sweep lineAcross the unit ball To find incisions between ribs and ribs. Each such incision gives two ribs nominated for the case DD'(ii). To find candidates for case (i) you can process D into a data structure that supports point location, go through wig wig and look in the data structure for the opposite normal. (In fact there is no need for early processing, since the normal directions of the wigs are known in advance, and during the sweep Find each one in the reverse diagram when you get to it (as we saw in class).

3) a) In the dual representation we have nCircles are equal in radius and we want to find a point that is in the maximum number of these circles. We will performsweep On the dual circles (with each circle split into its upper and lower parts), and consider the points of intersection between them, and as a result the wigs of the array they form (enough to maintain the wigs that straighten the sweepCutter). For each wig we will hold a counter of how many circles it contains, and every time we encounter a new wig (to the right of a cutting point or to the right of the leftmost point of a circle) it is easy to calculate the value of its counter using those of adjacent wigs (to be specified). We return a point on the wig with a maximum counter value.

B) Note that the critical radii in which the answer to a) varies are radii in which three circles meet at one point, or two circles touch each other. Consider the collection of these radii and then run a binary search on them to find the desired minimum radius. At each step of the search we will run the algorithm in a); If he found a point at leastkCircles will continue to smaller radii, and if not, to larger radii. (The algorithms obtained in this question are not very efficient ...)

4) Separate into two calculations, one for the vertical sides of P and one to the horizontal ribs. Since the cases are symmetrical, it is enough to explain that in the case of vertical ribs, we will refer to this case. Of and the points of P. We will scan from left to right, we will go over all the points in x-str:Q

- If we encounter a left endpoint of section m Q we put it in y-str.

- If we encounter a right endpoint of a section from Q We'll take it out what y-str.

- If we encounter a rib from P (we will only refer to verticality here) will be searched in y-str using a cooRDiets ey its the first segment that is below the top endpoint and the first segment that is above the bottom endpoint. We will check how many segments are between them by rank queries. These are the segments of Q that intersect with the side of P. We will update the numerator. There are points in x-str and y-str. Actions.O(n)O(log⁡n)O(n log⁡n)

Any students that had trouble or questions about the assignments could simply ask Miss Snyder for clarification. After completing their assignments they handed them in and Miss Snyder cheerfully collected them and then danced back to her desk. The bell rang soon after and she clapped her hands. "Very good today class! Very good very good very good! Remember your homework assignments tonight: Problem 5.6a on page 116! Problem 6.14 on page 144! Problem 7.11 on page 161 and Problems 8.2 and 8.5 on page 179! That's 40 points all together kids! Do your best! I believe in you!"

"YES MA'AM!" The kids replied and quickly filed out of the classroom.

"Urrrrrgh. My head is spinning." Lucille Levy sighed as they walked the hallway. Lucille is a tall girl with aqua-blue eyes and long, scarlet hair that she kept tied in a long braided ponytail. She's wearing a stylish top and skirt. "Miss Snyder is a great teacher but her class comes way too early in the morning."

"Could be worse. We could still have that offbeat tone deaf tempo douche."

Thatcher." Jasmine shuddered. "If I ever see that sadist again it'll still be too soon."

Mad Dog Creakle Thatcher, just one of the many derogatory nicknames the students had come up with for the former music teacher, was a violent thug who somehow bumbled his way into becoming a music teacher. How exactly he accomplished this had been a mystery for the ages given that his teaching method resolved around screaming obscenities, demeaning his students and hurling objects around in a violent tantrum if anybody didn't meet his batshit standards topped off by threatening the students into keeping silent. This lasted until recording devices an anonymous student had planted in the room not only caught his behavior but then proceeded to put it all online. This had emboldened the students to come forward with their own stories. While his lawyer was able to protect him from the filming, the students statements had done far more damage and coupling this with their parents demanding his head and the faculty turning on him en masse, Thatcher was left disgraced and lost his teaching license. He narrowly avoided jail but he was left on two years house arrest. In a town where everybody hated his guts.

That's the thing about Rockwickians: They look after their own.

Suffice to say after his two years of house arrest were up, Thatcher moved far, far, far away from their town and had never returned.

On the day he was set to leave town, Miss Snyder had marched up to his house and whispered something in his ear. Nobody knew what she said that day but reportedly he had come stumbling out of his house scared out of his wits and ran to his car like the hounds of hell were on his tail.

The Mystery Filmer had not been located but the students believed he was still out there somewhere. Watching over the school like a guardian angel.

Thatcher was used as both a cautionary tale and an urban legend around the school with everyone trying to make him more monstrous with each retelling. The current 'lore' pictured him as a blatant rip-off of Jigsaw and The Trunchbull, who straps his students to intricate and overtly cruel torture devices which activate if they score a less than optimal grade in their assignments.

"Nooooot myyyyyy teeeeemmmpoooo! Oooook!" Benny drawled in a long drawn out simpleton voice while beating his chest.

The girls had a good laugh over that.

"Hey listen though, forgot that nobody. He's probably in prison somewhere or whatever while we're living it up in Rockwick. It's best to just laugh at his stupidity and move on with a big laugh and a smile!"

"My man!" He and Jazz high fived. "Anyway! Yeah. Forgetting about that loser now. I've got a Neuroscience lecture next anyway so I kinda need my mind clear."

"Ah man. I don't know how you get through that class."

"I know right? It can get a bit graphic at times but I'm certainly learning a lot. I can recite information about Biopsies, Craniotomies, Extended bifrontal craniotomies, Supra-orbital craniotomies, Retro-sigmoid craniotomies, Orbitozygomatic craniotomies, Translabyrinthine craniotomies, MRI-guided laser ablations,

Endonasal endoscopic surgeries and Neuroendoscopies from heart now...also we've done fake surgeries on fake brains soooo that's a thing."

"Huh. You know, I've never really thought about it, but do you think other High Schools teach this kind of stuff?" Benny questioned.

"I don't see why not." Lucille shrugged. "We're just a little town. If our school can teach them why wouldn't other schools? Anyway! I'll see you guys after Combinatorics.* " She waved to her friends and hurried down the hallway.

Combinatorics is an area of mathematics primarily concerned with counting, both as a means and an end in obtaining results, and certain properties of finite structures. It is closely related to many other areas of mathematics and has many applications ranging from logic to statistical physics, from evolutionary biology to computer science, etc. To fully understand the scope of combinatorics requires a great deal of further amplification, the details of which are not universally agreed upon. According to H.J. Ryser, a definition of the subject is difficult because it crosses so many mathematical subdivisions. Insofar as an area can be described by the types of problems it addresses, combinatorics is involved with

"Looks like I drew the big straw. I've got Philosophy and the Science of Human Nature, baby! Victory for Benny!"

"Yeah, yeah, don't rub it in Benny boy. Just kick some butt in your class alright?"

"Will do. Gonna be straight A's all the way!"

She waved goodbye again and they parted.

Arriving in her Fundamentals Of Neuroscience And Brain Surgeries Course, she took her seat and relaxed until class got started.

Professor Hideki Youta Kichirō Ottavio Cattaneo and his wife Professor Léa Eléonore Faucher Cattaneo waited until the bell rang to happily welcome the kids back.

The Italian-Japanese-American Hideki was an adult man with a rather tall stature, and muscular yet slender build. He is mentioned to be very handsome by the people around him, boys and girls alike. He has straight black hair with a dark blue tint which reaches down to his nape. His bangs are shorter than his hair and parts towards the right side in the form of an "M-style", which partly covers his left eye.

Professor Lea was a French-African-American woman with a beautiful figure and silky black hair tied into a ponytail. Her hazel eyes were covered by fancy glasses. Like her husband she was wearing a fancy suit and labcoat.

"Hello again kids. Glad to see you remembered your way through the halls." Hideki joked to a couple of chuckles from the class. "But really we're delighted to have you back for another amazing class full of fun amazing Neuroscience!"

"I'm sure you kids kept up with your reading but just to make sure we've prepared a quick little quiz to help refresh your memories!" Lea informed them sweetly and grabbed the stack of papers from the table. She passed out the piles to the front desk of each row to pass back to the students behind them. Jeff laughed nervously as she looked over her quiz. "Hooo boy. It is good to be back."

1. A drug that decreases the activity of dopamine within the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex would be expected to

A. Induce both positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia

B. Induce only the positive symptoms of schizophrenia

C. Be an effective treatment for schizophrenia

D. Decrease the levels of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens

E. Be an effective treatment for thought and language disorder

2.PCP acts as a(n) ________ at ___________receptors

A. Agonist; NMDA

B. Antagonist; dopamine

C. Agonist; acetylcholine

D. Antagonist; NMDA

E. Antagonist; GABA

3. Which of the following would be a negative symptom of schizophrenia?

A. Hearing voices that repeat senseless words and phrases

B. Experiencing a feeling of euphoria at the start of an episode

C. Believing that doctors are part of the plot to poison you

D. Thinking you are the most powerful being on earth

E. Exhibiting flattened emotional expression

4. In which of the following would you expect to observe an enlarged hippocampal formation

A. A London cabby who has 30 years of experience

B. A pigeon that wanders from roost to roost

C. A bird that only eats from your backyard feeder

D. A person who has just started training as a London cabby

E. A chickadee tested in the early summer

5. The hippocampus receives inputs from

A. The entorhinal cortex

B. The amygdala

C. Various regions of the limbic cortex

D. All association areas of the neocortex

E. All of the above

6. Patient RB who sustained brain damage while in cardiac arrest, exhibited profound anterograde amnesia. What region of the brain was injured?

A. Field CA1 of the hippocampal formation

B. The perirhinal cortex

C. The parahippocamal cortex

D. The amygdala

E. The central nucleus of the amygdala

7. The verbal abilities of HM are intact except

A. He cannot talk of events that occurred prior to 1953

B. His ability to spell simple words such as "and" and "but"

C. He cannot talk about mathematical operations

D. He is not proficient in post 1953 American vocabulary

E. Both a and c

8. The common aspect of all natural reinforcers relates to

A. The release of dopamine within the nucleus accumbens

B. The release of norepinephrine within the locus coeruleus

C. The release of dopamine within the lateral hypothalamus

D. Inactivation of frontal cortex

E. Activation of the medulla

9. Imagine that you have ingested a drug that prevents alcohol from binding to the GABA/A receptor just before you join friends at a bar. Which of the following would you expect to happen to you?

A. You show no signs of sedation, even after nine beers

B. One beer puts you to sleep

C. The pill makes the alcohol taste bitter, causing you to vomit

D. You find alcohol more intoxicating

E. You have impaired cerebellar function

10. PET studies show that schizophrenic patients treated with amphetamine show ______ from the striatum and a corresponding ________

A. Reduced release of dopamine, increase in positive symptoms

B. Reduced release of GABA, decrease in positive symptoms

C. Greater release of dopamine, decrease in negative symptoms

D. Greater release of dopamine, increase in positive symptoms

E. Reduced release of serotonin, increase in negative symptoms

11. John has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and has shown improvement in positive symptoms while taking chlorpromazine. Which of the following actions below, if taken by John, would be expected to greater worsen his positive schizophrenia symptoms?

A. John stops taking CPZ and takes cocaine

B. John takes double the CPZ dose per day

C. John takes reserpine in addition to CPZ

D. John mixes alcohol with CPZ

E. John ingests alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine in addition to CPZ

12. Alternating episodes of elation and sadness are referred to as

A. Bipolar disorder

B. Severe depression

C. Severe mania

D. Unipolar depression

E. Schizoaffective disorder

13. The function of monoamine oxidase is to

A. Provide the precursor for the catecholamines

B. Convert dopamine into norepinephrine

C. Convert norepinephrine into epinephrine

D. Convert catecholamines and serotonin into inactive forms

E. Speed up the digestion of cheese in the gut

14. The monoamine hypothesis states that depression is caused by

A. Loss of cells in the prefrontal cortex

B. Insufficient activity of monoaminergic neurons

C. Excessive activity of dopamine systems

D. Overactivity of monoaminergic neurons

E. Excessive activity of serotonin synapses

15. All of the following support the monoamine hypothesis of depression EXCEPT

A. Reserpine causes depression

B. CSF levels of 5-HIAA are low in suicidal patients

C. Monoamine agonists produce depression

D. Families of subjects with low 5-HIAAA were more likely to include people with depression

E. Monoamine antagonists produce depression

www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/story.php?title=principles-neuroscience

She breathed in and slowly exhaled as she looked over the quiz, wrote her name down, looked it over again and got to work on her answers.

Question 1: A. Induce both positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia

Question 2: D. Antagonist; NMDA

Question 3: E. Exhibiting flattened emotional expression

Question 4: A. A London cabby who has 30 years of experience

Question 5: E. All of the above

Question 6: A. Field CA1 of the hippocampal formation

Question 7: D. He is not proficient in post 1953 American vocabulary

Question 8: A. The release of dopamine within the nucleus accumbens

Question 9: A. You show no signs of sedation, even after nine beers

Question 10: D. Greater release of dopamine, increase in positive symptoms

Question 11: A. John stops taking CPZ and takes cocaine

Question 12: A. Bipolar disorder

Question 13: D. Convert catecholamines and serotonin into inactive forms

Question 14: B. Insufficient activity of monoaminergic neurons

Question 15: C. Monoamine agonists produce depression

She looked it over again to ensure she was happy with her answers, nodded and set her pencil down and took a breather.

After the quiz was over and the papers were collected the class was treated to a pair of videos to help ease them back into the class after spring break though they were informed to take notes.

All of which was completely normal, Jess was sure.

After the class was given their assignments and class let out, they waved goodbye to their teachers and headed out.

"First day back and we're already being assigned quizzes eh? They sure don't hold back do they?" One of the students asked her.

"I know right? This is why you have to keep up with your studies man. You never know when they might decide to drop a test on you."

Leia leaned her head out the door. "That's coming up by the way! Study hard children!"

"Yes ma'am! Thanks a lot Jass."

Jess smirked and stuck her tongue out.

After another couple of classes, including Entertainment Engineering & Design and Turfgrass Science, it was finally time for lunch and she was practically skipping. Not only did Jasmine get to see her friends again but they could finally start getting to know Clementine!

True to their word; Misty Pendleton, Brian Palmer and Ada Caldwell were all waiting for her in the cafeteria. It was a nice and fancy place. With clean tiles and stainless steel furniture, nice looking pillars with speakers on them playing comforting soothing music and nice paintings hanging on the walls. The kids could smell the aromas of Rockfort High School's Delicious Delicacies even from their spot in line!

"We've had a few fun classes but we're good. Allow me to introduce my friends: Misty Pendleton, Brian Palmer and Ada Caldwell."

"Sup? I'm Brian."

"How do you do Miss Kaine? My name is Misty Pendleton and we are ever so glad to make your acquittance."

"It's nice to finally meet you properly Clementine." Ada greeted her.

"Hello. Hello to all of you." She greeted and offered her hand. They happily shook hers up and down while she was as gentle as a lamb with them.

"Hey come on now you don't need to be that gentle. Feel free to show your muscles." Brian told her and gave her hand a squeeze as a joke. Nothing happened. He looked up at Clementine and chuckled quietly before squeezing again. Nothing. She smiled and let go.

"I work on a farm."

"Riiight. Cool. So what do you there anyway?"

"Farm stuff." She replied with a shrug.

"Cool. If you ever need any help you can give us a call." Brian offered. "I think it would be fun actually."

Misty considered countering this but decided to table it for later.

"Heck with it. I could probably do a day of work in between my world domination plans." Ada joked.

*Clementine will remember that.

"Well, if you ever need help, feel free to just let us know." Misty agreed. "Anyway, what classes did you have?"

"AP Military Strategy and Tactics, Astrobiology and the Search for Extraterrestrial Life, Cryptozoology 101 and Programming."

"Wow. You are out there Clementine. Any signs of Extraterrestrials yet?"

"Only circumstantial evidence so far I'm afraid."

"You might be in luck." He replied. "Have you heard about The Raincoat?"

"Do you mean The Movie Posters people have been putting up around the school?"

"They're more along the lines of normal photoshopped posters than movie posters. The Raincoat is that vigilante that everybody said has been running around saving people around the world." Ada explained. "She or He, we don't know for sure, completely totaled a truck. I saw it on the news."

"Ohhhh that raincoat. The Superman guy. Gal. Him. Her. Whichever. Do you think he's real?"

"Either that or it is one hell of a viral marketing campaign." Misty joked.

"And that is today's Lunch Topic. Interested in joining us?"

"Sure. That sounds like fun."

"Hey by the way? What are you listening to?" Misty asked her. Pointing to the one ear bud she had in her ear.

"A Luna Lazarus Lecture On Nanotechnology."

"Cool!"

"So what's she talking about? What does Miss Lazarus have planned with her nanotech?"

"Using it to treat diseases and other issues with the human body. Therapeutic nanotechnology could be used to deliver drugs, reconstructs brain cells and restores cognitive function. Nanotech contact lenses could be to provide medication, sun protection and vital statistics in treating eye disorders. Nanotechnology can medicate and repair ears reversing hearing loss and vertigo. Nanopolymers can regenerate skin and tissue. To treat diseases like ovarian and breast cancer, nanosensors 1,000 times better than mammograms could find breast cancer and nano-instruments destroy and prevent cancer growth. Nanoparticles on bones repair breaks and strengthen bones in mere days or weeks. In addition, robotic processes transmit information to the brain so patients feel and use them like native limbs. Nanotherapies could be designed to self-adjust to fight bacterial and viral infections, saving millions of lives each year. Robotic limbs, suits and muscular augmentations could increase muscle strength to 100 times human capacity for long missions. Implanted biosensors could manage glucose and vital signs for diseases such as diabetes, releasing meds and detecting emergencies." Clementine summarized.

"But of course that's just the icing. The real fun stuff is what she discusses after: Precise injections of nanobots that attach to different parts of the body, begin replicating, and re-engineering parts of the body, creating smart materials that will replace and improve every part of the human body to upgrade it into a transhuman that's never tired, always at peak performance, has flawless skin, unbreakable bones, super muscles and senses, genetically reprogrammed cells that can self-repair at an accelerated rate, widened neurons in the brain to increase reaction time and intelligence, creating a web of osteoderms in the skin to create flexible but durable shell that is invisible to the naked eye to help the human body resist excessive and harsh damage among other things."

"Well dang that certainly sounds cool." Brian agreed. "How does the super strength work though? Muscle density?"

"That's half right. She suggests that nanotechnology could be used to reduce the production of functional myostatin, allowing muscles to grow more dense and tougher while simultaneously enhancing their body tissue, skin, muscles, bones, etc to become extremely dense and solid, allowing them to withstand harmful forces on the body such as crushing weights, impacts, pressures and changes in temperatures, making them stronger and more durable. The specifics of it are very technical but that's the summary and gist of it."

"Well if anybody could do it, it's Luna Lazarus." Ada agreed. "That woman is a super genius to be sure."

"My head is swimming. That all sounds like something out of Sci-Fi Movies. It would be cool though." Brian added. "Hey wait a second! Wait wait wait! I've got it! The Raincoat! She or he's a Nano-Super!" He invented the term on the spot. "A Nanomachine Powered Superhuman! Like, a Superpowered Prototype that Luna Lazarus created!"

Clementine giggled.

"Well, I wouldn't say it's an impossibility. It's just as possible as every other theory. So we're going with the robot theory?"

"It sounds good to me."

"We can discuss it further when we get to the table. Come on guys! Chow time!"

The students grabbed their fine foods and then a table.

Clementine bought herself Tarragon Chicken Salad Sandwiches, Misty got her Pizza Cauliflower Bites, same as Jasmine, Brian got Baked fiery buffalo wings and Ada settled on Turkey Chili. Dining at Rockwick High was just so absolutely divine.

"Alright boys and girls! Lets begin today's Lunch Topic: The Identity Of The Raincoat! I want to hear ideas people!"

"Hot Take: She or he's a Space Alien." Clementine joked.

"Alright, space alien, first one on the table. Lets hear your reasoning."

"Super fast, super strong, can be in several places at once, and has camouflaging powers to blend in with the night. Nobody normal can do that and certainly not someone from planet Earth. Heretofore, Space Alien. That's how it always works in the comics after all. We can therefore surmise that he or she gets his or her powers from the Earth's Yellow Sun via The Photonucleic Effect on top of coming from an alien planet with higher gravity than Earth. Lets say...around ten times. It would explain the invulnerability, super strength and super speed." She explained to them.

"Okay then. That is a very good argument. Who would like to go next?"

"Lazarus Android." Ada chimed in. "I've never seen any proof of alien life, no offense Clementine, but androids are a real thing. They've been making more advanced robots every day and they've even started making giant mechas now! If anybody could make a superpowered android, it would be Luna Lazarus. Those crime fighting moments were set up by the government to test out the androids abilities. How else would you explain The Raincoat's superpowers and finding all of those crime scenes? It was all set up."

"That does sound more realistic." Clementine admitted.

"So we have Alien and Android. Who wants to go next?"

"Guys, seriously, she's a Nano-Machine powered Superhuman!" Brian smiled. "We just discussed how uber nanomachines could make someone, right? So, here's what happened. The Government used some super prototype nanomachines to make a superhuman and now they're testing him out in combat scenarios!"

"Wait how is that different than my theory?" Ada asked.

"Your ideas an android, a machine construct that combine artificial intelligence and a mechanical body with a human-like appearance, while mine was a nanomachine person which would make him or her closer to a cyborg."

"Ohhhh. Right, right. Okay carry on. Who's next?"

"That would be...moi!" Misty smiled. "And the answer is simple: The Raincoat is really a nanomachine infused alien android powered by sunlight!"

"Oh come on Misty. You can't just copy other people's answers like that!"

"Says who, Brian?"

"It's against the rules."

"Since when do our Lunch Topics have rules?"

"Since now."

"Overruled." Jess smirked.

"I second that notion." Misty agreed.

"I shall remain neutral." Clementine stated for the record.

"Ada! Come on, back me up here?"

Ada took a quarter out of her pocket and flipped in the air, caught it and slapped it on her palm before looking at it. "Annnnd I'm siding with Brian this time."

"That leaves us tied. Clementine, since you're new to the group, we'll need you to break the tie for us. So are you Team Brian or Team Jess?"

They smiled at her expectantly until Clementine carefully placed the ear buds back in her ears and resumed her lunch. "The food here is really good."

"Hey, is it okay if I sit here?" A student asked them. They looked up to see a teen in punk goth attire standing there with his plate. He was wearing a black t-shirt and shorts with black fingerless gloves on his hands and a black wristband on his right wrist, topped off with black horn rimmed glasses on his face.

"Sure man we got plenty of space. Have a seat, bro!" Brian greeted him.

"Thanks man. I'm new. Jack Mccormick." He introduced himself.

"Nice to meet you newbie! I'm Jasmine, and this is Misty, Brian, Ada and Clementine."

They introduced themselves one by one until Clementine did a double take and suddenly sprung out of her chair with her phone in her pocket and grabbed a football that had been flying at the back of Jack's head!

"What the heck?!" Jack exclaimed as he jumped.

Clementine looked across the cafeteria to see a tall student in a football jersey staring at her in disbelief while his two buddies on either side of him laughed and applauded her quick save. Clementine stood up and smiled. "I'll be right back."

"Woah woah woah! Hey, Clementine, you don't want to get involved with those guys!" Brian insisted to her. "Just drop the football and sit back down."

"Clem, those were some awesome reflexes, but those guys are nuts!" Ada told her.

She nodded. "It will be fine. Enjoy your lunch guys." She told them and walked across the cafeteria while the trio approached her. Instead of meeting them in the middle however, Clementine pivoted and instead walked closer to the door where a trash can was sitting and with the trio close behind her she casually dropped the football in the trash, dusted off her hands and walked away with her hands behind her back.

"Ohhhhh shiiii-"

"Brian!"

"I'm on it. Go find a teacher or something!" He told the girls and hurried over to Clementine while the trio were digging the football out of the trash and wiping it down.

"Clem! Clem come on we have to go." Brian insisted and grabbed her arms.

"I don't think so. Sorry but I am not done eating yet and neither are any of you. Come on, lets sit back down and get back to lunch."

"Clementine seriously! That guy's-"

"Hey what the hell's your problem?!" The leader of the trio snapped at her. "We were just joking around! You didn't need to throw it in the trash like that!"

"I am sorry but if you cannot play with it responsibly then you do not deserve it." Clementine informed him casually while changing the phone to ViewTube to find something to listen to. She'd been listening to lectures all morning after all.

"Seriously, Caleb, it's just a football, she didn't do anything wrong alright?"

"Shut up loser. I didn't give either of you bitches permission to speak to me." Caleb Cassius Chambers snapped at him. He was one of the tallest guys in school with a physique to mix and a mostly shaved head and his features made him look like he was carved out of stone. Unfortunately, his personality was on the downright nasty side.

"Real mature." Clementine retorted in a bored tone while searching through the videos. Caleb tried to grab her phone away from her but she casually side-stepped him seemingly without paying attention. He tried again only for the same thing to happen!

Brian took a few steps back unsure of what he was seeing. Cassius was one of the toughest guys in school but she was treating him like a joke!

"Help her Brian!" Jasmine insisted to him.

"Which one?" Brian asked as she danced around Caleb's attempts to grab her. He soon got tired of this and he tried to punch her in the face only for her to duck under him and then keep doing what she was doing, circling around him and side stepping everything he tried, outright humiliating the bully without throwing a punch!

Clementine smiled as she apparently found a song she liked and hit play. She began to mouth the words even as she dodged around him, did a pirouette and resumed mouthing the lyrics to Adam Lambert's For Your Entertainment.

One of Caleb's buddies tried to tackle Clementine from behind but suddenly tripped over his untied shoelaces and fell on his face to the laughter of the lunchroom.

Jack adjusted his glasses and enjoyed his lunch while he watched the whole thing unfold. "...This is a weird school."

"Dammit! STAND STILL" Caleb shouted at her.

"Nope. I don't wanna." Clementine pouted.

He reared back to prepare for a big windup punch at her face and then he threw the punch but he completely whiffed it! Caleb tried a right cross at her jaw but she dodged it. He tried a straight punch at her face but she slipped it. He tried an uppercut at her jaw but she leaned back and dodged it. He swung at her face again but she ducked under his arm and circled back around. He tried a swinging backhand but she ducked under him again. He tried again and again to the same result. It was like he was trying to ice-skate uphill! No matter how hard he tried he didn't get anywhere! Caleb would know. He'd tried it in the past when he was a kid. He might as well have been trying to punch the air for all of the success he was having against Clementine!

"What in the hell? No, seriously, how is she doing that?" Ada asked. "I'm not complaining of course but how?!"

Misty meanwhile had ran off to find a teacher. Or at least a security guard!

Caleb finally stopped his attempted beatdown on Clementine to catch his breath while one of his friends circled around behind her. "You...y-you...you're finished....after I catch my breath...ohhh man....you're fast. You're vest fast. Hooooo boy."

"Are you done now? Can I go back to my lunch now?" Clementine asked him a bored tone.

"Oh you want to eat something?" He asked as he straightened up. "How would you like to eat my fist?" Caleb sneered as his buddy charged her from behind aiming to Football Tackle her to the floor so Caleb could land a devastating punch on her face and knock her head off only for Clementine to dodge him at the last minute and pirouette away. Meanwhile, Caleb's buddy lost his footing and he ended up colliding with Caleb and knocking him over before he could stop himself! Caleb had the wind knocked out of him as they both crashed to the floor.

"Uggghh...oh, OH! Caleb! S-sorry about that man! I tripped!"

"Get off me." Caleb pushed his friend off of him and tried to catch his breath as the rest of the lunchroom laughed at them. "What the hell did you even-HUH?! Oh you've gotta be kidding me!"

His buddy turned around and stared in disbelief. "No way. You have to be joking." A banana peel. He'd slipped on a freaking banana peel! "Well ain't that a kick in the head?"

"That...DOES IT!" He screamed and ran at her in a blind rage while Clementine was pulling her chair back out. She calmly looked back at Caleb and then hopped over the chair to the other side of it and walked away. Caleb ran on top of the chair and leaped above her and tried to punch Clementine only for her to side step him once again. He was so focused on trying to hit Clementine that he completely forgot about his landing and he slipped and fell on his face.

"Better learn balance. Balance is key. Balance good, karate good. Everything good." Clementine advised him. "Balance bad, better pack up, go home. Understand?"

"SHUT UP AND FIGHT ME LIKE A MAN!" Caleb shouted at her while he scrambled to his feet.

"I'm a girl." She reminded him.

"Then stand still and I'll smack you like one!" Caleb shouted back and attacked her again. It was all the same though. No matter what he tried she just bobbed and weaved and danced around him. No matter how much he mixed it up she saw right through it and outmaneuvered him with ease. He might as well have been trying to catch a ghost. Eventually one of Caleb's buddies attacked her from behind by trying to swing a tray at her head only for her to dive out of the way at the last second causing him to smack Caleb with the tray while Caleb's punch hit his own friend in the face!

"OW Dude! What the hell?"

"Owwww~ Ah man! Ow! I was aiming for her! What are you doing?"

"I was trying to smack that little brat! What are you doing?!"

Clementine meanwhile had returned to her seat and was now sitting with her legs crossed and a her drink in her hand and her other hand underneath it as she leisurely sipped it.

Caleb took a break to catch his breath and re-evaluate this entire situation. "Jus...just give me a second." He told her. "I-I'll be right with you...oh man. What is going on here?" She hadn't thrown a single punch and spent the whole fight running away but somehow they were the ones getting their asses kicked! "What the hell are you?"

"My name is Clementine Kane and I'm a Farmgirl. You on the other hand could use some anger management classes. Now we can continue this little dance of ours or I can get back to my lunch. And I am feeling rather hungry. So please leave me and my friends be. I'm sure everyone else would like to get back to their own lunches too. Have a good day." She turned around and went back to her lunch.

Caleb and his buddies were left staring slack jawed at this display. Not only the utter humiliation they'd just suffered and the subsequent disrespect after this girl just ran circles around them. And now they were standing here tired and gasping for breath and sweating and she didn't even have a single hair out of place. The trio stammered for words until one of them just yelled out "Oh to HELL with this!" One of them shoved the other two and picked up a chair.

"Woah woah! Adam wait just a-"

"SHUT IT CALEB!" He shouted and ran at Clementine and threw the entire chair at her! Clementine responded by standing up and holding up her backpack to shield herself and block the chair and pushed the chair down. She placed her backpack on her own chair, lifted up the first one, righted it and slid it over to him while the moron was still coming at her causing Adam to trip over it and fall on his face like his friends had been doing all day. Clementine walked over to him and knelt down next to Adam. "I gave you a chance. Several chances. I kept trying to walk away and resolve this peacefully but you have continued to harass me and antagonize me over this." She held five fingers up in front of her face as the thug tried to pull himself up. He froze up and his eyes widened in fear as her fingers curled up into a fist. "This is what you want isn't it?" She brought her hand back and Adam began to whimper. "To drive your fist through your victim's face, to savor the fear in their eyes while you mercilessly beat them into bloody pulps no matter how much they beg and cry for mercy?" She reached out with her hand and gently opened it to gently, gingerly, honk his nose between two fingers. So gentle it was as if she was playing a newborn baby. "Luckily for you I'm not like that. Honk honk." She stood up, brushed herself off and offered him a hand and waited patiently while Adam hesitantly reached for it and took her hand and accepted her hand up.

"Oh come on man, stop shaking, I was just messing with you." She took the chair back to the table. "You guys have a lot to learn about comedy by the way."

Misty returned to the lunchroom with the principal and a security guard in tow to the sound of uproarious applause and cheers for Clementine! Caleb and his cronies were sitting at an empty table tired sore and exhausted while Clementine was sitting back at the table with the group eating her lunch now joined by a few other students.

"Ummmm...Miss Pendleton? I thought you said there was a disturbance here? What exactly did we miss?"

Misty took a look around the lunchroom and then she pulled out her phone. "Wait for it."

It didn't take long before the 'fight' was uploaded to the internet. "Here you are sir. I would like to reiterate once again however that those three boys over there were the ones that started it. All Clementine did was try to defend herself and others."

The Principal and The Security Guard watched the whole affair on the phone.

"Can this really even be considered a fight?" The Security Guard asked. "She's not even doing anything."

The Principal waited until the end of the video where Clementine once again tripped up one of the boys and then threatened him before helping him up.

"Alright so. I'm going to have to talk her about that but I think we can chalk her up as the innocent party here." He handed her back the phone and walked into the middle of the room and clapped his hands. "Alright, alright everybody, break it up, sit down and go back to your lunches! Caleb, Drew, Adam and Clementine? I'm going to need to speak with you in my office."

Clementine looked up from her lunch. "Can I get a box?"

Clementine sat in the Principal's office with her lunch in a rectangular container situated on her lap while she waited for The Principal to finish questioning Caleb and his two friends. The principal was keeping hold of the plasticware until further notice though. Despite the empty seat between them, and the fact that Clementine clearly wasn't paying attention to them, Adam and Dru were visibly nervous about her just being there.

"Alright, look, I admit things got a bit out of hand but she's the one who started it alright? My buddies and I were tossing the football around with each other, just goofing off, and then it gets thrown a little too hard and flies across the lunchroom. That was stupid, I admit it, but she caught it so there wasn't any problem. We asked for it back but then she just walks right past us and throws it away! She flat out throws it in the trash! So naturally after we took it out and cleaned it off I asked what her problem was and told her to apologize but she just went and picked a fight with me. I understand that things got heated but it wasn't all our fault. She started it and just kept antagonizing us. She kept tripping us and even tricked me and my friend into hitting each other! It wasn't all our fault!"

Principal Featherstonehaugh just red his cheek on his hand while he listened to Caleb lie to him and waited until he was finished. Featherstonehaugh was a classy gentleman, with a fine blue suit and tie worn over a pressed white shirt with fine black loafers and a golden watch. He has a well maintained beard on his face and well combed hair. His features were like stone as he listened to the stream of lies coming out of Caleb's mouth.

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He waited until he was done and then showed him the video. "Mr. Chambers I would advise you not to lie to me. I heard your screaming and swearing on the way to the lunchroom. It certainly sounded like you and your friends were the aggressors there. Furthermore, everyone politely recorded the fight. Is this you and your friend trying to hit Miss Kane with a tray and a punch?"

"W-well, yes but I-"

"And is this your friend throwing a chair at Miss Kane?"

"Okay I tried to stop that-"

"Yes or no Mister Chambers?"

"Yes sir."

"Uh huh. Sounds like this is all the evidence I need. Now why don't you tell me the truth and why you did it?"

"The truth...well, you see, the truth is...it feels good to establish a hierarchy. I'm at the top and the losers and nerds are at the bottom. It feels good to put them in their place. It feels good to smack them around and watch them cry. I threw the football and that nerd because I find it funny. I take pleasure from things like that. Fuck you!" Caleb Chambers snapped at him in confession. "Happy now, Featherweight? I'm the Alpha here and I can do whatever I want to these losers."

"Yeah that's a Suspension Confession if I've ever heard one. You're wrong on a few points however. Any man who must say 'I am King' is no true King at all and any man who must declare himself an Alpha is no Alpha. Even if it was true, and it very clearly isn't." He played the video again. "That doesn't give you the right to hurt anyone. If you were as great as you claim to be you would be leading by example and building other people up instead of violently lashing out at them and throwing a childish tantrum."

Caleb had no real answer to that. "I...uhm...look sir, I-I'm sorry. I've just had a bad time of it lately. My Uncle's truck got destroyed by what is probably an alien and now he's in the hospital and my dad has been working to pay his bills and he just got a major DUI and-"

"See now isn't this better? A healthy communication can be a lot of help for you. I would recommend talking to our counselors and a therapist about your problems. Unfortunately you're still looking at a suspension period for your actions here today to be handed down after I finish questioning the others followed by one week detention after you return from your suspension. I didn't tolerate Ferris acting out, I'm certainly not going to tolerate your behavior. You are dismissed."

Caleb sighed and stepped out of the office and slumped into the chair.

Adam was called next followed by Drew followed finally by Clementine. Still holding her boxed lunch she sat down in his office and looked around. "Wow. This is the first time I've been in your office, sir. This is a nice room. Very classy."

"Thank you Miss Kane. Now, would you mind explaining what happened in the cafeteria today in your own words?"

"Sure. I was sitting with my new friends and we were enjoying lunch and theorizing about The Raincoat and joking around when Jack came around to join us. That was when Caleb threw the football at the back of his head. I saw it coming just in time though and I caught it. Now I had the football and my mother always said that if I was going to misuse a toy then she was going to take it away. Seeing as how Caleb had thrown his football away so recklessly, I decided to drop it into a trash can to teach a lesson. However this caused the situation to escalate and he approached me angrily. I attempted to de-escalate and avoid him but he continued trying to grab me and shout at me. However I dodged his attempts and did not hit back. Any injuries resulting from our confrontation were the result of his own recklessness and those of his friends."

She paused.

"Well, I assume they are friends. They were hitting each other a lot." She shrugged. "Anyway, I continued avoiding conflict until one of them threw a chair at me when I was trying to walk away and end the situation. I stopped this and kicked a chair his way and he tripped over it. As none of my other attempts to end this situation had worked, I decided to pretend to be a bad guy to scare him and then I ended it with a joke. I realize that threatening him might not have been the best way to handle the situation but they had just tried to pulverize me."

"I see...alright I appreciate your honesty. You're right in that you are the victim here, not the aggressor. You are also right that threatening him in the way you did and kicking a chair at him were not proper responses. Considering their actions in comparison however, I'm going to let you off lightly: I would like to write a seven page essay in MLA Format on conflict resolution. Cite your sources properly, etc. I want this essay laminated and on my desk by Friday for review. In addition I would like you to speak to a school counselor about what happened today. Finally, just like the other three, I am going to be calling your parents about what happened today. Odds are they'll probably see the video anyway so they might as well hear about it from me beforehand."

"That's fair sir."

"Alright then. I appreciate your politeness and honesty today. I'll write you a hallpass after the phone calls are taken care of."

"Thank you again sir."

"Okay! That's that then. Oh, but, one more question: Where did you learn to dodge like that?"

"I watch a lot of Jackie Chan Movies. Plus I live on a farm. You learn to be quick on your feet there."

He chuckled. "I can imagine. Alright, feel free to wait outside."

"Thank you again sir."

"Thank you."

She started to walk to the door but then she turned back around and walked back over to him. "Sir? May I have my utensils and headphones back?"

"Your utensils yes but the headphones will stay with me until you're ready to leave the office."

"Understood sir."

She accepted the plastic utensils and stepped out.

The three bullies just glared at her while Clementine resumed eating her lunch.

Principal Featherstonehaugh dialed the number for the Kane Farm and drummed his fingers on the desk while he waited.

After a couple rings the phone picked up and the beautiful sing song voice of Marie Kane answered on the other end. "Hello. Kane Residence. How many I help you?"

"Hello Miss Kane it's nice to speak with you again. This is Principal Featherstonehaugh. How are you doing today?"

"Oh hello Mister Feathers! What's up?"

"It's about your daughter. Clementine was in a fight at school today." Marie went quiet on the other end of the line. "Miss Kane? Miss Kane are you still there?"

"Ohmygod.Ohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygod....is she okay? Are those kids okay? Is everyone okay? What happened?"

"Alright, Miss Kane, Miss Kane. Please calm down and allow me to explain what happened."

"I...see. Okay. So nobody was hurt?"

"Some bruises but their pride was wounded worse than their bodies. However, her threats to the student isn't something we can overlook. Incidentially, where did she learn to fight like this?"

"She watches a lot of action movies and she practices the moves in her room when she thinks we won't notice."

"Okay then. That's about what she said. Okay we'll need you and your husband to come in and have a sit down with the other parents."

"Oh of course sir. Sure. We'll be happy to do so."

"Excellent. We'll continue our discussion when you arrive. I'll see you then." He hung up and called the Chambers family.

Marie Kane sat down on the stairs next to her husband Justin Kane.

Marie is a tall woman, standing at 6'1, a bit taller in her work boots, with short, reddish brown hair she has tied up in a bun in the back and green eyes that match her green dress which is covered by a white apron.

Justin is even taller than his wife. Broad shouldered, rugged and muscular, with big feet and hands. He has darker brown hair with a light goatee on his face.
He is dressed in the usual wear of a farmer.

"It's okay, Marie. It's alright. She didn't hurt anybody. Feathers said it himself. Those boys were hurting themselves more than her. Not like they could hurt her even if she stood there anyway. Hell, it's probably for the best that she dodged around them like that. If they broke their hands on her we'd really have a mess on our hands."

"I know. I know. I'm not worried about her not fighting. I'm worried about what would happen if she did. She handled it the right way today. Even if I wish she would've just walked away, she handled it alright. But I'm worried about what would happen if she did. The town wouldn't stand a chance."

"Marie, Marie, Marie, Marie. Look at me honey. She's a good kid. We're raising her right all things considered. She spent her Spring Break away from home looking for people to save for Chrissake."

"Yeah. She did. She's a good kid. Our daughter's a good kid. She's a sweetheart. She's our Angel. The sky gave her to us. But we'll still need to have a talk with her. Can't have her threatening the other kids even as a joke after all."

"That's the spirit honey. Just remember. She's our little angel and nothing's going to change that. She's a good sweet kid. We just need to sit Clementine down for a talk and she'll understand alright?"

"You're right. I'm worried about nothing." Marie stood up and brushed off her apron. "Alright, come on, lets go get changed into something fancy. It'll make the conversation with Feathers go easier."

Last Edit: Oct 17, 2020 19:57:30 GMT by SuperKamiGuy1

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I Live In A World Made Of Cardboard Oct 17, 2020 21:45:14 GMT SuperKamiGuy1 likes this

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Post by SuperKamiGuy1 on Oct 17, 2020 21:45:14 GMT

Sept 25, 2020 23:21:47 GMT SuperKamiGuy1 said:

Chapter 1: School Days

Rockwick, Highoak.

Jasmine Berry adjusted her glasses in her reflection until she was satisfied followed by double checking her green eyeglasses straps which complimented her green t-shirt. She leaned back and checked her outfit for the day. A green t-shirt and blue jeans and tennis shoes.

The hazel eyed girl with shoulder-length brown hair kept in two pigtailed braids twirled in front of the mirror and checked herself out. She beamed. Finding her outfit more than acceptable for the current day. Spring Break had been perfect for recharging her batteries and hanging out with her friends but now it was back to school and there would be no rest until Summer Vacation in a couple of months and then she could really party with them.

But that was for the future. Right now, School had to get ready for her. She grabbed her bag and bounded out of her room and down the stairs.

After enjoying breakfast, Jasmine hurried out of the house to the bus stop. Their little town of Rockwick was an amazing jumble of different styles: rickety wooden shops, marble and brick houses, huge stone churches. Everything had been beaten down and baked by the sun - and sunlight was everywhere: in the dust, in the vivid colors, in the smells of spices and overripe fruit. The town was a maze of narrow winding streets, as complex as the heart. A wild and winding whose floor pattern must have been designed by a crazy person and yet the inhabitants of Rockwick had learned to navigate it. The chaos had a method to it and once you learned to navigate it, it was plenty of fun. Plus they enjoyed the occasional laugh around newcomers to the town who kept getting turned around and confused by the layout of the town.

After navigating the twisting turns of the town, she finally arrived at the bus stop where her friends were relaxing. Misty Pendleton, Brian Palmer and Ada Caldwell. "Hey guuuuuys!" Jasmine called out to them while waving wildly. They looked up and cheered and waved back.

"About time you got here! Were trying to sleep in?" Misty teased. Misty is young woman of average height with long light-blonde hair she kept tied in a long ponytail, healthy tanned skin and she has blue eyes like the sea. She's wearing a white Nirvana T-shirt and Cream Colored Boho Cropped Skinny Jeans with gray thigh high socks, and red Mary-Jane Shoes.

They high-fived up high and down low and then walked back over to the bus stop.

"Not even close! I just had to navigate a maze that's all. I don't live quite as close to the stop as you do."

"Hmph. Excuses are like derrières, darling." Misty scolded her.

"True but some... derrières are nice and slappable." Jasmine fired back with a smirk.

"That is also true but please do mind your manners. We are proper ladies after all."

"Still staying in character for the play I see."

She placed a hand on her chest and then she extended her other hand while gesticulating dramatically. "I am a proper actress after all. I have no choice but to immerse myself in my roles if I am to ever walk the fabled Red Carpet!"

"You are aware that Hollywood is full of a-holes right?" Brian asked her. You can't help but compare this gentleman to a glorious phoenix. His wide eyes are turquoise and gleam mysteriously. He has shoulder length, straight, bright red hair that is styled in a way reminiscent of a Robin blowing in the wind. His body is notably sleek. He's wearing an orange t-shirt, black jeans and dark shoes.

"Quiet you. Do not design to tread upon my dreams!"

"Can and will." He joked with her.

"Never change, you guys." Ada laughed. This buxom young lady in the Splendid Roller Rugby Tee and a Skort puts you in mind of a dignified swan. She has coffee-colored eyes. Her luxurious, straight, dark hair is long and is worn in a utilitarian, businesslike style. She is tall and has a leggy build. Her skin is pale and she has knobby ears.

"I wouldn't dream of it." Misty smiled.

The crew joked around until the bus rolled up and they filed in. While it was driving them to school though, Jasmine kept her eyes peeled outside the whole ride. "Where are you?"

"Still looking for her huh?"

"I haven't seem Clementine all week! Didn't you notice that? Even discounting the fact that our town is designed like a maze, she just disappeared during Spring Break and she never takes the bus. We only see her at school, she's closed off and I want to know why. I want to get to the bottom of her mystery."

"Clementine Kane is an introvert. What's wrong with that?" Brian reasoned.

"Nothing." Jasmine replied. "But I want to know. I'm fresh off of Spring Break, my batteries are recharged and I want to solve a mystery."

"Okay and?"

"And I'm dragging you guys into it with me."

"I mean, is it even necessary?" Ada asked her. "So she's slightly enigmatic and her socks never match, what's the big deal? Just because she's quiet is no reason to stalk her or anything. If you have to ask her something, why not just straight up talk to her?"

"I know what you're saying, but she's always walking around with those earbuds in or working in the library and she disappears during lunch. Seriously. People have seen it. She grabs her food, bounces and then she comes back around the corner after lunch is over. Just like how she disappeared during break. Where does she go? What's her story? I want to get to know her so I can stop going crazy over this."

"Clementine...Clementine...wait, isn't she the shy girl with the earplugs and the socks? Wears a skirt? Freckles?" Brian asked.

"That's her. You know her?"

"Not too well. I've heard she's taking all of the AP Classes though so she's probably a Brainiac. I bet those earbuds are like books on tape or something."

"Maaan if she's taking all of those her family must be loaded." Ada drummed her fingers on the seat. "The courses are free but the tests aren't. They can charge you up to $92.00 for those. Depending on her hours, they could be racking up $644.00 or more. Not to mention figuring out how many tests each class would give you over the course of a year and if she's taking them every year that could get out of control fast. According to salary data for farmers, ranchers and other agricultural managers from May 2016, the average salary is $75,790 a year. In contrast, they make a median salary of $66,360, with half getting lower salaries and half being paid more. They must have some crazy good products if they're able to afford it year after year."

"Mayhap they are selling that dreadful Tomacco plant like those awful Brannons?" Misty questioned in a joking manner.

"Thankfully. Nobody's seen those creeps after they were ran out of town and their crops were destroyed. She must come from money."

"I dunno. I figure if somebody in Rockfort was rich, we'd know about it."

"We won't know until we ask and I think that's the best way to do it. If we see her in the hallways we can ask her to hang out with us if she gets some free time. Quick, clean and simple."

"Huh. Okay yeah that's way easier. Lets just do that."

They got comfortable in their seats while the bus navigated their quiet little, crazily designed mazelike labyrinthine mountain town until they reached their school and the driver parked so they could file out.

The school's design was suitably bizarre fitting with the design of the rest of the town. It looked like bigger than normal school building mixed with the Selfridges Building's design, with a steel framework and sprayed concrete façade, all in a shape resembling a spider. It was a little strange to an outsider and indeed most citizens of Rockwick were surprised whenever they first laid their eyes upon it but it grew on you as you got used to it. Despite it's bizarre exterior the interior was nice clean and modern. The design was intended to put you at ease as you wondered the halls of Rockwick High in comfort with navy blue diamond carpeting, nice clean hallways and classrooms, comfortable chairs, spacious lockers, good lighting and more! Rockwick High was a very nice place to attend school if you could get over how weird it looked outside and how weird it could be to navigate before you get used to it.

As the students filed in from the various school buses and their parents dropping them off or the bikers riding up to it, Jasmine kept an eye out for Clementine. It took awhile to pick her out of the crowd but she eventually spotted her rounding a corner. She was wearing her usual outfit. A black jacket over a white blouse with buttons, black fingerless gloves and a dark pleated skirt, mismatched socks and black and white shoes. She has short, layered, hair and freckles across the bridge of her nose. Her hair is more rosewood than black walnut, more like fresh chestnuts with their glossy skins in autumn light. She has a tall and skinny almost lanky figure of average height and yet she's carrying her big heavy backpack like it weighs nothing. She had her white and gold earbuds in as she casually navigated through the waves of people like they weren't even there!

Jasmine smiled. Time to make a new friend.

It took a bit of effort for Jasmine to catch up to her due to Clementine simultaneously power walking and expertly navigating the crowded hallway. Even with all of the students coming and going from all sides she casually navigated around them so fluidly it was like she was a ghost. Thankfully once the crowd cleared up a bit Jasmine was finally able to catch up with her and she started power walking next to her. She was still having trouble keeping up but she was close enough to be able to get her attention. "Hi there!" Jasmine greeted. She didn't hear her over her music though so she tried again and waved to her. "Hello!" She waved. "Hi, I'm Jasmine! I don't think we've met or anything, we don't have any classes together, but I thought I'd take the chance to get to know you today right? So, ah, I'm Jasmine and you're...you're Clementine right?" She asked her.

Clementine finally noticed Jasmine and looked around before pointing at herself. Jasmine nodded and offered her hand. "I'm Jasmine Berry."

Clementine slowly took out one of the earbuds and Jasmine noticed it was almost like was bracing herself before she answered. "Hello?"

"Hiya. I'm Jasmine Berry!"

"Oh. Okay. I'm Clementine Kane."

"Nice to meet you, Clementine." She offered her hand until Clementine reached out and gently shook it.

Jasmine noticed how light her handshake was. It was gentle. Like you were shaking hands with a baby. She also looked a little nervous when reaching out but she still went through the handshake regardless. "Hello."

"Hi. I've noticed you around school before but I don't think we've officially met. You're in different classes then me and all so we obviously haven't had the chance so here I am introducing myself to you now." She explained. "So, uh, anyway, hi again. What are you listening to?"

"Oh right. This is...Luna Lazarus's lectures."

"Luna Lazarus? The Super Super Genius from Rosewater?"

"Yes."

"Man oh man you can actually keep up with her lectures? I tried to but it was way too advanced for me." Jasmine confessed.

"Yes. It's very advanced but I can understand it. Her work on biology, medicine, computer science, physics, electronic engineering, neurology, psychology, and genotype interactions are impressive. To say the least and I enjoy listening to her lectures. They're soothing and thought provoking."

"Seriously? So is she like an expert in everything?" Jasmine asked incredulously.

"As I understand it, she's an expert in all fields of science and can speak and write all languages flawlessly without exception." Clementine replied casually. "She's certainly very impressive. But she doesn't go here and we do. So can I help you with today?"

"Well, to be honest, I thought you looked lonely and I haven't seen you around in awhile or hanging out with anyone so I thought I'd extend an olive branch."

"Oh thank you. You're very kind." She glanced at a clock. "However, we should probably hurry to our classes, Jasmine."

"Right, yeah, of course. I hope I get a chance to introduce you to my friends later. See you later, Clementine."

"I would like that. Thank you." She replied. "I'll see you later, Jasmine." She put the bud back in her ear and disappeared into the crowd.

"That went well. That went really well." Jasmine told her friends as they caught up with her.

"Well? Analysis?"

"She's cool. It turns out she's just shy. We just have to ease her out of her shell." Jasmine assured them as she walked to class with her friends. "It turns out she's a Lazarus fan."

"Really?"

"Yeah. You were actually right about the books on tapes thing. She's been listening to her lectures and even better? She can actually keep up with them."

"Woah seriously?" Brian asked. "I think she's cool too but I got lost in those lectures...and her eyes."

Misty ruffled his hair in response. "She is so, so far out of your league, she's in another galaxy playboy."

"Don't give up on your dreams, Brian!" Ada cheered him on.

"Don't encourage him."

"I'm the wing-girl. I encourage my homies. Speaking personally however, I have my eyes on someone waaay more exotic."

"Oh? And who would that be?"

Ada pointed to a poster someone had placed on a wall.

"Ohhhhhh him huh?" Brian asked. "You really think he's real? Or...she? Or whoever this guy is?"

"Could be? How else do you explain what happened to those people?"

"An excellent question for another time. We have got to get to class." Jasmine reminded her friends. "Going to be one hell of a Lunch Topic either way."

"We'll hold you to that. In the meantime, I want everyone to form theories and whomever comes up with the craziest one wins a prize." Brian offered his friends.

"As for said prize, we'll come up with that when we get there." Ada joked and the friends parted to their respective classes.

"So...like, I don't know whether The Raincoat is a robot or something else entirely, but I do know that he or she was able to carve the Greek Letters χῖ and ϰ carved into a metal truck trailer. Falling rubble wouldn't just do that no matter how many rocks fell down on the truck. They might wreck the trailer sure but there's no way that falling rocks would coincidentally do that kind of damage to a truck. Something else happened there."

"Like what? Like there's some kind of superhuman out there?" Brian asked her in disbelief.

"I don't know. Maybe? It's the only explanation I can come up with. Seriously what else would do that to a truck?"

"Okay, but, supposing that, if there really is a superhuman out there, why not use their powers to make money and get rich like a sane person?"

"Maybe he or she isn't interested in that. Besides, if The Raincoat did go public, you just know the government would go after him to cut him up and dissect him to find out how his powers work."

"Seriously, Jazz? You of all people are drinking the conspiracy-aid?" He chuckled.

"I mean...when you look at the dimwits in charge...I'm just saying!"

"That's fair. Anyway, I'll catch you later!"

"We can bring this back up at lunch!" She promised and walked away.

Jasmine arrived in her math class and took her notebook and math homework out as she prepared for the lecture.

"Psst, hey Jazz, you hear about The Raincoat?" A student asked from behind her.

"Yeah, he's all everyone's talking about lately, Benny. It's crazy right?"

"Crazy is right. I heard he's an alien robot and he's preparing the planet for invasion." Benton 'Benny' Hobbs was a lean and tall student wearing a green t-shirt and grey pants with messy light brown hair and hazel eyes. He was well known as one of the most easygoing and laid back students at the school.

"Heh, who knows? You might just be right about that. It would explain his super powers." She reasoned. "Hey, you think his spaceship talks to him too?'

"Oh yeah. It tells him to take the world and seduce the beautiful women."

"An alien sex mission? Really?"

"Hey, if Kirk can go out into space to seduce green women, there's no reason that aliens can't come here to do the same."

"Gross. But fair."

"Heads up guys!" Another student called to them as the door opened up and their teacher walked into the room. Well, not so much walked in as...moonwalked into the room in her usual fashion. Because one thing the class had learned about Miss Sofia Snyder is that she never did anything normally besides her outfits. She wore an all white skirt-suit with blue leggings and shoes with her chocolate brown hair tied in a short ponytail. Her eyes were framed by black framed glasses.

Miss Snyder moonwalked into the room and danced over to her desk before stopping and taking out her headphones and turned off her phone. "Hello again class! Welcome back to Advanced Geometric Algorithms! I'm super happy to see you all back here again and I hope you're all rested up, bright eyed and bushy tailed from break because I'm going to put you through your paces kids! But first, if you would all pass your Spring Break Homework up to the front desk of each row so I can collect them and assign any bonus points you earned!" She called to them all in a singsong voice.

Everyone who completed the Extra Credit Spring Break Homework Assignment passed the papers up to the front desk in front of them until the pile reached the front desks of each row where she gathered them and placed them in her desk for later grading.

"Thank you much kids! I'm so happy to see you're taking your education seriously! Now, if you will take your textbooks out and turn them to Chapter 3, we can begin today's lecture!" Miss Snyder informed them cheerfully.

The students did so and she did a spinning pirouette before striking a disco pose and she began writing on the board while beginning her lecture.

"The proteomic research deals with the systematic analysis of complete profiles of the proteins expressed in a given cell, tissue or biological system at a given time. In this field, 2D–gel electrophoresis

(2–DE) is a well–established and widely used technique to separate proteins in a sample. A 2–DE gel

is the product of two sequentially performed separations in acrylamide gel media: isoelectric focusing as first dimension and a separation by molecular weight as second dimension. The result of that

process is a 2D pattern of spots each representing a protein. There is a variety of staining methods to

display protein spots: Coomassie blue and silver-staining and / or fluorescent and radioactive labeling. Mass spectrometry and the visual (usually computer aided) comparison (matching) with already

analyzed gel images of such a sample are used to identify proteins. The visual analysis of such 2–

DE image series intends to identify those proteins that change their expression (size, intensity) and

reflect/cause certain biochemical and biomedical conditions of an organism, see [26]. However, this

Computer Science Department, University of Arizona, email:alon@CS.Arizona.EDU

y

Institut f¨ur Informatik, Freie Universit¨at Berlin, Takustr. 9, D-14195 Berlin, email:name@inf.fu-berlin.de

z

Deutsches Herzzentrum Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, D-13353 Berlin

x

Supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, grant FL 165/4–2.

{

Supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, grant AL 253/4–3.

1

requires high throughput analysis tools and the major challenge is to obtain both robust and reliable

algorithmic solutions that work automatically, or at least need only little user interaction. As we

will see, this goal in conjunction with efficiency requirements makes it necessary to start with simple

(sometimes oversimplified) modelling assumptions.

A second strand of research was initiated in [22]. Here the challenge consists of creating analysis

software that is able to perform interlaboratory gel image comparisons and to deal with images from

various databases via the Internet.

The intensive research on these questions emphasizes the strong demand from the practitioners

for better algorithmic solutions.

The aim of this paper is to demonstrate how ideas from computational geometry help to meet

these challenges in the context of the two most basic problems in gel analysis: Spot detection: Given a scanned 2–DE gel image identify spot regions. Gel matching: Given two images by their spot lists, perform a matching procedure to identify

those spot pairs that correspond to each other, so that the matching reflects both geometric and

spot intensity resemblance of the images.

In this paper we survey algorithmic studies and implementation work that was done while developing

the 2–DE analysis software system CAROL ([9]). It contains both new results (Section 2, Subsection

3.4) and partly published ones (Section 3, [17]). Interestingly, this application problem has also lead

to new theoretical questions in geometry.

In Section 2 we address the spot detection question in the following context. Originally the

CAROL project was designed to answer only matching queries for gel images. It turned out that

available spot detection algorithms did not adequately support the underlying philosophy that is based

on the similarity of geometric point patterns. Thus the spot detection approach presented here aims

at determining the point pattern of a gel as precise as possible rather than computing exact shapes

and volume data of spots. We assume that each spot has approximately the shape of an axis-parallel

ellipse. This is a widely accepted, but surely simplified, modeling assumption, see for example [5] or

[14]. However, spots that are very close to each other may partially overlap and “merge”. This can

lead to rather complicated local pixel regions, as depicted in Figure 1, compare [20].

In [23] a spot detection algorithm is described that relies on a watershed transformation applied

to the gradient image. The most difficult part is the interpretation of twin spots, streaks (left side

in Fig.1), and so–called complex regions (right side in Fig.1) as unions of ellipses. This especially

applies to the case of oversaturated regions in silver stained gels.

Figure 1: Twin spots, streaks, and a complex region

In fact, in [23] the latter case of interpreting complex regions was left open and in the implementation

the user had to edit these complex regions by hand. Here we present an algorithmic solution to this

2

question based on a Linear Programming (LP) formulation. To the best of our knowledge it is the first

algorithmic attempt to deal with spot detection of complex oversaturated regions in a single image.

An alternative approach has been studied in [6], where the information of multiple already aligned

images is used for a subsequent spot detection.

There is an inherent uncertainty in the images due to the electrophoresis process itself which is

highly susceptible to faults and geometric distortions. The reader may argue just by looking at the

images, that there is no hope to come up with a perfect spot detection algorithm. This is certainly true.

Yet we can cope with this ambiguity, at least to some extent by computing a ranked list of proposals

how a complex region could be covered instead of computing only the “best” covering, which could

be erroneous. Then, in the matching algorithm, we have the possibility to accept the matching of two

ambiguous regions if there is a pair of proposed coverings that match.

The matching algorithm itself is described in Section 3. Assume that a source and a target image

are given by their spot lists. We first transform the lists into geometric point patterns, where a spot is

represented by the ellipse center coordinates and additionally we code the real size/intensity of the spot

into a single integer value. The lists can be of significantly different size and, additionally, we allow

the images to show only partially overlapping sections of the gels. Thus the task is to find a maximal–

cardinality one–to–one matching of the spot lists, so that this mapping respects both the geometry of

the images and the relative spot intensities i.e., relatively intensive source spots should be mapped to

relatively intensive target spots. The geometric matching criterion is based on similarity of imaginary

edges which link spots. Two edges are similar if their length ratio and the difference of their angles

formed with the x–axis are within preset tolerance bounds. Our algorithmic solution, which we call

global–via–local matching, works in two stages. Firstly, we compute matchings for several small local

patterns, which are chosen in a grid–like fashion. For this local matching we use a modified alignment

method known from point pattern matching ([2]) combined with geometric hashing. A significant

speed–up is gained by reducing the set of all source / target edges to those belonging to the history

of the incremental Delaunay triangulation of the spot lists in the order of their decreasing intensities.

Having sets of matching candidates for each of the local patterns, we select a subset that is consistent

with the overall grid topology. The matching spot pairs computed this way later serve as “landmarks”

in the second stage. Landmarks were also used in previous algorithmic solutions, but they had to

be set manually. The novelty of our solution is to generate them automatically. The subsequent

extension from landmarks to a maximal global matching is rather standard by local neighborhood

comparisons. Since this step uses mainly geometric information, it is capable to match spots with

different intensities, that correspond to significantly regulated proteins. Moreover in the extension

step it is possible to exploit the proposal lists for ambigious spot regions, as computed in the spot

detection. This way, we present a first step towards the simulation of how an expert would compare

images by visual inspection, namely, by intertwining the spot detection with the matching process.

Figure 2 shows two 2–DE gel images originated from a transfection experiment of cultured EaHy

cells with 800 (left) and 1000 protein spots. Their original size is about 23cm by 29cm. For the

purpose of illustration in Figure 3 and 4 more details are shown of the small rectangular window

regions marked in Figure 2. (For simplicity ellipses were replaced by circles.)

In both Sections 2 and 3 we also refer to related theoretical issues and open problems in computational geometry that could further improve our solution. In Section 4 we outline implementation

issues and describe experimental results.

2 Spot Detection in Complex Regions as an Ellipse Covering Problem

Spot detection is to a wide extent an image processing problem. In fact, if the spots are well separated, classical methods like filtering and watershed transformation on the gradient image provide a

satisfying algorithmic solution, see [23]. As mentioned above, the core combinatorial problem is the

interpretation of complex pixel regions as unions of axis parallel ellipses.

The following formalization is a compromise stemming from discussions with practitioners who

solve these covering instances by peer review. First, we remark that complex regions are typically

saturated (black), and therefore gray level information does not help for the detection. We assume that

a connected pixel pattern R is given, which is fat in the sense that there are neither short horizontal

nor vertical cuts consisting of only two pixels. In the application R is usually a simply connected

subpattern of a 100 100–pixel square.

Spot sets detected with black spots indicating the local matching

To make use of the powerful machinery of geometric approximation algorithms we identify pixels

with their center points. Then the region R can be represented by two sets of points C and F , where

C is a sample of points to be covered (inside R) and F is a set of forbidden points (outside R). One

can obtain these sets walking along the boundary of R and choosing points inside and outside within

a small distance. This approach somehow mimics the general practice of experts who are looking

for ellipses approximating long parts of the boundary of R. The advantage that both sets are of small

cardinality has to be paid for by the fact that the computed cover could have some hole in the interior of

the region. To avoid this one also can choose C as the set of all grid points in R (from an appropriately

dense grid). Then, of course, the cardinality m of C can be quadratic in n, the size of F .

Now we can formulate the approximate covering problem from the application point of view. For

numbers 0 ; 1 the problem is to find a smallest-cardinality set E of axis–parallel ellipses

fulfilling the following conditions.

1. (Fitting) Each ellipse E 2 E respects F , i.e., it does not intersect F .

2. (Intersection) The boundaries of every pair of ellipses E;E0

in E intersects in at most 2 points,

and area(E \ E0) minfarea(E); area(E0)g.

3. (Covering) S

E2E E covers at least a (1 )–portion of pixels in C.

The aim to find minimal–cardinality coverings is in accordance with Occam’s razor principle, since

the smallest cardinality set is, in absence of a master gel, the simplest hypothesis to explain how

a complex region could have been evolved. At first sight one would require to cover all points in

R, however in order to cope with noise the covering condition allows to leave a small portion of

points uncovered. The fitting condition ensures that the selected ellipses do not cover much more

than the region R. From the way the gel production process spreads a protein in the two dimensions,

practitioners usually conclude that two spots do not form a cross. We incorporated this notion in the

intersection condition.

Following the standard methodology of set cover approximation, our ellipse covering problem

splits into two parts:

1. Find a basic set E of ellipses such that each ellipse E 2 E fulfills the fitting property, and

R S

E2E E.

Select a minimum cardinality subset E E which respects the intersection and covering properties.

Remark that (the boundary of) an axis–parallel ellipse can be represented by the solutions of the

equation

(x c)

2

a2 +

(y d)

2

b2 1=0 (1)

with parameters a; b; c; d 2 IR, where (c; d) is the ellipse center, and a and b are the lengths of

the halfaxes. Thus a straightforward approach is to discretize the parameter space of all possible

ellipses, and define E to be the set of all inclusion maximal ellipses fulfilling the fitting property.

One way to avoid misinterpretation of streaks is to exclude ellipses of an ”extreme” shape, i.e., to

require a=b 2 [1=; ] for a suitable constant 1. This also reduces the complexity of E. The

selection of E E can then be easily done in a greedy fashion. We implemented this approach,

however both runtime and the quality of the solution did not meet our expectations, see e.g. Figure 5.

In Subsection 2.3 we study from a theoretical point of view how to improve on both, making use of

advanced geometric data structures and techniques. In Subsection 2.2 we present an alternative LPbased approach, which avoids the explicit construction of a large basic set E, and instead combines

construction and selection of ellipses. Experimental results show that both quality and runtime of the

LP-approach are superior to the simple brute force solution."

www2.cs.arizona.edu/~alon/papers/jcb.pdf

Jasmine continued taking the notes as she followed along with the lesson with the others but while doing so she couldn't help but jot down the theories she'd heard so far about The Raincoat in order of her favorites.

Android?

Alien?

Alien Android?

Robot?

Mutant?

Government Agent?

Viral Marketing Campaign?

Hoax?

She ended up circling Alien Android as her favorite theory and went back to her notes.

After the lecture ended they worked on a computational geometry assignment.

In a process similar to what was presented in class. The main steps (and the algebra needs to be completed) are:

Complications The convex in is d=4.O(n^2 )

as per Clarkson-Shore Theorem:

point She Object / object.

5 points form a butterfly (configuration) from 2 abcd tetrahedrons, abce glued to each other in an abc triangle. The butterfly / configuration in conflict with w objects, these are the points seen by at least one of the tetrahedra. These points and the fifth point of the configuration are located on different sides of the super-plane containing the tetrahedron.

so:

N_(≤w)=O(w^d E(N_0 (n/w) ) )=O(w^3 n^2 ).

The probability that a weight configuration will be created isw: Therefore the expectation of the number of butterflies formed:p_w=O(1/w^5 )

∑▒〖〖p_w N〗_w=⋯=O(n^2)〗

A. You can calculate enoughAgThe level of normalcy N In linear time by a trip on, for example KDFS (to be specified). Complexity of the convex in 3 dimensions eTheA. The Euler formula holds that there are at most ribs and at most wigs, when it is the number of vertices.O(n)3n-62n-4n Per wig of K corresponds to a vertex of N (the direction of the external normal to the wig), for each arc of K corresponds to a large circle arc of N (the normal directions of the planes supporting the side), and to each vertex of K corresponds to a wig of N.

B. It can be shown that in unspecified cases, the planes can be rotated until one of the specified cases is obtained. It is important to show that there is a direction in which such a rotation only reduces the distance, by using the Pythagorean theorem.

D. We will construct the normal diagram and the reverse diagram. We will useDD'sweep lineAcross the unit ball To find incisions between ribs and ribs. Each such incision gives two ribs nominated for the case DD'(ii). To find candidates for case (i) you can process D into a data structure that supports point location, go through wig wig and look in the data structure for the opposite normal. (In fact there is no need for early processing, since the normal directions of the wigs are known in advance, and during the sweep Find each one in the reverse diagram when you get to it (as we saw in class).

3) a) In the dual representation we have nCircles are equal in radius and we want to find a point that is in the maximum number of these circles. We will performsweep On the dual circles (with each circle split into its upper and lower parts), and consider the points of intersection between them, and as a result the wigs of the array they form (enough to maintain the wigs that straighten the sweepCutter). For each wig we will hold a counter of how many circles it contains, and every time we encounter a new wig (to the right of a cutting point or to the right of the leftmost point of a circle) it is easy to calculate the value of its counter using those of adjacent wigs (to be specified). We return a point on the wig with a maximum counter value.

B) Note that the critical radii in which the answer to a) varies are radii in which three circles meet at one point, or two circles touch each other. Consider the collection of these radii and then run a binary search on them to find the desired minimum radius. At each step of the search we will run the algorithm in a); If he found a point at leastkCircles will continue to smaller radii, and if not, to larger radii. (The algorithms obtained in this question are not very efficient ...)

4) Separate into two calculations, one for the vertical sides of P and one to the horizontal ribs. Since the cases are symmetrical, it is enough to explain that in the case of vertical ribs, we will refer to this case. Of and the points of P. We will scan from left to right, we will go over all the points in x-str:Q

- If we encounter a left endpoint of section m Q we put it in y-str.

- If we encounter a right endpoint of a section from Q We'll take it out what y-str.

- If we encounter a rib from P (we will only refer to verticality here) will be searched in y-str using a cooRDiets ey its the first segment that is below the top endpoint and the first segment that is above the bottom endpoint. We will check how many segments are between them by rank queries. These are the segments of Q that intersect with the side of P. We will update the numerator. There are points in x-str and y-str. Actions.O(n)O(log⁡n)O(n log⁡n)

Any students that had trouble or questions about the assignments could simply ask Miss Snyder for clarification. After completing their assignments they handed them in and Miss Snyder cheerfully collected them and then danced back to her desk. The bell rang soon after and she clapped her hands. "Very good today class! Very good very good very good! Remember your homework assignments tonight: Problem 5.6a on page 116! Problem 6.14 on page 144! Problem 7.11 on page 161 and Problems 8.2 and 8.5 on page 179! That's 40 points all together kids! Do your best! I believe in you!"

"YES MA'AM!" The kids replied and quickly filed out of the classroom.

"Urrrrrgh. My head is spinning." Lucille Levy sighed as they walked the hallway. Lucille is a tall girl with aqua-blue eyes and long, scarlet hair that she kept tied in a long braided ponytail. She's wearing a stylish top and skirt. "Miss Snyder is a great teacher but her class comes way too early in the morning."

"Could be worse. We could still have that offbeat tone deaf tempo douche."

Thatcher." Jasmine shuddered. "If I ever see that sadist again it'll still be too soon."

Mad Dog Creakle Thatcher, just one of the many derogatory nicknames the students had come up with for the former music teacher, was a violent thug who somehow bumbled his way into becoming a music teacher. How exactly he accomplished this had been a mystery for the ages given that his teaching method resolved around screaming obscenities, demeaning his students and hurling objects around in a violent tantrum if anybody didn't meet his batshit standards topped off by threatening the students into keeping silent. This lasted until recording devices an anonymous student had planted in the room not only caught his behavior but then proceeded to put it all online. This had emboldened the students to come forward with their own stories. While his lawyer was able to protect him from the filming, the students statements had done far more damage and coupling this with their parents demanding his head and the faculty turning on him en masse, Thatcher was left disgraced and lost his teaching license. He narrowly avoided jail but he was left on two years house arrest. In a town where everybody hated his guts.

That's the thing about Rockwickians: They look after their own.

Suffice to say after his two years of house arrest were up, Thatcher moved far, far, far away from their town and had never returned.

On the day he was set to leave town, Miss Snyder had marched up to his house and whispered something in his ear. Nobody knew what she said that day but reportedly he had come stumbling out of his house scared out of his wits and ran to his car like the hounds of hell were on his tail.

The Mystery Filmer had not been located but the students believed he was still out there somewhere. Watching over the school like a guardian angel.

Thatcher was used as both a cautionary tale and an urban legend around the school with everyone trying to make him more monstrous with each retelling. The current 'lore' pictured him as a blatant rip-off of Jigsaw and The Trunchbull, who straps his students to intricate and overtly cruel torture devices which activate if they score a less than optimal grade in their assignments.

"Nooooot myyyyyy teeeeemmmpoooo! Oooook!" Benny drawled in a long drawn out simpleton voice while beating his chest.

The girls had a good laugh over that.

"Hey listen though, forgot that nobody. He's probably in prison somewhere or whatever while we're living it up in Rockwick. It's best to just laugh at his stupidity and move on with a big laugh and a smile!"

"My man!" He and Jazz high fived. "Anyway! Yeah. Forgetting about that loser now. I've got a Neuroscience lecture next anyway so I kinda need my mind clear."

"Ah man. I don't know how you get through that class."

"I know right? It can get a bit graphic at times but I'm certainly learning a lot. I can recite information about Biopsies, Craniotomies, Extended bifrontal craniotomies, Supra-orbital craniotomies, Retro-sigmoid craniotomies, Orbitozygomatic craniotomies, Translabyrinthine craniotomies, MRI-guided laser ablations,

Endonasal endoscopic surgeries and Neuroendoscopies from heart now...also we've done fake surgeries on fake brains soooo that's a thing."

"Huh. You know, I've never really thought about it, but do you think other High Schools teach this kind of stuff?" Benny questioned.

"I don't see why not." Lucille shrugged. "We're just a little town. If our school can teach them why wouldn't other schools? Anyway! I'll see you guys after Combinatorics.* " She waved to her friends and hurried down the hallway.

Combinatorics is an area of mathematics primarily concerned with counting, both as a means and an end in obtaining results, and certain properties of finite structures. It is closely related to many other areas of mathematics and has many applications ranging from logic to statistical physics, from evolutionary biology to computer science, etc. To fully understand the scope of combinatorics requires a great deal of further amplification, the details of which are not universally agreed upon. According to H.J. Ryser, a definition of the subject is difficult because it crosses so many mathematical subdivisions. Insofar as an area can be described by the types of problems it addresses, combinatorics is involved with

"Looks like I drew the big straw. I've got Philosophy and the Science of Human Nature, baby! Victory for Benny!"

"Yeah, yeah, don't rub it in Benny boy. Just kick some butt in your class alright?"

"Will do. Gonna be straight A's all the way!"

She waved goodbye again and they parted.

Arriving in her Fundamentals Of Neuroscience And Brain Surgeries Course, she took her seat and relaxed until class got started.

Professor Hideki Youta Kichirō Ottavio Cattaneo and his wife Professor Léa Eléonore Faucher Cattaneo waited until the bell rang to happily welcome the kids back.

The Italian-Japanese-American Hideki was an adult man with a rather tall stature, and muscular yet slender build. He is mentioned to be very handsome by the people around him, boys and girls alike. He has straight black hair with a dark blue tint which reaches down to his nape. His bangs are shorter than his hair and parts towards the right side in the form of an "M-style", which partly covers his left eye.

Professor Lea was a French-African-American woman with a beautiful figure and silky black hair tied into a ponytail. Her hazel eyes were covered by fancy glasses. Like her husband she was wearing a fancy suit and labcoat.

"Hello again kids. Glad to see you remembered your way through the halls." Hideki joked to a couple of chuckles from the class. "But really we're delighted to have you back for another amazing class full of fun amazing Neuroscience!"

"I'm sure you kids kept up with your reading but just to make sure we've prepared a quick little quiz to help refresh your memories!" Lea informed them sweetly and grabbed the stack of papers from the table. She passed out the piles to the front desk of each row to pass back to the students behind them. Jeff laughed nervously as she looked over her quiz. "Hooo boy. It is good to be back."

1. A drug that decreases the activity of dopamine within the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex would be expected to

A. Induce both positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia

B. Induce only the positive symptoms of schizophrenia

C. Be an effective treatment for schizophrenia

D. Decrease the levels of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens

E. Be an effective treatment for thought and language disorder

2.PCP acts as a(n) ________ at ___________receptors

A. Agonist; NMDA

B. Antagonist; dopamine

C. Agonist; acetylcholine

D. Antagonist; NMDA

E. Antagonist; GABA

3. Which of the following would be a negative symptom of schizophrenia?

A. Hearing voices that repeat senseless words and phrases

B. Experiencing a feeling of euphoria at the start of an episode

C. Believing that doctors are part of the plot to poison you

D. Thinking you are the most powerful being on earth

E. Exhibiting flattened emotional expression

4. In which of the following would you expect to observe an enlarged hippocampal formation

A. A London cabby who has 30 years of experience

B. A pigeon that wanders from roost to roost

C. A bird that only eats from your backyard feeder

D. A person who has just started training as a London cabby

E. A chickadee tested in the early summer

5. The hippocampus receives inputs from

A. The entorhinal cortex

B. The amygdala

C. Various regions of the limbic cortex

D. All association areas of the neocortex

E. All of the above

6. Patient RB who sustained brain damage while in cardiac arrest, exhibited profound anterograde amnesia. What region of the brain was injured?

A. Field CA1 of the hippocampal formation

B. The perirhinal cortex

C. The parahippocamal cortex

D. The amygdala

E. The central nucleus of the amygdala

7. The verbal abilities of HM are intact except

A. He cannot talk of events that occurred prior to 1953

B. His ability to spell simple words such as "and" and "but"

C. He cannot talk about mathematical operations

D. He is not proficient in post 1953 American vocabulary

E. Both a and c

8. The common aspect of all natural reinforcers relates to

A. The release of dopamine within the nucleus accumbens

B. The release of norepinephrine within the locus coeruleus

C. The release of dopamine within the lateral hypothalamus

D. Inactivation of frontal cortex

E. Activation of the medulla

9. Imagine that you have ingested a drug that prevents alcohol from binding to the GABA/A receptor just before you join friends at a bar. Which of the following would you expect to happen to you?

A. You show no signs of sedation, even after nine beers

B. One beer puts you to sleep

C. The pill makes the alcohol taste bitter, causing you to vomit

D. You find alcohol more intoxicating

E. You have impaired cerebellar function

10. PET studies show that schizophrenic patients treated with amphetamine show ______ from the striatum and a corresponding ________

A. Reduced release of dopamine, increase in positive symptoms

B. Reduced release of GABA, decrease in positive symptoms

C. Greater release of dopamine, decrease in negative symptoms

D. Greater release of dopamine, increase in positive symptoms

E. Reduced release of serotonin, increase in negative symptoms

11. John has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and has shown improvement in positive symptoms while taking chlorpromazine. Which of the following actions below, if taken by John, would be expected to greater worsen his positive schizophrenia symptoms?

A. John stops taking CPZ and takes cocaine

B. John takes double the CPZ dose per day

C. John takes reserpine in addition to CPZ

D. John mixes alcohol with CPZ

E. John ingests alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine in addition to CPZ

12. Alternating episodes of elation and sadness are referred to as

A. Bipolar disorder

B. Severe depression

C. Severe mania

D. Unipolar depression

E. Schizoaffective disorder

13. The function of monoamine oxidase is to

A. Provide the precursor for the catecholamines

B. Convert dopamine into norepinephrine

C. Convert norepinephrine into epinephrine

D. Convert catecholamines and serotonin into inactive forms

E. Speed up the digestion of cheese in the gut

14. The monoamine hypothesis states that depression is caused by

A. Loss of cells in the prefrontal cortex

B. Insufficient activity of monoaminergic neurons

C. Excessive activity of dopamine systems

D. Overactivity of monoaminergic neurons

E. Excessive activity of serotonin synapses

15. All of the following support the monoamine hypothesis of depression EXCEPT

A. Reserpine causes depression

B. CSF levels of 5-HIAA are low in suicidal patients

C. Monoamine agonists produce depression

D. Families of subjects with low 5-HIAAA were more likely to include people with depression

E. Monoamine antagonists produce depression

www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/story.php?title=principles-neuroscience

She breathed in and slowly exhaled as she looked over the quiz, wrote her name down, looked it over again and got to work on her answers.

Question 1: A. Induce both positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia

Question 2: D. Antagonist; NMDA

Question 3: E. Exhibiting flattened emotional expression

Question 4: A. A London cabby who has 30 years of experience

Question 5: E. All of the above

Question 6: A. Field CA1 of the hippocampal formation

Question 7: D. He is not proficient in post 1953 American vocabulary

Question 8: A. The release of dopamine within the nucleus accumbens

Question 9: A. You show no signs of sedation, even after nine beers

Question 10: D. Greater release of dopamine, increase in positive symptoms

Question 11: A. John stops taking CPZ and takes cocaine

Question 12: A. Bipolar disorder

Question 13: D. Convert catecholamines and serotonin into inactive forms

Question 14: B. Insufficient activity of monoaminergic neurons

Question 15: C. Monoamine agonists produce depression

She looked it over again to ensure she was happy with her answers, nodded and set her pencil down and took a breather.

After the quiz was over and the papers were collected the class was treated to a pair of videos to help ease them back into the class after spring break though they were informed to take notes.

All of which was completely normal, Jess was sure.

After the class was given their assignments and class let out, they waved goodbye to their teachers and headed out.

"First day back and we're already being assigned quizzes eh? They sure don't hold back do they?" One of the students asked her.

"I know right? This is why you have to keep up with your studies man. You never know when they might decide to drop a test on you."

Leia leaned her head out the door. "That's coming up by the way! Study hard children!"

"Yes ma'am! Thanks a lot Jass."

Jess smirked and stuck her tongue out.

After another couple of classes, including Entertainment Engineering & Design and Turfgrass Science, it was finally time for lunch and she was practically skipping. Not only did Jasmine get to see her friends again but they could finally start getting to know Clementine!

True to their word; Misty Pendleton, Brian Palmer and Ada Caldwell were all waiting for her in the cafeteria. It was a nice and fancy place. With clean tiles and stainless steel furniture, nice looking pillars with speakers on them playing comforting soothing music and nice paintings hanging on the walls. The kids could smell the aromas of Rockfort High School's Delicious Delicacies even from their spot in line!

"We've had a few fun classes but we're good. Allow me to introduce my friends: Misty Pendleton, Brian Palmer and Ada Caldwell."

"Sup? I'm Brian."

"How do you do Miss Kaine? My name is Misty Pendleton and we are ever so glad to make your acquittance."

"It's nice to finally meet you properly Clementine." Ada greeted her.

"Hello. Hello to all of you." She greeted and offered her hand. They happily shook hers up and down while she was as gentle as a lamb with them.

"Hey come on now you don't need to be that gentle. Feel free to show your muscles." Brian told her and gave her hand a squeeze as a joke. Nothing happened. He looked up at Clementine and chuckled quietly before squeezing again. Nothing. She smiled and let go.

"I work on a farm."

"Riiight. Cool. So what do you there anyway?"

"Farm stuff." She replied with a shrug.

"Cool. If you ever need any help you can give us a call." Brian offered. "I think it would be fun actually."

Misty considered countering this but decided to table it for later.

"Heck with it. I could probably do a day of work in between my world domination plans." Ada joked.

*Clementine will remember that.

"Well, if you ever need help, feel free to just let us know." Misty agreed. "Anyway, what classes did you have?"

"AP Military Strategy and Tactics, Astrobiology and the Search for Extraterrestrial Life, Cryptozoology 101 and Programming."

"Wow. You are out there Clementine. Any signs of Extraterrestrials yet?"

"Only circumstantial evidence so far I'm afraid."

"You might be in luck." He replied. "Have you heard about The Raincoat?"

"Do you mean The Movie Posters people have been putting up around the school?"

"They're more along the lines of normal photoshopped posters than movie posters. The Raincoat is that vigilante that everybody said has been running around saving people around the world." Ada explained. "She or He, we don't know for sure, completely totaled a truck. I saw it on the news."

"Ohhhh that raincoat. The Superman guy. Gal. Him. Her. Whichever. Do you think he's real?"

"Either that or it is one hell of a viral marketing campaign." Misty joked.

"And that is today's Lunch Topic. Interested in joining us?"

"Sure. That sounds like fun."

"Hey by the way? What are you listening to?" Misty asked her. Pointing to the one ear bud she had in her ear.

"A Luna Lazarus Lecture On Nanotechnology."

"Cool!"

"So what's she talking about? What does Miss Lazarus have planned with her nanotech?"

"Using it to treat diseases and other issues with the human body. Therapeutic nanotechnology could be used to deliver drugs, reconstructs brain cells and restores cognitive function. Nanotech contact lenses could be to provide medication, sun protection and vital statistics in treating eye disorders. Nanotechnology can medicate and repair ears reversing hearing loss and vertigo. Nanopolymers can regenerate skin and tissue. To treat diseases like ovarian and breast cancer, nanosensors 1,000 times better than mammograms could find breast cancer and nano-instruments destroy and prevent cancer growth. Nanoparticles on bones repair breaks and strengthen bones in mere days or weeks. In addition, robotic processes transmit information to the brain so patients feel and use them like native limbs. Nanotherapies could be designed to self-adjust to fight bacterial and viral infections, saving millions of lives each year. Robotic limbs, suits and muscular augmentations could increase muscle strength to 100 times human capacity for long missions. Implanted biosensors could manage glucose and vital signs for diseases such as diabetes, releasing meds and detecting emergencies." Clementine summarized.

"But of course that's just the icing. The real fun stuff is what she discusses after: Precise injections of nanobots that attach to different parts of the body, begin replicating, and re-engineering parts of the body, creating smart materials that will replace and improve every part of the human body to upgrade it into a transhuman that's never tired, always at peak performance, has flawless skin, unbreakable bones, super muscles and senses, genetically reprogrammed cells that can self-repair at an accelerated rate, widened neurons in the brain to increase reaction time and intelligence, creating a web of osteoderms in the skin to create flexible but durable shell that is invisible to the naked eye to help the human body resist excessive and harsh damage among other things."

"Well dang that certainly sounds cool." Brian agreed. "How does the super strength work though? Muscle density?"

"That's half right. She suggests that nanotechnology could be used to reduce the production of functional myostatin, allowing muscles to grow more dense and tougher while simultaneously enhancing their body tissue, skin, muscles, bones, etc to become extremely dense and solid, allowing them to withstand harmful forces on the body such as crushing weights, impacts, pressures and changes in temperatures, making them stronger and more durable. The specifics of it are very technical but that's the summary and gist of it."

"Well if anybody could do it, it's Luna Lazarus." Ada agreed. "That woman is a super genius to be sure."

"My head is swimming. That all sounds like something out of Sci-Fi Movies. It would be cool though." Brian added. "Hey wait a second! Wait wait wait! I've got it! The Raincoat! She or he's a Nano-Super!" He invented the term on the spot. "A Nanomachine Powered Superhuman! Like, a Superpowered Prototype that Luna Lazarus created!"

Clementine giggled.

"Well, I wouldn't say it's an impossibility. It's just as possible as every other theory. So we're going with the robot theory?"

"It sounds good to me."

"We can discuss it further when we get to the table. Come on guys! Chow time!"

The students grabbed their fine foods and then a table.

Clementine bought herself Tarragon Chicken Salad Sandwiches, Misty got her Pizza Cauliflower Bites, same as Jasmine, Brian got Baked fiery buffalo wings and Ada settled on Turkey Chili. Dining at Rockwick High was just so absolutely divine.

"Alright boys and girls! Lets begin today's Lunch Topic: The Identity Of The Raincoat! I want to hear ideas people!"

"Hot Take: She or he's a Space Alien." Clementine joked.

"Alright, space alien, first one on the table. Lets hear your reasoning."

"Super fast, super strong, can be in several places at once, and has camouflaging powers to blend in with the night. Nobody normal can do that and certainly not someone from planet Earth. Heretofore, Space Alien. That's how it always works in the comics after all. We can therefore surmise that he or she gets his or her powers from the Earth's Yellow Sun via The Photonucleic Effect on top of coming from an alien planet with higher gravity than Earth. Lets say...around ten times. It would explain the invulnerability, super strength and super speed." She explained to them.

"Okay then. That is a very good argument. Who would like to go next?"

"Lazarus Android." Ada chimed in. "I've never seen any proof of alien life, no offense Clementine, but androids are a real thing. They've been making more advanced robots every day and they've even started making giant mechas now! If anybody could make a superpowered android, it would be Luna Lazarus. Those crime fighting moments were set up by the government to test out the androids abilities. How else would you explain The Raincoat's superpowers and finding all of those crime scenes? It was all set up."

"That does sound more realistic." Clementine admitted.

"So we have Alien and Android. Who wants to go next?"

"Guys, seriously, she's a Nano-Machine powered Superhuman!" Brian smiled. "We just discussed how uber nanomachines could make someone, right? So, here's what happened. The Government used some super prototype nanomachines to make a superhuman and now they're testing him out in combat scenarios!"

"Wait how is that different than my theory?" Ada asked.

"Your ideas an android, a machine construct that combine artificial intelligence and a mechanical body with a human-like appearance, while mine was a nanomachine person which would make him or her closer to a cyborg."

"Ohhhh. Right, right. Okay carry on. Who's next?"

"That would be...moi!" Misty smiled. "And the answer is simple: The Raincoat is really a nanomachine infused alien android powered by sunlight!"

"Oh come on Misty. You can't just copy other people's answers like that!"

"Says who, Brian?"

"It's against the rules."

"Since when do our Lunch Topics have rules?"

"Since now."

"Overruled." Jess smirked.

"I second that notion." Misty agreed.

"I shall remain neutral." Clementine stated for the record.

"Ada! Come on, back me up here?"

Ada took a quarter out of her pocket and flipped in the air, caught it and slapped it on her palm before looking at it. "Annnnd I'm siding with Brian this time."

"That leaves us tied. Clementine, since you're new to the group, we'll need you to break the tie for us. So are you Team Brian or Team Jess?"

They smiled at her expectantly until Clementine carefully placed the ear buds back in her ears and resumed her lunch. "The food here is really good."

"Hey, is it okay if I sit here?" A student asked them. They looked up to see a teen in punk goth attire standing there with his plate. He was wearing a black t-shirt and shorts with black fingerless gloves on his hands and a black wristband on his right wrist, topped off with black horn rimmed glasses on his face.

"Sure man we got plenty of space. Have a seat, bro!" Brian greeted him.

"Thanks man. I'm new. Jack Mccormick." He introduced himself.

"Nice to meet you newbie! I'm Jasmine, and this is Misty, Brian, Ada and Clementine."

They introduced themselves one by one until Clementine did a double take and suddenly sprung out of her chair with her phone in her pocket and grabbed a football that had been flying at the back of Jack's head!

"What the heck?!" Jack exclaimed as he jumped.

Clementine looked across the cafeteria to see a tall student in a football jersey staring at her in disbelief while his two buddies on either side of him laughed and applauded her quick save. Clementine stood up and smiled. "I'll be right back."

"Woah woah woah! Hey, Clementine, you don't want to get involved with those guys!" Brian insisted to her. "Just drop the football and sit back down."

"Clem, those were some awesome reflexes, but those guys are nuts!" Ada told her.

She nodded. "It will be fine. Enjoy your lunch guys." She told them and walked across the cafeteria while the trio approached her. Instead of meeting them in the middle however, Clementine pivoted and instead walked closer to the door where a trash can was sitting and with the trio close behind her she casually dropped the football in the trash, dusted off her hands and walked away with her hands behind her back.

"Ohhhhh shiiii-"

"Brian!"

"I'm on it. Go find a teacher or something!" He told the girls and hurried over to Clementine while the trio were digging the football out of the trash and wiping it down.

"Clem! Clem come on we have to go." Brian insisted and grabbed her arms.

"I don't think so. Sorry but I am not done eating yet and neither are any of you. Come on, lets sit back down and get back to lunch."

"Clementine seriously! That guy's-"

"Hey what the hell's your problem?!" The leader of the trio snapped at her. "We were just joking around! You didn't need to throw it in the trash like that!"

"I am sorry but if you cannot play with it responsibly then you do not deserve it." Clementine informed him casually while changing the phone to ViewTube to find something to listen to. She'd been listening to lectures all morning after all.

"Seriously, Caleb, it's just a football, she didn't do anything wrong alright?"

"Shut up loser. I didn't give either of you bitches permission to speak to me." Caleb Cassius Chambers snapped at him. He was one of the tallest guys in school with a physique to mix and a mostly shaved head and his features made him look like he was carved out of stone. Unfortunately, his personality was on the downright nasty side.

"Real mature." Clementine retorted in a bored tone while searching through the videos. Caleb tried to grab her phone away from her but she casually side-stepped him seemingly without paying attention. He tried again only for the same thing to happen!

Brian took a few steps back unsure of what he was seeing. Cassius was one of the toughest guys in school but she was treating him like a joke!

"Help her Brian!" Jasmine insisted to him.

"Which one?" Brian asked as she danced around Caleb's attempts to grab her. He soon got tired of this and he tried to punch her in the face only for her to duck under him and then keep doing what she was doing, circling around him and side stepping everything he tried, outright humiliating the bully without throwing a punch!

Clementine smiled as she apparently found a song she liked and hit play. She began to mouth the words even as she dodged around him, did a pirouette and resumed mouthing the lyrics to Adam Lambert's For Your Entertainment.

One of Caleb's buddies tried to tackle Clementine from behind but suddenly tripped over his untied shoelaces and fell on his face to the laughter of the lunchroom.

Jack adjusted his glasses and enjoyed his lunch while he watched the whole thing unfold. "...This is a weird school."

"Dammit! STAND STILL" Caleb shouted at her.

"Nope. I don't wanna." Clementine pouted.

He reared back to prepare for a big windup punch at her face and then he threw the punch but he completely whiffed it! Caleb tried a right cross at her jaw but she dodged it. He tried a straight punch at her face but she slipped it. He tried an uppercut at her jaw but she leaned back and dodged it. He swung at her face again but she ducked under his arm and circled back around. He tried a swinging backhand but she ducked under him again. He tried again and again to the same result. It was like he was trying to ice-skate uphill! No matter how hard he tried he didn't get anywhere! Caleb would know. He'd tried it in the past when he was a kid. He might as well have been trying to punch the air for all of the success he was having against Clementine!

"What in the hell? No, seriously, how is she doing that?" Ada asked. "I'm not complaining of course but how?!"

Misty meanwhile had ran off to find a teacher. Or at least a security guard!

Caleb finally stopped his attempted beatdown on Clementine to catch his breath while one of his friends circled around behind her. "You...y-you...you're finished....after I catch my breath...ohhh man....you're fast. You're vest fast. Hooooo boy."

"Are you done now? Can I go back to my lunch now?" Clementine asked him a bored tone.

"Oh you want to eat something?" He asked as he straightened up. "How would you like to eat my fist?" Caleb sneered as his buddy charged her from behind aiming to Football Tackle her to the floor so Caleb could land a devastating punch on her face and knock her head off only for Clementine to dodge him at the last minute and pirouette away. Meanwhile, Caleb's buddy lost his footing and he ended up colliding with Caleb and knocking him over before he could stop himself! Caleb had the wind knocked out of him as they both crashed to the floor.

"Uggghh...oh, OH! Caleb! S-sorry about that man! I tripped!"

"Get off me." Caleb pushed his friend off of him and tried to catch his breath as the rest of the lunchroom laughed at them. "What the hell did you even-HUH?! Oh you've gotta be kidding me!"

His buddy turned around and stared in disbelief. "No way. You have to be joking." A banana peel. He'd slipped on a freaking banana peel! "Well ain't that a kick in the head?"

"That...DOES IT!" He screamed and ran at her in a blind rage while Clementine was pulling her chair back out. She calmly looked back at Caleb and then hopped over the chair to the other side of it and walked away. Caleb ran on top of the chair and leaped above her and tried to punch Clementine only for her to side step him once again. He was so focused on trying to hit Clementine that he completely forgot about his landing and he slipped and fell on his face.

"Better learn balance. Balance is key. Balance good, karate good. Everything good." Clementine advised him. "Balance bad, better pack up, go home. Understand?"

"SHUT UP AND FIGHT ME LIKE A MAN!" Caleb shouted at her while he scrambled to his feet.

"I'm a girl." She reminded him.

"Then stand still and I'll smack you like one!" Caleb shouted back and attacked her again. It was all the same though. No matter what he tried she just bobbed and weaved and danced around him. No matter how much he mixed it up she saw right through it and outmaneuvered him with ease. He might as well have been trying to catch a ghost. Eventually one of Caleb's buddies attacked her from behind by trying to swing a tray at her head only for her to dive out of the way at the last second causing him to smack Caleb with the tray while Caleb's punch hit his own friend in the face!

"OW Dude! What the hell?"

"Owwww~ Ah man! Ow! I was aiming for her! What are you doing?"

"I was trying to smack that little brat! What are you doing?!"

Clementine meanwhile had returned to her seat and was now sitting with her legs crossed and a her drink in her hand and her other hand underneath it as she leisurely sipped it.

Caleb took a break to catch his breath and re-evaluate this entire situation. "Jus...just give me a second." He told her. "I-I'll be right with you...oh man. What is going on here?" She hadn't thrown a single punch and spent the whole fight running away but somehow they were the ones getting their asses kicked! "What the hell are you?"

"My name is Clementine Kane and I'm a Farmgirl. You on the other hand could use some anger management classes. Now we can continue this little dance of ours or I can get back to my lunch. And I am feeling rather hungry. So please leave me and my friends be. I'm sure everyone else would like to get back to their own lunches too. Have a good day." She turned around and went back to her lunch.

Caleb and his buddies were left staring slack jawed at this display. Not only the utter humiliation they'd just suffered and the subsequent disrespect after this girl just ran circles around them. And now they were standing here tired and gasping for breath and sweating and she didn't even have a single hair out of place. The trio stammered for words until one of them just yelled out "Oh to HELL with this!" One of them shoved the other two and picked up a chair.

"Woah woah! Adam wait just a-"

"SHUT IT CALEB!" He shouted and ran at Clementine and threw the entire chair at her! Clementine responded by standing up and holding up her backpack to shield herself and block the chair and pushed the chair down. She placed her backpack on her own chair, lifted up the first one, righted it and slid it over to him while the moron was still coming at her causing Adam to trip over it and fall on his face like his friends had been doing all day. Clementine walked over to him and knelt down next to Adam. "I gave you a chance. Several chances. I kept trying to walk away and resolve this peacefully but you have continued to harass me and antagonize me over this." She held five fingers up in front of her face as the thug tried to pull himself up. He froze up and his eyes widened in fear as her fingers curled up into a fist. "This is what you want isn't it?" She brought her hand back and Adam began to whimper. "To drive your fist through your victim's face, to savor the fear in their eyes while you mercilessly beat them into bloody pulps no matter how much they beg and cry for mercy?" She reached out with her hand and gently opened it to gently, gingerly, honk his nose between two fingers. So gentle it was as if she was playing a newborn baby. "Luckily for you I'm not like that. Honk honk." She stood up, brushed herself off and offered him a hand and waited patiently while Adam hesitantly reached for it and took her hand and accepted her hand up.

"Oh come on man, stop shaking, I was just messing with you." She took the chair back to the table. "You guys have a lot to learn about comedy by the way."

Misty returned to the lunchroom with the principal and a security guard in tow to the sound of uproarious applause and cheers for Clementine! Caleb and his cronies were sitting at an empty table tired sore and exhausted while Clementine was sitting back at the table with the group eating her lunch now joined by a few other students.

"Ummmm...Miss Pendleton? I thought you said there was a disturbance here? What exactly did we miss?"

Misty took a look around the lunchroom and then she pulled out her phone. "Wait for it."

It didn't take long before the 'fight' was uploaded to the internet. "Here you are sir. I would like to reiterate once again however that those three boys over there were the ones that started it. All Clementine did was try to defend herself and others."

The Principal and The Security Guard watched the whole affair on the phone.

"Can this really even be considered a fight?" The Security Guard asked. "She's not even doing anything."

The Principal waited until the end of the video where Clementine once again tripped up one of the boys and then threatened him before helping him up.

"Alright so. I'm going to have to talk her about that but I think we can chalk her up as the innocent party here." He handed her back the phone and walked into the middle of the room and clapped his hands. "Alright, alright everybody, break it up, sit down and go back to your lunches! Caleb, Drew, Adam and Clementine? I'm going to need to speak with you in my office."

Clementine looked up from her lunch. "Can I get a box?"

Clementine sat in the Principal's office with her lunch in a rectangular container situated on her lap while she waited for The Principal to finish questioning Caleb and his two friends. The principal was keeping hold of the plasticware until further notice though. Despite the empty seat between them, and the fact that Clementine clearly wasn't paying attention to them, Adam and Dru were visibly nervous about her just being there.

"Alright, look, I admit things got a bit out of hand but she's the one who started it alright? My buddies and I were tossing the football around with each other, just goofing off, and then it gets thrown a little too hard and flies across the lunchroom. That was stupid, I admit it, but she caught it so there wasn't any problem. We asked for it back but then she just walks right past us and throws it away! She flat out throws it in the trash! So naturally after we took it out and cleaned it off I asked what her problem was and told her to apologize but she just went and picked a fight with me. I understand that things got heated but it wasn't all our fault. She started it and just kept antagonizing us. She kept tripping us and even tricked me and my friend into hitting each other! It wasn't all our fault!"

Principal Featherstonehaugh just red his cheek on his hand while he listened to Caleb lie to him and waited until he was finished. Featherstonehaugh was a classy gentleman, with a fine blue suit and tie worn over a pressed white shirt with fine black loafers and a golden watch. He has a well maintained beard on his face and well combed hair. His features were like stone as he listened to the stream of lies coming out of Caleb's mouth.

Everybody loves SuitsEverybody loves SuitsStripes and more stripes. Pinstripe suits are coming back and with a double breasted pinstripe you will rock! Thou this double breasted pinstripe is good as maybe 3rd or 4th suit…terrible as your only suit. For more awesome suits follow my tumblr at...

He waited until he was done and then showed him the video. "Mr. Chambers I would advise you not to lie to me. I heard your screaming and swearing on the way to the lunchroom. It certainly sounded like you and your friends were the aggressors there. Furthermore, everyone politely recorded the fight. Is this you and your friend trying to hit Miss Kane with a tray and a punch?"

"W-well, yes but I-"

"And is this your friend throwing a chair at Miss Kane?"

"Okay I tried to stop that-"

"Yes or no Mister Chambers?"

"Yes sir."

"Uh huh. Sounds like this is all the evidence I need. Now why don't you tell me the truth and why you did it?"

"The truth...well, you see, the truth is...it feels good to establish a hierarchy. I'm at the top and the losers and nerds are at the bottom. It feels good to put them in their place. It feels good to smack them around and watch them cry. I threw the football and that nerd because I find it funny. I take pleasure from things like that. Fuck you!" Caleb Chambers snapped at him in confession. "Happy now, Featherweight? I'm the Alpha here and I can do whatever I want to these losers."

"Yeah that's a Suspension Confession if I've ever heard one. You're wrong on a few points however. Any man who must say 'I am King' is no true King at all and any man who must declare himself an Alpha is no Alpha. Even if it was true, and it very clearly isn't." He played the video again. "That doesn't give you the right to hurt anyone. If you were as great as you claim to be you would be leading by example and building other people up instead of violently lashing out at them and throwing a childish tantrum."

Caleb had no real answer to that. "I...uhm...look sir, I-I'm sorry. I've just had a bad time of it lately. My Uncle's truck got destroyed by what is probably an alien and now he's in the hospital and my dad has been working to pay his bills and he just got a major DUI and-"

"See now isn't this better? A healthy communication can be a lot of help for you. I would recommend talking to our counselors and a therapist about your problems. Unfortunately you're still looking at a suspension period for your actions here today to be handed down after I finish questioning the others followed by one week detention after you return from your suspension. I didn't tolerate Ferris acting out, I'm certainly not going to tolerate your behavior. You are dismissed."

Caleb sighed and stepped out of the office and slumped into the chair.

Adam was called next followed by Drew followed finally by Clementine. Still holding her boxed lunch she sat down in his office and looked around. "Wow. This is the first time I've been in your office, sir. This is a nice room. Very classy."

"Thank you Miss Kane. Now, would you mind explaining what happened in the cafeteria today in your own words?"

"Sure. I was sitting with my new friends and we were enjoying lunch and theorizing about The Raincoat and joking around when Jack came around to join us. That was when Caleb threw the football at the back of his head. I saw it coming just in time though and I caught it. Now I had the football and my mother always said that if I was going to misuse a toy then she was going to take it away. Seeing as how Caleb had thrown his football away so recklessly, I decided to drop it into a trash can to teach a lesson. However this caused the situation to escalate and he approached me angrily. I attempted to de-escalate and avoid him but he continued trying to grab me and shout at me. However I dodged his attempts and did not hit back. Any injuries resulting from our confrontation were the result of his own recklessness and those of his friends."

She paused.

"Well, I assume they are friends. They were hitting each other a lot." She shrugged. "Anyway, I continued avoiding conflict until one of them threw a chair at me when I was trying to walk away and end the situation. I stopped this and kicked a chair his way and he tripped over it. As none of my other attempts to end this situation had worked, I decided to pretend to be a bad guy to scare him and then I ended it with a joke. I realize that threatening him might not have been the best way to handle the situation but they had just tried to pulverize me."

"I see...alright I appreciate your honesty. You're right in that you are the victim here, not the aggressor. You are also right that threatening him in the way you did and kicking a chair at him were not proper responses. Considering their actions in comparison however, I'm going to let you off lightly: I would like to write a seven page essay in MLA Format on conflict resolution. Cite your sources properly, etc. I want this essay laminated and on my desk by Friday for review. In addition I would like you to speak to a school counselor about what happened today. Finally, just like the other three, I am going to be calling your parents about what happened today. Odds are they'll probably see the video anyway so they might as well hear about it from me beforehand."

"That's fair sir."

"Alright then. I appreciate your politeness and honesty today. I'll write you a hallpass after the phone calls are taken care of."

"Thank you again sir."

"Okay! That's that then. Oh, but, one more question: Where did you learn to dodge like that?"

"I watch a lot of Jackie Chan Movies. Plus I live on a farm. You learn to be quick on your feet there."

He chuckled. "I can imagine. Alright, feel free to wait outside."

"Thank you again sir."

"Thank you."

She started to walk to the door but then she turned back around and walked back over to him. "Sir? May I have my utensils and headphones back?"

"Your utensils yes but the headphones will stay with me until you're ready to leave the office."

"Understood sir."

She accepted the plastic utensils and stepped out.

The three bullies just glared at her while Clementine resumed eating her lunch.

Principal Featherstonehaugh dialed the number for the Kane Farm and drummed his fingers on the desk while he waited.

After a couple rings the phone picked up and the beautiful sing song voice of Marie Kane answered on the other end. "Hello. Kane Residence. How many I help you?"

"Hello Miss Kane it's nice to speak with you again. This is Principal Featherstonehaugh. How are you doing today?"

"Oh hello Mister Feathers! What's up?"

"It's about your daughter. Clementine was in a fight at school today." Marie went quiet on the other end of the line. "Miss Kane? Miss Kane are you still there?"

"Ohmygod.Ohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygod....is she okay? Are those kids okay? Is everyone okay? What happened?"

"Alright, Miss Kane, Miss Kane. Please calm down and allow me to explain what happened."

"I...see. Okay. So nobody was hurt?"

"Some bruises but their pride was wounded worse than their bodies. However, her threats to the student isn't something we can overlook. Incidentially, where did she learn to fight like this?"

"She watches a lot of action movies and she practices the moves in her room when she thinks we won't notice."

"Okay then. That's about what she said. Okay we'll need you and your husband to come in and have a sit down with the other parents."

"Oh of course sir. Sure. We'll be happy to do so."

"Excellent. We'll continue our discussion when you arrive. I'll see you then." He hung up and called the Chambers family.

Marie Kane sat down on the stairs next to her husband Justin Kane.

Marie is a tall woman, standing at 6'1, a bit taller in her work boots, with short, reddish brown hair she has tied up in a bun in the back and green eyes that match her green dress which is covered by a white apron.

Justin is even taller than his wife. Broad shouldered, rugged and muscular, with big feet and hands. He has darker brown hair with a light goatee on his face.
He is dressed in the usual wear of a farmer.

"It's okay, Marie. It's alright. She didn't hurt anybody. Feathers said it himself. Those boys were hurting themselves more than her. Not like they could hurt her even if she stood there anyway. Hell, it's probably for the best that she dodged around them like that. If they broke their hands on her we'd really have a mess on our hands."

"I know. I know. I'm not worried about her not fighting. I'm worried about what would happen if she did. She handled it the right way today. Even if I wish she would've just walked away, she handled it alright. But I'm worried about what would happen if she did. The town wouldn't stand a chance."

"Marie, Marie, Marie, Marie. Look at me honey. She's a good kid. We're raising her right all things considered. She spent her Spring Break away from home looking for people to save for Chrissake."

"Yeah. She did. She's a good kid. Our daughter's a good kid. She's a sweetheart. She's our Angel. The sky gave her to us. But we'll still need to have a talk with her. Can't have her threatening the other kids even as a joke after all."

"That's the spirit honey. Just remember. She's our little angel and nothing's going to change that. She's a good sweet kid. We just need to sit Clementine down for a talk and she'll understand alright?"

"You're right. I'm worried about nothing." Marie stood up and brushed off her apron. "Alright, come on, lets go get changed into something fancy. It'll make the conversation with Feathers go easier."

Marie and Justin Kane!

SuperKamiGuy1
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I Live In A World Made Of Cardboard Oct 20, 2020 18:57:19 GMT SuperKamiGuy1 likes this

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Post by SuperKamiGuy1 on Oct 20, 2020 18:57:19 GMT

Oct 17, 2020 21:45:14 GMT SuperKamiGuy1 said:

Sept 25, 2020 23:21:47 GMT SuperKamiGuy1 said:

Chapter 1: School Days

Rockwick, Highoak.

Jasmine Berry adjusted her glasses in her reflection until she was satisfied followed by double checking her green eyeglasses straps which complimented her green t-shirt. She leaned back and checked her outfit for the day. A green t-shirt and blue jeans and tennis shoes.

The hazel eyed girl with shoulder-length brown hair kept in two pigtailed braids twirled in front of the mirror and checked herself out. She beamed. Finding her outfit more than acceptable for the current day. Spring Break had been perfect for recharging her batteries and hanging out with her friends but now it was back to school and there would be no rest until Summer Vacation in a couple of months and then she could really party with them.

But that was for the future. Right now, School had to get ready for her. She grabbed her bag and bounded out of her room and down the stairs.

After enjoying breakfast, Jasmine hurried out of the house to the bus stop. Their little town of Rockwick was an amazing jumble of different styles: rickety wooden shops, marble and brick houses, huge stone churches. Everything had been beaten down and baked by the sun - and sunlight was everywhere: in the dust, in the vivid colors, in the smells of spices and overripe fruit. The town was a maze of narrow winding streets, as complex as the heart. A wild and winding whose floor pattern must have been designed by a crazy person and yet the inhabitants of Rockwick had learned to navigate it. The chaos had a method to it and once you learned to navigate it, it was plenty of fun. Plus they enjoyed the occasional laugh around newcomers to the town who kept getting turned around and confused by the layout of the town.

After navigating the twisting turns of the town, she finally arrived at the bus stop where her friends were relaxing. Misty Pendleton, Brian Palmer and Ada Caldwell. "Hey guuuuuys!" Jasmine called out to them while waving wildly. They looked up and cheered and waved back.

"About time you got here! Were trying to sleep in?" Misty teased. Misty is young woman of average height with long light-blonde hair she kept tied in a long ponytail, healthy tanned skin and she has blue eyes like the sea. She's wearing a white Nirvana T-shirt and Cream Colored Boho Cropped Skinny Jeans with gray thigh high socks, and red Mary-Jane Shoes.

They high-fived up high and down low and then walked back over to the bus stop.

"Not even close! I just had to navigate a maze that's all. I don't live quite as close to the stop as you do."

"Hmph. Excuses are like derrières, darling." Misty scolded her.

"True but some... derrières are nice and slappable." Jasmine fired back with a smirk.

"That is also true but please do mind your manners. We are proper ladies after all."

"Still staying in character for the play I see."

She placed a hand on her chest and then she extended her other hand while gesticulating dramatically. "I am a proper actress after all. I have no choice but to immerse myself in my roles if I am to ever walk the fabled Red Carpet!"

"You are aware that Hollywood is full of a-holes right?" Brian asked her. You can't help but compare this gentleman to a glorious phoenix. His wide eyes are turquoise and gleam mysteriously. He has shoulder length, straight, bright red hair that is styled in a way reminiscent of a Robin blowing in the wind. His body is notably sleek. He's wearing an orange t-shirt, black jeans and dark shoes.

"Quiet you. Do not design to tread upon my dreams!"

"Can and will." He joked with her.

"Never change, you guys." Ada laughed. This buxom young lady in the Splendid Roller Rugby Tee and a Skort puts you in mind of a dignified swan. She has coffee-colored eyes. Her luxurious, straight, dark hair is long and is worn in a utilitarian, businesslike style. She is tall and has a leggy build. Her skin is pale and she has knobby ears.

"I wouldn't dream of it." Misty smiled.

The crew joked around until the bus rolled up and they filed in. While it was driving them to school though, Jasmine kept her eyes peeled outside the whole ride. "Where are you?"

"Still looking for her huh?"

"I haven't seem Clementine all week! Didn't you notice that? Even discounting the fact that our town is designed like a maze, she just disappeared during Spring Break and she never takes the bus. We only see her at school, she's closed off and I want to know why. I want to get to the bottom of her mystery."

"Clementine Kane is an introvert. What's wrong with that?" Brian reasoned.

"Nothing." Jasmine replied. "But I want to know. I'm fresh off of Spring Break, my batteries are recharged and I want to solve a mystery."

"Okay and?"

"And I'm dragging you guys into it with me."

"I mean, is it even necessary?" Ada asked her. "So she's slightly enigmatic and her socks never match, what's the big deal? Just because she's quiet is no reason to stalk her or anything. If you have to ask her something, why not just straight up talk to her?"

"I know what you're saying, but she's always walking around with those earbuds in or working in the library and she disappears during lunch. Seriously. People have seen it. She grabs her food, bounces and then she comes back around the corner after lunch is over. Just like how she disappeared during break. Where does she go? What's her story? I want to get to know her so I can stop going crazy over this."

"Clementine...Clementine...wait, isn't she the shy girl with the earplugs and the socks? Wears a skirt? Freckles?" Brian asked.

"That's her. You know her?"

"Not too well. I've heard she's taking all of the AP Classes though so she's probably a Brainiac. I bet those earbuds are like books on tape or something."

"Maaan if she's taking all of those her family must be loaded." Ada drummed her fingers on the seat. "The courses are free but the tests aren't. They can charge you up to $92.00 for those. Depending on her hours, they could be racking up $644.00 or more. Not to mention figuring out how many tests each class would give you over the course of a year and if she's taking them every year that could get out of control fast. According to salary data for farmers, ranchers and other agricultural managers from May 2016, the average salary is $75,790 a year. In contrast, they make a median salary of $66,360, with half getting lower salaries and half being paid more. They must have some crazy good products if they're able to afford it year after year."

"Mayhap they are selling that dreadful Tomacco plant like those awful Brannons?" Misty questioned in a joking manner.

"Thankfully. Nobody's seen those creeps after they were ran out of town and their crops were destroyed. She must come from money."

"I dunno. I figure if somebody in Rockfort was rich, we'd know about it."

"We won't know until we ask and I think that's the best way to do it. If we see her in the hallways we can ask her to hang out with us if she gets some free time. Quick, clean and simple."

"Huh. Okay yeah that's way easier. Lets just do that."

They got comfortable in their seats while the bus navigated their quiet little, crazily designed mazelike labyrinthine mountain town until they reached their school and the driver parked so they could file out.

The school's design was suitably bizarre fitting with the design of the rest of the town. It looked like bigger than normal school building mixed with the Selfridges Building's design, with a steel framework and sprayed concrete façade, all in a shape resembling a spider. It was a little strange to an outsider and indeed most citizens of Rockwick were surprised whenever they first laid their eyes upon it but it grew on you as you got used to it. Despite it's bizarre exterior the interior was nice clean and modern. The design was intended to put you at ease as you wondered the halls of Rockwick High in comfort with navy blue diamond carpeting, nice clean hallways and classrooms, comfortable chairs, spacious lockers, good lighting and more! Rockwick High was a very nice place to attend school if you could get over how weird it looked outside and how weird it could be to navigate before you get used to it.

As the students filed in from the various school buses and their parents dropping them off or the bikers riding up to it, Jasmine kept an eye out for Clementine. It took awhile to pick her out of the crowd but she eventually spotted her rounding a corner. She was wearing her usual outfit. A black jacket over a white blouse with buttons, black fingerless gloves and a dark pleated skirt, mismatched socks and black and white shoes. She has short, layered, hair and freckles across the bridge of her nose. Her hair is more rosewood than black walnut, more like fresh chestnuts with their glossy skins in autumn light. She has a tall and skinny almost lanky figure of average height and yet she's carrying her big heavy backpack like it weighs nothing. She had her white and gold earbuds in as she casually navigated through the waves of people like they weren't even there!

Jasmine smiled. Time to make a new friend.

It took a bit of effort for Jasmine to catch up to her due to Clementine simultaneously power walking and expertly navigating the crowded hallway. Even with all of the students coming and going from all sides she casually navigated around them so fluidly it was like she was a ghost. Thankfully once the crowd cleared up a bit Jasmine was finally able to catch up with her and she started power walking next to her. She was still having trouble keeping up but she was close enough to be able to get her attention. "Hi there!" Jasmine greeted. She didn't hear her over her music though so she tried again and waved to her. "Hello!" She waved. "Hi, I'm Jasmine! I don't think we've met or anything, we don't have any classes together, but I thought I'd take the chance to get to know you today right? So, ah, I'm Jasmine and you're...you're Clementine right?" She asked her.

Clementine finally noticed Jasmine and looked around before pointing at herself. Jasmine nodded and offered her hand. "I'm Jasmine Berry."

Clementine slowly took out one of the earbuds and Jasmine noticed it was almost like was bracing herself before she answered. "Hello?"

"Hiya. I'm Jasmine Berry!"

"Oh. Okay. I'm Clementine Kane."

"Nice to meet you, Clementine." She offered her hand until Clementine reached out and gently shook it.

Jasmine noticed how light her handshake was. It was gentle. Like you were shaking hands with a baby. She also looked a little nervous when reaching out but she still went through the handshake regardless. "Hello."

"Hi. I've noticed you around school before but I don't think we've officially met. You're in different classes then me and all so we obviously haven't had the chance so here I am introducing myself to you now." She explained. "So, uh, anyway, hi again. What are you listening to?"

"Oh right. This is...Luna Lazarus's lectures."

"Luna Lazarus? The Super Super Genius from Rosewater?"

"Yes."

"Man oh man you can actually keep up with her lectures? I tried to but it was way too advanced for me." Jasmine confessed.

"Yes. It's very advanced but I can understand it. Her work on biology, medicine, computer science, physics, electronic engineering, neurology, psychology, and genotype interactions are impressive. To say the least and I enjoy listening to her lectures. They're soothing and thought provoking."

"Seriously? So is she like an expert in everything?" Jasmine asked incredulously.

"As I understand it, she's an expert in all fields of science and can speak and write all languages flawlessly without exception." Clementine replied casually. "She's certainly very impressive. But she doesn't go here and we do. So can I help you with today?"

"Well, to be honest, I thought you looked lonely and I haven't seen you around in awhile or hanging out with anyone so I thought I'd extend an olive branch."

"Oh thank you. You're very kind." She glanced at a clock. "However, we should probably hurry to our classes, Jasmine."

"Right, yeah, of course. I hope I get a chance to introduce you to my friends later. See you later, Clementine."

"I would like that. Thank you." She replied. "I'll see you later, Jasmine." She put the bud back in her ear and disappeared into the crowd.

"That went well. That went really well." Jasmine told her friends as they caught up with her.

"Well? Analysis?"

"She's cool. It turns out she's just shy. We just have to ease her out of her shell." Jasmine assured them as she walked to class with her friends. "It turns out she's a Lazarus fan."

"Really?"

"Yeah. You were actually right about the books on tapes thing. She's been listening to her lectures and even better? She can actually keep up with them."

"Woah seriously?" Brian asked. "I think she's cool too but I got lost in those lectures...and her eyes."

Misty ruffled his hair in response. "She is so, so far out of your league, she's in another galaxy playboy."

"Don't give up on your dreams, Brian!" Ada cheered him on.

"Don't encourage him."

"I'm the wing-girl. I encourage my homies. Speaking personally however, I have my eyes on someone waaay more exotic."

"Oh? And who would that be?"

Ada pointed to a poster someone had placed on a wall.

"Ohhhhhh him huh?" Brian asked. "You really think he's real? Or...she? Or whoever this guy is?"

"Could be? How else do you explain what happened to those people?"

"An excellent question for another time. We have got to get to class." Jasmine reminded her friends. "Going to be one hell of a Lunch Topic either way."

"We'll hold you to that. In the meantime, I want everyone to form theories and whomever comes up with the craziest one wins a prize." Brian offered his friends.

"As for said prize, we'll come up with that when we get there." Ada joked and the friends parted to their respective classes.

"So...like, I don't know whether The Raincoat is a robot or something else entirely, but I do know that he or she was able to carve the Greek Letters χῖ and ϰ carved into a metal truck trailer. Falling rubble wouldn't just do that no matter how many rocks fell down on the truck. They might wreck the trailer sure but there's no way that falling rocks would coincidentally do that kind of damage to a truck. Something else happened there."

"Like what? Like there's some kind of superhuman out there?" Brian asked her in disbelief.

"I don't know. Maybe? It's the only explanation I can come up with. Seriously what else would do that to a truck?"

"Okay, but, supposing that, if there really is a superhuman out there, why not use their powers to make money and get rich like a sane person?"

"Maybe he or she isn't interested in that. Besides, if The Raincoat did go public, you just know the government would go after him to cut him up and dissect him to find out how his powers work."

"Seriously, Jazz? You of all people are drinking the conspiracy-aid?" He chuckled.

"I mean...when you look at the dimwits in charge...I'm just saying!"

"That's fair. Anyway, I'll catch you later!"

"We can bring this back up at lunch!" She promised and walked away.

Jasmine arrived in her math class and took her notebook and math homework out as she prepared for the lecture.

"Psst, hey Jazz, you hear about The Raincoat?" A student asked from behind her.

"Yeah, he's all everyone's talking about lately, Benny. It's crazy right?"

"Crazy is right. I heard he's an alien robot and he's preparing the planet for invasion." Benton 'Benny' Hobbs was a lean and tall student wearing a green t-shirt and grey pants with messy light brown hair and hazel eyes. He was well known as one of the most easygoing and laid back students at the school.

"Heh, who knows? You might just be right about that. It would explain his super powers." She reasoned. "Hey, you think his spaceship talks to him too?'

"Oh yeah. It tells him to take the world and seduce the beautiful women."

"An alien sex mission? Really?"

"Hey, if Kirk can go out into space to seduce green women, there's no reason that aliens can't come here to do the same."

"Gross. But fair."

"Heads up guys!" Another student called to them as the door opened up and their teacher walked into the room. Well, not so much walked in as...moonwalked into the room in her usual fashion. Because one thing the class had learned about Miss Sofia Snyder is that she never did anything normally besides her outfits. She wore an all white skirt-suit with blue leggings and shoes with her chocolate brown hair tied in a short ponytail. Her eyes were framed by black framed glasses.

Miss Snyder moonwalked into the room and danced over to her desk before stopping and taking out her headphones and turned off her phone. "Hello again class! Welcome back to Advanced Geometric Algorithms! I'm super happy to see you all back here again and I hope you're all rested up, bright eyed and bushy tailed from break because I'm going to put you through your paces kids! But first, if you would all pass your Spring Break Homework up to the front desk of each row so I can collect them and assign any bonus points you earned!" She called to them all in a singsong voice.

Everyone who completed the Extra Credit Spring Break Homework Assignment passed the papers up to the front desk in front of them until the pile reached the front desks of each row where she gathered them and placed them in her desk for later grading.

"Thank you much kids! I'm so happy to see you're taking your education seriously! Now, if you will take your textbooks out and turn them to Chapter 3, we can begin today's lecture!" Miss Snyder informed them cheerfully.

The students did so and she did a spinning pirouette before striking a disco pose and she began writing on the board while beginning her lecture.

"The proteomic research deals with the systematic analysis of complete profiles of the proteins expressed in a given cell, tissue or biological system at a given time. In this field, 2D–gel electrophoresis

(2–DE) is a well–established and widely used technique to separate proteins in a sample. A 2–DE gel

is the product of two sequentially performed separations in acrylamide gel media: isoelectric focusing as first dimension and a separation by molecular weight as second dimension. The result of that

process is a 2D pattern of spots each representing a protein. There is a variety of staining methods to

display protein spots: Coomassie blue and silver-staining and / or fluorescent and radioactive labeling. Mass spectrometry and the visual (usually computer aided) comparison (matching) with already

analyzed gel images of such a sample are used to identify proteins. The visual analysis of such 2–

DE image series intends to identify those proteins that change their expression (size, intensity) and

reflect/cause certain biochemical and biomedical conditions of an organism, see [26]. However, this

Computer Science Department, University of Arizona, email:alon@CS.Arizona.EDU

y

Institut f¨ur Informatik, Freie Universit¨at Berlin, Takustr. 9, D-14195 Berlin, email:name@inf.fu-berlin.de

z

Deutsches Herzzentrum Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, D-13353 Berlin

x

Supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, grant FL 165/4–2.

{

Supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, grant AL 253/4–3.

1

requires high throughput analysis tools and the major challenge is to obtain both robust and reliable

algorithmic solutions that work automatically, or at least need only little user interaction. As we

will see, this goal in conjunction with efficiency requirements makes it necessary to start with simple

(sometimes oversimplified) modelling assumptions.

A second strand of research was initiated in [22]. Here the challenge consists of creating analysis

software that is able to perform interlaboratory gel image comparisons and to deal with images from

various databases via the Internet.

The intensive research on these questions emphasizes the strong demand from the practitioners

for better algorithmic solutions.

The aim of this paper is to demonstrate how ideas from computational geometry help to meet

these challenges in the context of the two most basic problems in gel analysis: Spot detection: Given a scanned 2–DE gel image identify spot regions. Gel matching: Given two images by their spot lists, perform a matching procedure to identify

those spot pairs that correspond to each other, so that the matching reflects both geometric and

spot intensity resemblance of the images.

In this paper we survey algorithmic studies and implementation work that was done while developing

the 2–DE analysis software system CAROL ([9]). It contains both new results (Section 2, Subsection

3.4) and partly published ones (Section 3, [17]). Interestingly, this application problem has also lead

to new theoretical questions in geometry.

In Section 2 we address the spot detection question in the following context. Originally the

CAROL project was designed to answer only matching queries for gel images. It turned out that

available spot detection algorithms did not adequately support the underlying philosophy that is based

on the similarity of geometric point patterns. Thus the spot detection approach presented here aims

at determining the point pattern of a gel as precise as possible rather than computing exact shapes

and volume data of spots. We assume that each spot has approximately the shape of an axis-parallel

ellipse. This is a widely accepted, but surely simplified, modeling assumption, see for example [5] or

[14]. However, spots that are very close to each other may partially overlap and “merge”. This can

lead to rather complicated local pixel regions, as depicted in Figure 1, compare [20].

In [23] a spot detection algorithm is described that relies on a watershed transformation applied

to the gradient image. The most difficult part is the interpretation of twin spots, streaks (left side

in Fig.1), and so–called complex regions (right side in Fig.1) as unions of ellipses. This especially

applies to the case of oversaturated regions in silver stained gels.

Figure 1: Twin spots, streaks, and a complex region

In fact, in [23] the latter case of interpreting complex regions was left open and in the implementation

the user had to edit these complex regions by hand. Here we present an algorithmic solution to this

2

question based on a Linear Programming (LP) formulation. To the best of our knowledge it is the first

algorithmic attempt to deal with spot detection of complex oversaturated regions in a single image.

An alternative approach has been studied in [6], where the information of multiple already aligned

images is used for a subsequent spot detection.

There is an inherent uncertainty in the images due to the electrophoresis process itself which is

highly susceptible to faults and geometric distortions. The reader may argue just by looking at the

images, that there is no hope to come up with a perfect spot detection algorithm. This is certainly true.

Yet we can cope with this ambiguity, at least to some extent by computing a ranked list of proposals

how a complex region could be covered instead of computing only the “best” covering, which could

be erroneous. Then, in the matching algorithm, we have the possibility to accept the matching of two

ambiguous regions if there is a pair of proposed coverings that match.

The matching algorithm itself is described in Section 3. Assume that a source and a target image

are given by their spot lists. We first transform the lists into geometric point patterns, where a spot is

represented by the ellipse center coordinates and additionally we code the real size/intensity of the spot

into a single integer value. The lists can be of significantly different size and, additionally, we allow

the images to show only partially overlapping sections of the gels. Thus the task is to find a maximal–

cardinality one–to–one matching of the spot lists, so that this mapping respects both the geometry of

the images and the relative spot intensities i.e., relatively intensive source spots should be mapped to

relatively intensive target spots. The geometric matching criterion is based on similarity of imaginary

edges which link spots. Two edges are similar if their length ratio and the difference of their angles

formed with the x–axis are within preset tolerance bounds. Our algorithmic solution, which we call

global–via–local matching, works in two stages. Firstly, we compute matchings for several small local

patterns, which are chosen in a grid–like fashion. For this local matching we use a modified alignment

method known from point pattern matching ([2]) combined with geometric hashing. A significant

speed–up is gained by reducing the set of all source / target edges to those belonging to the history

of the incremental Delaunay triangulation of the spot lists in the order of their decreasing intensities.

Having sets of matching candidates for each of the local patterns, we select a subset that is consistent

with the overall grid topology. The matching spot pairs computed this way later serve as “landmarks”

in the second stage. Landmarks were also used in previous algorithmic solutions, but they had to

be set manually. The novelty of our solution is to generate them automatically. The subsequent

extension from landmarks to a maximal global matching is rather standard by local neighborhood

comparisons. Since this step uses mainly geometric information, it is capable to match spots with

different intensities, that correspond to significantly regulated proteins. Moreover in the extension

step it is possible to exploit the proposal lists for ambigious spot regions, as computed in the spot

detection. This way, we present a first step towards the simulation of how an expert would compare

images by visual inspection, namely, by intertwining the spot detection with the matching process.

Figure 2 shows two 2–DE gel images originated from a transfection experiment of cultured EaHy

cells with 800 (left) and 1000 protein spots. Their original size is about 23cm by 29cm. For the

purpose of illustration in Figure 3 and 4 more details are shown of the small rectangular window

regions marked in Figure 2. (For simplicity ellipses were replaced by circles.)

In both Sections 2 and 3 we also refer to related theoretical issues and open problems in computational geometry that could further improve our solution. In Section 4 we outline implementation

issues and describe experimental results.

2 Spot Detection in Complex Regions as an Ellipse Covering Problem

Spot detection is to a wide extent an image processing problem. In fact, if the spots are well separated, classical methods like filtering and watershed transformation on the gradient image provide a

satisfying algorithmic solution, see [23]. As mentioned above, the core combinatorial problem is the

interpretation of complex pixel regions as unions of axis parallel ellipses.

The following formalization is a compromise stemming from discussions with practitioners who

solve these covering instances by peer review. First, we remark that complex regions are typically

saturated (black), and therefore gray level information does not help for the detection. We assume that

a connected pixel pattern R is given, which is fat in the sense that there are neither short horizontal

nor vertical cuts consisting of only two pixels. In the application R is usually a simply connected

subpattern of a 100 100–pixel square.

Spot sets detected with black spots indicating the local matching

To make use of the powerful machinery of geometric approximation algorithms we identify pixels

with their center points. Then the region R can be represented by two sets of points C and F , where

C is a sample of points to be covered (inside R) and F is a set of forbidden points (outside R). One

can obtain these sets walking along the boundary of R and choosing points inside and outside within

a small distance. This approach somehow mimics the general practice of experts who are looking

for ellipses approximating long parts of the boundary of R. The advantage that both sets are of small

cardinality has to be paid for by the fact that the computed cover could have some hole in the interior of

the region. To avoid this one also can choose C as the set of all grid points in R (from an appropriately

dense grid). Then, of course, the cardinality m of C can be quadratic in n, the size of F .

Now we can formulate the approximate covering problem from the application point of view. For

numbers 0 ; 1 the problem is to find a smallest-cardinality set E of axis–parallel ellipses

fulfilling the following conditions.

1. (Fitting) Each ellipse E 2 E respects F , i.e., it does not intersect F .

2. (Intersection) The boundaries of every pair of ellipses E;E0

in E intersects in at most 2 points,

and area(E \ E0) minfarea(E); area(E0)g.

3. (Covering) S

E2E E covers at least a (1 )–portion of pixels in C.

The aim to find minimal–cardinality coverings is in accordance with Occam’s razor principle, since

the smallest cardinality set is, in absence of a master gel, the simplest hypothesis to explain how

a complex region could have been evolved. At first sight one would require to cover all points in

R, however in order to cope with noise the covering condition allows to leave a small portion of

points uncovered. The fitting condition ensures that the selected ellipses do not cover much more

than the region R. From the way the gel production process spreads a protein in the two dimensions,

practitioners usually conclude that two spots do not form a cross. We incorporated this notion in the

intersection condition.

Following the standard methodology of set cover approximation, our ellipse covering problem

splits into two parts:

1. Find a basic set E of ellipses such that each ellipse E 2 E fulfills the fitting property, and

R S

E2E E.

Select a minimum cardinality subset E E which respects the intersection and covering properties.

Remark that (the boundary of) an axis–parallel ellipse can be represented by the solutions of the

equation

(x c)

2

a2 +

(y d)

2

b2 1=0 (1)

with parameters a; b; c; d 2 IR, where (c; d) is the ellipse center, and a and b are the lengths of

the halfaxes. Thus a straightforward approach is to discretize the parameter space of all possible

ellipses, and define E to be the set of all inclusion maximal ellipses fulfilling the fitting property.

One way to avoid misinterpretation of streaks is to exclude ellipses of an ”extreme” shape, i.e., to

require a=b 2 [1=; ] for a suitable constant 1. This also reduces the complexity of E. The

selection of E E can then be easily done in a greedy fashion. We implemented this approach,

however both runtime and the quality of the solution did not meet our expectations, see e.g. Figure 5.

In Subsection 2.3 we study from a theoretical point of view how to improve on both, making use of

advanced geometric data structures and techniques. In Subsection 2.2 we present an alternative LPbased approach, which avoids the explicit construction of a large basic set E, and instead combines

construction and selection of ellipses. Experimental results show that both quality and runtime of the

LP-approach are superior to the simple brute force solution."

www2.cs.arizona.edu/~alon/papers/jcb.pdf

Jasmine continued taking the notes as she followed along with the lesson with the others but while doing so she couldn't help but jot down the theories she'd heard so far about The Raincoat in order of her favorites.

Android?

Alien?

Alien Android?

Robot?

Mutant?

Government Agent?

Viral Marketing Campaign?

Hoax?

She ended up circling Alien Android as her favorite theory and went back to her notes.

After the lecture ended they worked on a computational geometry assignment.

In a process similar to what was presented in class. The main steps (and the algebra needs to be completed) are:

Complications The convex in is d=4.O(n^2 )

as per Clarkson-Shore Theorem:

point She Object / object.

5 points form a butterfly (configuration) from 2 abcd tetrahedrons, abce glued to each other in an abc triangle. The butterfly / configuration in conflict with w objects, these are the points seen by at least one of the tetrahedra. These points and the fifth point of the configuration are located on different sides of the super-plane containing the tetrahedron.

so:

N_(≤w)=O(w^d E(N_0 (n/w) ) )=O(w^3 n^2 ).

The probability that a weight configuration will be created isw: Therefore the expectation of the number of butterflies formed:p_w=O(1/w^5 )

∑▒〖〖p_w N〗_w=⋯=O(n^2)〗

A. You can calculate enoughAgThe level of normalcy N In linear time by a trip on, for example KDFS (to be specified). Complexity of the convex in 3 dimensions eTheA. The Euler formula holds that there are at most ribs and at most wigs, when it is the number of vertices.O(n)3n-62n-4n Per wig of K corresponds to a vertex of N (the direction of the external normal to the wig), for each arc of K corresponds to a large circle arc of N (the normal directions of the planes supporting the side), and to each vertex of K corresponds to a wig of N.

B. It can be shown that in unspecified cases, the planes can be rotated until one of the specified cases is obtained. It is important to show that there is a direction in which such a rotation only reduces the distance, by using the Pythagorean theorem.

D. We will construct the normal diagram and the reverse diagram. We will useDD'sweep lineAcross the unit ball To find incisions between ribs and ribs. Each such incision gives two ribs nominated for the case DD'(ii). To find candidates for case (i) you can process D into a data structure that supports point location, go through wig wig and look in the data structure for the opposite normal. (In fact there is no need for early processing, since the normal directions of the wigs are known in advance, and during the sweep Find each one in the reverse diagram when you get to it (as we saw in class).

3) a) In the dual representation we have nCircles are equal in radius and we want to find a point that is in the maximum number of these circles. We will performsweep On the dual circles (with each circle split into its upper and lower parts), and consider the points of intersection between them, and as a result the wigs of the array they form (enough to maintain the wigs that straighten the sweepCutter). For each wig we will hold a counter of how many circles it contains, and every time we encounter a new wig (to the right of a cutting point or to the right of the leftmost point of a circle) it is easy to calculate the value of its counter using those of adjacent wigs (to be specified). We return a point on the wig with a maximum counter value.

B) Note that the critical radii in which the answer to a) varies are radii in which three circles meet at one point, or two circles touch each other. Consider the collection of these radii and then run a binary search on them to find the desired minimum radius. At each step of the search we will run the algorithm in a); If he found a point at leastkCircles will continue to smaller radii, and if not, to larger radii. (The algorithms obtained in this question are not very efficient ...)

4) Separate into two calculations, one for the vertical sides of P and one to the horizontal ribs. Since the cases are symmetrical, it is enough to explain that in the case of vertical ribs, we will refer to this case. Of and the points of P. We will scan from left to right, we will go over all the points in x-str:Q

- If we encounter a left endpoint of section m Q we put it in y-str.

- If we encounter a right endpoint of a section from Q We'll take it out what y-str.

- If we encounter a rib from P (we will only refer to verticality here) will be searched in y-str using a cooRDiets ey its the first segment that is below the top endpoint and the first segment that is above the bottom endpoint. We will check how many segments are between them by rank queries. These are the segments of Q that intersect with the side of P. We will update the numerator. There are points in x-str and y-str. Actions.O(n)O(log⁡n)O(n log⁡n)

Any students that had trouble or questions about the assignments could simply ask Miss Snyder for clarification. After completing their assignments they handed them in and Miss Snyder cheerfully collected them and then danced back to her desk. The bell rang soon after and she clapped her hands. "Very good today class! Very good very good very good! Remember your homework assignments tonight: Problem 5.6a on page 116! Problem 6.14 on page 144! Problem 7.11 on page 161 and Problems 8.2 and 8.5 on page 179! That's 40 points all together kids! Do your best! I believe in you!"

"YES MA'AM!" The kids replied and quickly filed out of the classroom.

"Urrrrrgh. My head is spinning." Lucille Levy sighed as they walked the hallway. Lucille is a tall girl with aqua-blue eyes and long, scarlet hair that she kept tied in a long braided ponytail. She's wearing a stylish top and skirt. "Miss Snyder is a great teacher but her class comes way too early in the morning."

"Could be worse. We could still have that offbeat tone deaf tempo douche."

Thatcher." Jasmine shuddered. "If I ever see that sadist again it'll still be too soon."

Mad Dog Creakle Thatcher, just one of the many derogatory nicknames the students had come up with for the former music teacher, was a violent thug who somehow bumbled his way into becoming a music teacher. How exactly he accomplished this had been a mystery for the ages given that his teaching method resolved around screaming obscenities, demeaning his students and hurling objects around in a violent tantrum if anybody didn't meet his batshit standards topped off by threatening the students into keeping silent. This lasted until recording devices an anonymous student had planted in the room not only caught his behavior but then proceeded to put it all online. This had emboldened the students to come forward with their own stories. While his lawyer was able to protect him from the filming, the students statements had done far more damage and coupling this with their parents demanding his head and the faculty turning on him en masse, Thatcher was left disgraced and lost his teaching license. He narrowly avoided jail but he was left on two years house arrest. In a town where everybody hated his guts.

That's the thing about Rockwickians: They look after their own.

Suffice to say after his two years of house arrest were up, Thatcher moved far, far, far away from their town and had never returned.

On the day he was set to leave town, Miss Snyder had marched up to his house and whispered something in his ear. Nobody knew what she said that day but reportedly he had come stumbling out of his house scared out of his wits and ran to his car like the hounds of hell were on his tail.

The Mystery Filmer had not been located but the students believed he was still out there somewhere. Watching over the school like a guardian angel.

Thatcher was used as both a cautionary tale and an urban legend around the school with everyone trying to make him more monstrous with each retelling. The current 'lore' pictured him as a blatant rip-off of Jigsaw and The Trunchbull, who straps his students to intricate and overtly cruel torture devices which activate if they score a less than optimal grade in their assignments.

"Nooooot myyyyyy teeeeemmmpoooo! Oooook!" Benny drawled in a long drawn out simpleton voice while beating his chest.

The girls had a good laugh over that.

"Hey listen though, forgot that nobody. He's probably in prison somewhere or whatever while we're living it up in Rockwick. It's best to just laugh at his stupidity and move on with a big laugh and a smile!"

"My man!" He and Jazz high fived. "Anyway! Yeah. Forgetting about that loser now. I've got a Neuroscience lecture next anyway so I kinda need my mind clear."

"Ah man. I don't know how you get through that class."

"I know right? It can get a bit graphic at times but I'm certainly learning a lot. I can recite information about Biopsies, Craniotomies, Extended bifrontal craniotomies, Supra-orbital craniotomies, Retro-sigmoid craniotomies, Orbitozygomatic craniotomies, Translabyrinthine craniotomies, MRI-guided laser ablations,

Endonasal endoscopic surgeries and Neuroendoscopies from heart now...also we've done fake surgeries on fake brains soooo that's a thing."

"Huh. You know, I've never really thought about it, but do you think other High Schools teach this kind of stuff?" Benny questioned.

"I don't see why not." Lucille shrugged. "We're just a little town. If our school can teach them why wouldn't other schools? Anyway! I'll see you guys after Combinatorics.* " She waved to her friends and hurried down the hallway.

Combinatorics is an area of mathematics primarily concerned with counting, both as a means and an end in obtaining results, and certain properties of finite structures. It is closely related to many other areas of mathematics and has many applications ranging from logic to statistical physics, from evolutionary biology to computer science, etc. To fully understand the scope of combinatorics requires a great deal of further amplification, the details of which are not universally agreed upon. According to H.J. Ryser, a definition of the subject is difficult because it crosses so many mathematical subdivisions. Insofar as an area can be described by the types of problems it addresses, combinatorics is involved with

"Looks like I drew the big straw. I've got Philosophy and the Science of Human Nature, baby! Victory for Benny!"

"Yeah, yeah, don't rub it in Benny boy. Just kick some butt in your class alright?"

"Will do. Gonna be straight A's all the way!"

She waved goodbye again and they parted.

Arriving in her Fundamentals Of Neuroscience And Brain Surgeries Course, she took her seat and relaxed until class got started.

Professor Hideki Youta Kichirō Ottavio Cattaneo and his wife Professor Léa Eléonore Faucher Cattaneo waited until the bell rang to happily welcome the kids back.

The Italian-Japanese-American Hideki was an adult man with a rather tall stature, and muscular yet slender build. He is mentioned to be very handsome by the people around him, boys and girls alike. He has straight black hair with a dark blue tint which reaches down to his nape. His bangs are shorter than his hair and parts towards the right side in the form of an "M-style", which partly covers his left eye.

Professor Lea was a French-African-American woman with a beautiful figure and silky black hair tied into a ponytail. Her hazel eyes were covered by fancy glasses. Like her husband she was wearing a fancy suit and labcoat.

"Hello again kids. Glad to see you remembered your way through the halls." Hideki joked to a couple of chuckles from the class. "But really we're delighted to have you back for another amazing class full of fun amazing Neuroscience!"

"I'm sure you kids kept up with your reading but just to make sure we've prepared a quick little quiz to help refresh your memories!" Lea informed them sweetly and grabbed the stack of papers from the table. She passed out the piles to the front desk of each row to pass back to the students behind them. Jeff laughed nervously as she looked over her quiz. "Hooo boy. It is good to be back."

1. A drug that decreases the activity of dopamine within the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex would be expected to

A. Induce both positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia

B. Induce only the positive symptoms of schizophrenia

C. Be an effective treatment for schizophrenia

D. Decrease the levels of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens

E. Be an effective treatment for thought and language disorder

2.PCP acts as a(n) ________ at ___________receptors

A. Agonist; NMDA

B. Antagonist; dopamine

C. Agonist; acetylcholine

D. Antagonist; NMDA

E. Antagonist; GABA

3. Which of the following would be a negative symptom of schizophrenia?

A. Hearing voices that repeat senseless words and phrases

B. Experiencing a feeling of euphoria at the start of an episode

C. Believing that doctors are part of the plot to poison you

D. Thinking you are the most powerful being on earth

E. Exhibiting flattened emotional expression

4. In which of the following would you expect to observe an enlarged hippocampal formation

A. A London cabby who has 30 years of experience

B. A pigeon that wanders from roost to roost

C. A bird that only eats from your backyard feeder

D. A person who has just started training as a London cabby

E. A chickadee tested in the early summer

5. The hippocampus receives inputs from

A. The entorhinal cortex

B. The amygdala

C. Various regions of the limbic cortex

D. All association areas of the neocortex

E. All of the above

6. Patient RB who sustained brain damage while in cardiac arrest, exhibited profound anterograde amnesia. What region of the brain was injured?

A. Field CA1 of the hippocampal formation

B. The perirhinal cortex

C. The parahippocamal cortex

D. The amygdala

E. The central nucleus of the amygdala

7. The verbal abilities of HM are intact except

A. He cannot talk of events that occurred prior to 1953

B. His ability to spell simple words such as "and" and "but"

C. He cannot talk about mathematical operations

D. He is not proficient in post 1953 American vocabulary

E. Both a and c

8. The common aspect of all natural reinforcers relates to

A. The release of dopamine within the nucleus accumbens

B. The release of norepinephrine within the locus coeruleus

C. The release of dopamine within the lateral hypothalamus

D. Inactivation of frontal cortex

E. Activation of the medulla

9. Imagine that you have ingested a drug that prevents alcohol from binding to the GABA/A receptor just before you join friends at a bar. Which of the following would you expect to happen to you?

A. You show no signs of sedation, even after nine beers

B. One beer puts you to sleep

C. The pill makes the alcohol taste bitter, causing you to vomit

D. You find alcohol more intoxicating

E. You have impaired cerebellar function

10. PET studies show that schizophrenic patients treated with amphetamine show ______ from the striatum and a corresponding ________

A. Reduced release of dopamine, increase in positive symptoms

B. Reduced release of GABA, decrease in positive symptoms

C. Greater release of dopamine, decrease in negative symptoms

D. Greater release of dopamine, increase in positive symptoms

E. Reduced release of serotonin, increase in negative symptoms

11. John has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and has shown improvement in positive symptoms while taking chlorpromazine. Which of the following actions below, if taken by John, would be expected to greater worsen his positive schizophrenia symptoms?

A. John stops taking CPZ and takes cocaine

B. John takes double the CPZ dose per day

C. John takes reserpine in addition to CPZ

D. John mixes alcohol with CPZ

E. John ingests alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine in addition to CPZ

12. Alternating episodes of elation and sadness are referred to as

A. Bipolar disorder

B. Severe depression

C. Severe mania

D. Unipolar depression

E. Schizoaffective disorder

13. The function of monoamine oxidase is to

A. Provide the precursor for the catecholamines

B. Convert dopamine into norepinephrine

C. Convert norepinephrine into epinephrine

D. Convert catecholamines and serotonin into inactive forms

E. Speed up the digestion of cheese in the gut

14. The monoamine hypothesis states that depression is caused by

A. Loss of cells in the prefrontal cortex

B. Insufficient activity of monoaminergic neurons

C. Excessive activity of dopamine systems

D. Overactivity of monoaminergic neurons

E. Excessive activity of serotonin synapses

15. All of the following support the monoamine hypothesis of depression EXCEPT

A. Reserpine causes depression

B. CSF levels of 5-HIAA are low in suicidal patients

C. Monoamine agonists produce depression

D. Families of subjects with low 5-HIAAA were more likely to include people with depression

E. Monoamine antagonists produce depression

www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/story.php?title=principles-neuroscience

She breathed in and slowly exhaled as she looked over the quiz, wrote her name down, looked it over again and got to work on her answers.

Question 1: A. Induce both positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia

Question 2: D. Antagonist; NMDA

Question 3: E. Exhibiting flattened emotional expression

Question 4: A. A London cabby who has 30 years of experience

Question 5: E. All of the above

Question 6: A. Field CA1 of the hippocampal formation

Question 7: D. He is not proficient in post 1953 American vocabulary

Question 8: A. The release of dopamine within the nucleus accumbens

Question 9: A. You show no signs of sedation, even after nine beers

Question 10: D. Greater release of dopamine, increase in positive symptoms

Question 11: A. John stops taking CPZ and takes cocaine

Question 12: A. Bipolar disorder

Question 13: D. Convert catecholamines and serotonin into inactive forms

Question 14: B. Insufficient activity of monoaminergic neurons

Question 15: C. Monoamine agonists produce depression

She looked it over again to ensure she was happy with her answers, nodded and set her pencil down and took a breather.

After the quiz was over and the papers were collected the class was treated to a pair of videos to help ease them back into the class after spring break though they were informed to take notes.

All of which was completely normal, Jess was sure.

After the class was given their assignments and class let out, they waved goodbye to their teachers and headed out.

"First day back and we're already being assigned quizzes eh? They sure don't hold back do they?" One of the students asked her.

"I know right? This is why you have to keep up with your studies man. You never know when they might decide to drop a test on you."

Leia leaned her head out the door. "That's coming up by the way! Study hard children!"

"Yes ma'am! Thanks a lot Jass."

Jess smirked and stuck her tongue out.

After another couple of classes, including Entertainment Engineering & Design and Turfgrass Science, it was finally time for lunch and she was practically skipping. Not only did Jasmine get to see her friends again but they could finally start getting to know Clementine!

True to their word; Misty Pendleton, Brian Palmer and Ada Caldwell were all waiting for her in the cafeteria. It was a nice and fancy place. With clean tiles and stainless steel furniture, nice looking pillars with speakers on them playing comforting soothing music and nice paintings hanging on the walls. The kids could smell the aromas of Rockfort High School's Delicious Delicacies even from their spot in line!

"We've had a few fun classes but we're good. Allow me to introduce my friends: Misty Pendleton, Brian Palmer and Ada Caldwell."

"Sup? I'm Brian."

"How do you do Miss Kaine? My name is Misty Pendleton and we are ever so glad to make your acquittance."

"It's nice to finally meet you properly Clementine." Ada greeted her.

"Hello. Hello to all of you." She greeted and offered her hand. They happily shook hers up and down while she was as gentle as a lamb with them.

"Hey come on now you don't need to be that gentle. Feel free to show your muscles." Brian told her and gave her hand a squeeze as a joke. Nothing happened. He looked up at Clementine and chuckled quietly before squeezing again. Nothing. She smiled and let go.

"I work on a farm."

"Riiight. Cool. So what do you there anyway?"

"Farm stuff." She replied with a shrug.

"Cool. If you ever need any help you can give us a call." Brian offered. "I think it would be fun actually."

Misty considered countering this but decided to table it for later.

"Heck with it. I could probably do a day of work in between my world domination plans." Ada joked.

*Clementine will remember that.

"Well, if you ever need help, feel free to just let us know." Misty agreed. "Anyway, what classes did you have?"

"AP Military Strategy and Tactics, Astrobiology and the Search for Extraterrestrial Life, Cryptozoology 101 and Programming."

"Wow. You are out there Clementine. Any signs of Extraterrestrials yet?"

"Only circumstantial evidence so far I'm afraid."

"You might be in luck." He replied. "Have you heard about The Raincoat?"

"Do you mean The Movie Posters people have been putting up around the school?"

"They're more along the lines of normal photoshopped posters than movie posters. The Raincoat is that vigilante that everybody said has been running around saving people around the world." Ada explained. "She or He, we don't know for sure, completely totaled a truck. I saw it on the news."

"Ohhhh that raincoat. The Superman guy. Gal. Him. Her. Whichever. Do you think he's real?"

"Either that or it is one hell of a viral marketing campaign." Misty joked.

"And that is today's Lunch Topic. Interested in joining us?"

"Sure. That sounds like fun."

"Hey by the way? What are you listening to?" Misty asked her. Pointing to the one ear bud she had in her ear.

"A Luna Lazarus Lecture On Nanotechnology."

"Cool!"

"So what's she talking about? What does Miss Lazarus have planned with her nanotech?"

"Using it to treat diseases and other issues with the human body. Therapeutic nanotechnology could be used to deliver drugs, reconstructs brain cells and restores cognitive function. Nanotech contact lenses could be to provide medication, sun protection and vital statistics in treating eye disorders. Nanotechnology can medicate and repair ears reversing hearing loss and vertigo. Nanopolymers can regenerate skin and tissue. To treat diseases like ovarian and breast cancer, nanosensors 1,000 times better than mammograms could find breast cancer and nano-instruments destroy and prevent cancer growth. Nanoparticles on bones repair breaks and strengthen bones in mere days or weeks. In addition, robotic processes transmit information to the brain so patients feel and use them like native limbs. Nanotherapies could be designed to self-adjust to fight bacterial and viral infections, saving millions of lives each year. Robotic limbs, suits and muscular augmentations could increase muscle strength to 100 times human capacity for long missions. Implanted biosensors could manage glucose and vital signs for diseases such as diabetes, releasing meds and detecting emergencies." Clementine summarized.

"But of course that's just the icing. The real fun stuff is what she discusses after: Precise injections of nanobots that attach to different parts of the body, begin replicating, and re-engineering parts of the body, creating smart materials that will replace and improve every part of the human body to upgrade it into a transhuman that's never tired, always at peak performance, has flawless skin, unbreakable bones, super muscles and senses, genetically reprogrammed cells that can self-repair at an accelerated rate, widened neurons in the brain to increase reaction time and intelligence, creating a web of osteoderms in the skin to create flexible but durable shell that is invisible to the naked eye to help the human body resist excessive and harsh damage among other things."

"Well dang that certainly sounds cool." Brian agreed. "How does the super strength work though? Muscle density?"

"That's half right. She suggests that nanotechnology could be used to reduce the production of functional myostatin, allowing muscles to grow more dense and tougher while simultaneously enhancing their body tissue, skin, muscles, bones, etc to become extremely dense and solid, allowing them to withstand harmful forces on the body such as crushing weights, impacts, pressures and changes in temperatures, making them stronger and more durable. The specifics of it are very technical but that's the summary and gist of it."

"Well if anybody could do it, it's Luna Lazarus." Ada agreed. "That woman is a super genius to be sure."

"My head is swimming. That all sounds like something out of Sci-Fi Movies. It would be cool though." Brian added. "Hey wait a second! Wait wait wait! I've got it! The Raincoat! She or he's a Nano-Super!" He invented the term on the spot. "A Nanomachine Powered Superhuman! Like, a Superpowered Prototype that Luna Lazarus created!"

Clementine giggled.

"Well, I wouldn't say it's an impossibility. It's just as possible as every other theory. So we're going with the robot theory?"

"It sounds good to me."

"We can discuss it further when we get to the table. Come on guys! Chow time!"

The students grabbed their fine foods and then a table.

Clementine bought herself Tarragon Chicken Salad Sandwiches, Misty got her Pizza Cauliflower Bites, same as Jasmine, Brian got Baked fiery buffalo wings and Ada settled on Turkey Chili. Dining at Rockwick High was just so absolutely divine.

"Alright boys and girls! Lets begin today's Lunch Topic: The Identity Of The Raincoat! I want to hear ideas people!"

"Hot Take: She or he's a Space Alien." Clementine joked.

"Alright, space alien, first one on the table. Lets hear your reasoning."

"Super fast, super strong, can be in several places at once, and has camouflaging powers to blend in with the night. Nobody normal can do that and certainly not someone from planet Earth. Heretofore, Space Alien. That's how it always works in the comics after all. We can therefore surmise that he or she gets his or her powers from the Earth's Yellow Sun via The Photonucleic Effect on top of coming from an alien planet with higher gravity than Earth. Lets say...around ten times. It would explain the invulnerability, super strength and super speed." She explained to them.

"Okay then. That is a very good argument. Who would like to go next?"

"Lazarus Android." Ada chimed in. "I've never seen any proof of alien life, no offense Clementine, but androids are a real thing. They've been making more advanced robots every day and they've even started making giant mechas now! If anybody could make a superpowered android, it would be Luna Lazarus. Those crime fighting moments were set up by the government to test out the androids abilities. How else would you explain The Raincoat's superpowers and finding all of those crime scenes? It was all set up."

"That does sound more realistic." Clementine admitted.

"So we have Alien and Android. Who wants to go next?"

"Guys, seriously, she's a Nano-Machine powered Superhuman!" Brian smiled. "We just discussed how uber nanomachines could make someone, right? So, here's what happened. The Government used some super prototype nanomachines to make a superhuman and now they're testing him out in combat scenarios!"

"Wait how is that different than my theory?" Ada asked.

"Your ideas an android, a machine construct that combine artificial intelligence and a mechanical body with a human-like appearance, while mine was a nanomachine person which would make him or her closer to a cyborg."

"Ohhhh. Right, right. Okay carry on. Who's next?"

"That would be...moi!" Misty smiled. "And the answer is simple: The Raincoat is really a nanomachine infused alien android powered by sunlight!"

"Oh come on Misty. You can't just copy other people's answers like that!"

"Says who, Brian?"

"It's against the rules."

"Since when do our Lunch Topics have rules?"

"Since now."

"Overruled." Jess smirked.

"I second that notion." Misty agreed.

"I shall remain neutral." Clementine stated for the record.

"Ada! Come on, back me up here?"

Ada took a quarter out of her pocket and flipped in the air, caught it and slapped it on her palm before looking at it. "Annnnd I'm siding with Brian this time."

"That leaves us tied. Clementine, since you're new to the group, we'll need you to break the tie for us. So are you Team Brian or Team Jess?"

They smiled at her expectantly until Clementine carefully placed the ear buds back in her ears and resumed her lunch. "The food here is really good."

"Hey, is it okay if I sit here?" A student asked them. They looked up to see a teen in punk goth attire standing there with his plate. He was wearing a black t-shirt and shorts with black fingerless gloves on his hands and a black wristband on his right wrist, topped off with black horn rimmed glasses on his face.

"Sure man we got plenty of space. Have a seat, bro!" Brian greeted him.

"Thanks man. I'm new. Jack Mccormick." He introduced himself.

"Nice to meet you newbie! I'm Jasmine, and this is Misty, Brian, Ada and Clementine."

They introduced themselves one by one until Clementine did a double take and suddenly sprung out of her chair with her phone in her pocket and grabbed a football that had been flying at the back of Jack's head!

"What the heck?!" Jack exclaimed as he jumped.

Clementine looked across the cafeteria to see a tall student in a football jersey staring at her in disbelief while his two buddies on either side of him laughed and applauded her quick save. Clementine stood up and smiled. "I'll be right back."

"Woah woah woah! Hey, Clementine, you don't want to get involved with those guys!" Brian insisted to her. "Just drop the football and sit back down."

"Clem, those were some awesome reflexes, but those guys are nuts!" Ada told her.

She nodded. "It will be fine. Enjoy your lunch guys." She told them and walked across the cafeteria while the trio approached her. Instead of meeting them in the middle however, Clementine pivoted and instead walked closer to the door where a trash can was sitting and with the trio close behind her she casually dropped the football in the trash, dusted off her hands and walked away with her hands behind her back.

"Ohhhhh shiiii-"

"Brian!"

"I'm on it. Go find a teacher or something!" He told the girls and hurried over to Clementine while the trio were digging the football out of the trash and wiping it down.

"Clem! Clem come on we have to go." Brian insisted and grabbed her arms.

"I don't think so. Sorry but I am not done eating yet and neither are any of you. Come on, lets sit back down and get back to lunch."

"Clementine seriously! That guy's-"

"Hey what the hell's your problem?!" The leader of the trio snapped at her. "We were just joking around! You didn't need to throw it in the trash like that!"

"I am sorry but if you cannot play with it responsibly then you do not deserve it." Clementine informed him casually while changing the phone to ViewTube to find something to listen to. She'd been listening to lectures all morning after all.

"Seriously, Caleb, it's just a football, she didn't do anything wrong alright?"

"Shut up loser. I didn't give either of you bitches permission to speak to me." Caleb Cassius Chambers snapped at him. He was one of the tallest guys in school with a physique to mix and a mostly shaved head and his features made him look like he was carved out of stone. Unfortunately, his personality was on the downright nasty side.

"Real mature." Clementine retorted in a bored tone while searching through the videos. Caleb tried to grab her phone away from her but she casually side-stepped him seemingly without paying attention. He tried again only for the same thing to happen!

Brian took a few steps back unsure of what he was seeing. Cassius was one of the toughest guys in school but she was treating him like a joke!

"Help her Brian!" Jasmine insisted to him.

"Which one?" Brian asked as she danced around Caleb's attempts to grab her. He soon got tired of this and he tried to punch her in the face only for her to duck under him and then keep doing what she was doing, circling around him and side stepping everything he tried, outright humiliating the bully without throwing a punch!

Clementine smiled as she apparently found a song she liked and hit play. She began to mouth the words even as she dodged around him, did a pirouette and resumed mouthing the lyrics to Adam Lambert's For Your Entertainment.

One of Caleb's buddies tried to tackle Clementine from behind but suddenly tripped over his untied shoelaces and fell on his face to the laughter of the lunchroom.

Jack adjusted his glasses and enjoyed his lunch while he watched the whole thing unfold. "...This is a weird school."

"Dammit! STAND STILL" Caleb shouted at her.

"Nope. I don't wanna." Clementine pouted.

He reared back to prepare for a big windup punch at her face and then he threw the punch but he completely whiffed it! Caleb tried a right cross at her jaw but she dodged it. He tried a straight punch at her face but she slipped it. He tried an uppercut at her jaw but she leaned back and dodged it. He swung at her face again but she ducked under his arm and circled back around. He tried a swinging backhand but she ducked under him again. He tried again and again to the same result. It was like he was trying to ice-skate uphill! No matter how hard he tried he didn't get anywhere! Caleb would know. He'd tried it in the past when he was a kid. He might as well have been trying to punch the air for all of the success he was having against Clementine!

"What in the hell? No, seriously, how is she doing that?" Ada asked. "I'm not complaining of course but how?!"

Misty meanwhile had ran off to find a teacher. Or at least a security guard!

Caleb finally stopped his attempted beatdown on Clementine to catch his breath while one of his friends circled around behind her. "You...y-you...you're finished....after I catch my breath...ohhh man....you're fast. You're vest fast. Hooooo boy."

"Are you done now? Can I go back to my lunch now?" Clementine asked him a bored tone.

"Oh you want to eat something?" He asked as he straightened up. "How would you like to eat my fist?" Caleb sneered as his buddy charged her from behind aiming to Football Tackle her to the floor so Caleb could land a devastating punch on her face and knock her head off only for Clementine to dodge him at the last minute and pirouette away. Meanwhile, Caleb's buddy lost his footing and he ended up colliding with Caleb and knocking him over before he could stop himself! Caleb had the wind knocked out of him as they both crashed to the floor.

"Uggghh...oh, OH! Caleb! S-sorry about that man! I tripped!"

"Get off me." Caleb pushed his friend off of him and tried to catch his breath as the rest of the lunchroom laughed at them. "What the hell did you even-HUH?! Oh you've gotta be kidding me!"

His buddy turned around and stared in disbelief. "No way. You have to be joking." A banana peel. He'd slipped on a freaking banana peel! "Well ain't that a kick in the head?"

"That...DOES IT!" He screamed and ran at her in a blind rage while Clementine was pulling her chair back out. She calmly looked back at Caleb and then hopped over the chair to the other side of it and walked away. Caleb ran on top of the chair and leaped above her and tried to punch Clementine only for her to side step him once again. He was so focused on trying to hit Clementine that he completely forgot about his landing and he slipped and fell on his face.

"Better learn balance. Balance is key. Balance good, karate good. Everything good." Clementine advised him. "Balance bad, better pack up, go home. Understand?"

"SHUT UP AND FIGHT ME LIKE A MAN!" Caleb shouted at her while he scrambled to his feet.

"I'm a girl." She reminded him.

"Then stand still and I'll smack you like one!" Caleb shouted back and attacked her again. It was all the same though. No matter what he tried she just bobbed and weaved and danced around him. No matter how much he mixed it up she saw right through it and outmaneuvered him with ease. He might as well have been trying to catch a ghost. Eventually one of Caleb's buddies attacked her from behind by trying to swing a tray at her head only for her to dive out of the way at the last second causing him to smack Caleb with the tray while Caleb's punch hit his own friend in the face!

"OW Dude! What the hell?"

"Owwww~ Ah man! Ow! I was aiming for her! What are you doing?"

"I was trying to smack that little brat! What are you doing?!"

Clementine meanwhile had returned to her seat and was now sitting with her legs crossed and a her drink in her hand and her other hand underneath it as she leisurely sipped it.

Caleb took a break to catch his breath and re-evaluate this entire situation. "Jus...just give me a second." He told her. "I-I'll be right with you...oh man. What is going on here?" She hadn't thrown a single punch and spent the whole fight running away but somehow they were the ones getting their asses kicked! "What the hell are you?"

"My name is Clementine Kane and I'm a Farmgirl. You on the other hand could use some anger management classes. Now we can continue this little dance of ours or I can get back to my lunch. And I am feeling rather hungry. So please leave me and my friends be. I'm sure everyone else would like to get back to their own lunches too. Have a good day." She turned around and went back to her lunch.

Caleb and his buddies were left staring slack jawed at this display. Not only the utter humiliation they'd just suffered and the subsequent disrespect after this girl just ran circles around them. And now they were standing here tired and gasping for breath and sweating and she didn't even have a single hair out of place. The trio stammered for words until one of them just yelled out "Oh to HELL with this!" One of them shoved the other two and picked up a chair.

"Woah woah! Adam wait just a-"

"SHUT IT CALEB!" He shouted and ran at Clementine and threw the entire chair at her! Clementine responded by standing up and holding up her backpack to shield herself and block the chair and pushed the chair down. She placed her backpack on her own chair, lifted up the first one, righted it and slid it over to him while the moron was still coming at her causing Adam to trip over it and fall on his face like his friends had been doing all day. Clementine walked over to him and knelt down next to Adam. "I gave you a chance. Several chances. I kept trying to walk away and resolve this peacefully but you have continued to harass me and antagonize me over this." She held five fingers up in front of her face as the thug tried to pull himself up. He froze up and his eyes widened in fear as her fingers curled up into a fist. "This is what you want isn't it?" She brought her hand back and Adam began to whimper. "To drive your fist through your victim's face, to savor the fear in their eyes while you mercilessly beat them into bloody pulps no matter how much they beg and cry for mercy?" She reached out with her hand and gently opened it to gently, gingerly, honk his nose between two fingers. So gentle it was as if she was playing a newborn baby. "Luckily for you I'm not like that. Honk honk." She stood up, brushed herself off and offered him a hand and waited patiently while Adam hesitantly reached for it and took her hand and accepted her hand up.

"Oh come on man, stop shaking, I was just messing with you." She took the chair back to the table. "You guys have a lot to learn about comedy by the way."

Misty returned to the lunchroom with the principal and a security guard in tow to the sound of uproarious applause and cheers for Clementine! Caleb and his cronies were sitting at an empty table tired sore and exhausted while Clementine was sitting back at the table with the group eating her lunch now joined by a few other students.

"Ummmm...Miss Pendleton? I thought you said there was a disturbance here? What exactly did we miss?"

Misty took a look around the lunchroom and then she pulled out her phone. "Wait for it."

It didn't take long before the 'fight' was uploaded to the internet. "Here you are sir. I would like to reiterate once again however that those three boys over there were the ones that started it. All Clementine did was try to defend herself and others."

The Principal and The Security Guard watched the whole affair on the phone.

"Can this really even be considered a fight?" The Security Guard asked. "She's not even doing anything."

The Principal waited until the end of the video where Clementine once again tripped up one of the boys and then threatened him before helping him up.

"Alright so. I'm going to have to talk her about that but I think we can chalk her up as the innocent party here." He handed her back the phone and walked into the middle of the room and clapped his hands. "Alright, alright everybody, break it up, sit down and go back to your lunches! Caleb, Drew, Adam and Clementine? I'm going to need to speak with you in my office."

Clementine looked up from her lunch. "Can I get a box?"

Clementine sat in the Principal's office with her lunch in a rectangular container situated on her lap while she waited for The Principal to finish questioning Caleb and his two friends. The principal was keeping hold of the plasticware until further notice though. Despite the empty seat between them, and the fact that Clementine clearly wasn't paying attention to them, Adam and Dru were visibly nervous about her just being there.

"Alright, look, I admit things got a bit out of hand but she's the one who started it alright? My buddies and I were tossing the football around with each other, just goofing off, and then it gets thrown a little too hard and flies across the lunchroom. That was stupid, I admit it, but she caught it so there wasn't any problem. We asked for it back but then she just walks right past us and throws it away! She flat out throws it in the trash! So naturally after we took it out and cleaned it off I asked what her problem was and told her to apologize but she just went and picked a fight with me. I understand that things got heated but it wasn't all our fault. She started it and just kept antagonizing us. She kept tripping us and even tricked me and my friend into hitting each other! It wasn't all our fault!"

Principal Featherstonehaugh just red his cheek on his hand while he listened to Caleb lie to him and waited until he was finished. Featherstonehaugh was a classy gentleman, with a fine blue suit and tie worn over a pressed white shirt with fine black loafers and a golden watch. He has a well maintained beard on his face and well combed hair. His features were like stone as he listened to the stream of lies coming out of Caleb's mouth.

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He waited until he was done and then showed him the video. "Mr. Chambers I would advise you not to lie to me. I heard your screaming and swearing on the way to the lunchroom. It certainly sounded like you and your friends were the aggressors there. Furthermore, everyone politely recorded the fight. Is this you and your friend trying to hit Miss Kane with a tray and a punch?"

"W-well, yes but I-"

"And is this your friend throwing a chair at Miss Kane?"

"Okay I tried to stop that-"

"Yes or no Mister Chambers?"

"Yes sir."

"Uh huh. Sounds like this is all the evidence I need. Now why don't you tell me the truth and why you did it?"

"The truth...well, you see, the truth is...it feels good to establish a hierarchy. I'm at the top and the losers and nerds are at the bottom. It feels good to put them in their place. It feels good to smack them around and watch them cry. I threw the football and that nerd because I find it funny. I take pleasure from things like that. Fuck you!" Caleb Chambers snapped at him in confession. "Happy now, Featherweight? I'm the Alpha here and I can do whatever I want to these losers."

"Yeah that's a Suspension Confession if I've ever heard one. You're wrong on a few points however. Any man who must say 'I am King' is no true King at all and any man who must declare himself an Alpha is no Alpha. Even if it was true, and it very clearly isn't." He played the video again. "That doesn't give you the right to hurt anyone. If you were as great as you claim to be you would be leading by example and building other people up instead of violently lashing out at them and throwing a childish tantrum."

Caleb had no real answer to that. "I...uhm...look sir, I-I'm sorry. I've just had a bad time of it lately. My Uncle's truck got destroyed by what is probably an alien and now he's in the hospital and my dad has been working to pay his bills and he just got a major DUI and-"

"See now isn't this better? A healthy communication can be a lot of help for you. I would recommend talking to our counselors and a therapist about your problems. Unfortunately you're still looking at a suspension period for your actions here today to be handed down after I finish questioning the others followed by one week detention after you return from your suspension. I didn't tolerate Ferris acting out, I'm certainly not going to tolerate your behavior. You are dismissed."

Caleb sighed and stepped out of the office and slumped into the chair.

Adam was called next followed by Drew followed finally by Clementine. Still holding her boxed lunch she sat down in his office and looked around. "Wow. This is the first time I've been in your office, sir. This is a nice room. Very classy."

"Thank you Miss Kane. Now, would you mind explaining what happened in the cafeteria today in your own words?"

"Sure. I was sitting with my new friends and we were enjoying lunch and theorizing about The Raincoat and joking around when Jack came around to join us. That was when Caleb threw the football at the back of his head. I saw it coming just in time though and I caught it. Now I had the football and my mother always said that if I was going to misuse a toy then she was going to take it away. Seeing as how Caleb had thrown his football away so recklessly, I decided to drop it into a trash can to teach a lesson. However this caused the situation to escalate and he approached me angrily. I attempted to de-escalate and avoid him but he continued trying to grab me and shout at me. However I dodged his attempts and did not hit back. Any injuries resulting from our confrontation were the result of his own recklessness and those of his friends."

She paused.

"Well, I assume they are friends. They were hitting each other a lot." She shrugged. "Anyway, I continued avoiding conflict until one of them threw a chair at me when I was trying to walk away and end the situation. I stopped this and kicked a chair his way and he tripped over it. As none of my other attempts to end this situation had worked, I decided to pretend to be a bad guy to scare him and then I ended it with a joke. I realize that threatening him might not have been the best way to handle the situation but they had just tried to pulverize me."

"I see...alright I appreciate your honesty. You're right in that you are the victim here, not the aggressor. You are also right that threatening him in the way you did and kicking a chair at him were not proper responses. Considering their actions in comparison however, I'm going to let you off lightly: I would like to write a seven page essay in MLA Format on conflict resolution. Cite your sources properly, etc. I want this essay laminated and on my desk by Friday for review. In addition I would like you to speak to a school counselor about what happened today. Finally, just like the other three, I am going to be calling your parents about what happened today. Odds are they'll probably see the video anyway so they might as well hear about it from me beforehand."

"That's fair sir."

"Alright then. I appreciate your politeness and honesty today. I'll write you a hallpass after the phone calls are taken care of."

"Thank you again sir."

"Okay! That's that then. Oh, but, one more question: Where did you learn to dodge like that?"

"I watch a lot of Jackie Chan Movies. Plus I live on a farm. You learn to be quick on your feet there."

He chuckled. "I can imagine. Alright, feel free to wait outside."

"Thank you again sir."

"Thank you."

She started to walk to the door but then she turned back around and walked back over to him. "Sir? May I have my utensils and headphones back?"

"Your utensils yes but the headphones will stay with me until you're ready to leave the office."

"Understood sir."

She accepted the plastic utensils and stepped out.

The three bullies just glared at her while Clementine resumed eating her lunch.

Principal Featherstonehaugh dialed the number for the Kane Farm and drummed his fingers on the desk while he waited.

After a couple rings the phone picked up and the beautiful sing song voice of Marie Kane answered on the other end. "Hello. Kane Residence. How many I help you?"

"Hello Miss Kane it's nice to speak with you again. This is Principal Featherstonehaugh. How are you doing today?"

"Oh hello Mister Feathers! What's up?"

"It's about your daughter. Clementine was in a fight at school today." Marie went quiet on the other end of the line. "Miss Kane? Miss Kane are you still there?"

"Ohmygod.Ohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygod....is she okay? Are those kids okay? Is everyone okay? What happened?"

"Alright, Miss Kane, Miss Kane. Please calm down and allow me to explain what happened."

"I...see. Okay. So nobody was hurt?"

"Some bruises but their pride was wounded worse than their bodies. However, her threats to the student isn't something we can overlook. Incidentially, where did she learn to fight like this?"

"She watches a lot of action movies and she practices the moves in her room when she thinks we won't notice."

"Okay then. That's about what she said. Okay we'll need you and your husband to come in and have a sit down with the other parents."

"Oh of course sir. Sure. We'll be happy to do so."

"Excellent. We'll continue our discussion when you arrive. I'll see you then." He hung up and called the Chambers family.

Marie Kane sat down on the stairs next to her husband Justin Kane.

Marie is a tall woman, standing at 6'1, a bit taller in her work boots, with short, reddish brown hair she has tied up in a bun in the back and green eyes that match her green dress which is covered by a white apron.

Justin is even taller than his wife. Broad shouldered, rugged and muscular, with big feet and hands. He has darker brown hair with a light goatee on his face.
He is dressed in the usual wear of a farmer.

"It's okay, Marie. It's alright. She didn't hurt anybody. Feathers said it himself. Those boys were hurting themselves more than her. Not like they could hurt her even if she stood there anyway. Hell, it's probably for the best that she dodged around them like that. If they broke their hands on her we'd really have a mess on our hands."

"I know. I know. I'm not worried about her not fighting. I'm worried about what would happen if she did. She handled it the right way today. Even if I wish she would've just walked away, she handled it alright. But I'm worried about what would happen if she did. The town wouldn't stand a chance."

"Marie, Marie, Marie, Marie. Look at me honey. She's a good kid. We're raising her right all things considered. She spent her Spring Break away from home looking for people to save for Chrissake."

"Yeah. She did. She's a good kid. Our daughter's a good kid. She's a sweetheart. She's our Angel. The sky gave her to us. But we'll still need to have a talk with her. Can't have her threatening the other kids even as a joke after all."

"That's the spirit honey. Just remember. She's our little angel and nothing's going to change that. She's a good sweet kid. We just need to sit Clementine down for a talk and she'll understand alright?"

"You're right. I'm worried about nothing." Marie stood up and brushed off her apron. "Alright, come on, lets go get changed into something fancy. It'll make the conversation with Feathers go easier."

Marie and Justin Kane!

The Kanes arrived at the school after dressing up for the occasion. Colten Chambers, Jordan Bertille and Anton Franco were already inside of the office by the time they arrived and they walked in on Colten cracking up at the video footage. "Okay, I knoooow that I'm supposed to be on my son's side but come on this is just hilarious! It's right out of a comedy movie!" He laughed.

"You know that's your kid right?" Anton asked him.

"I know! That's what makes it so funny!"

"Well I'm glad you're having fun at least." Jordan grumbled.

The kids of course were still sitting outside of the office. Caleb looked dead inside, Adam looked mortified and Dru looked like he would rather be anywhere other than where he was at the moment. Clementine on the other hand was casually reading her textbook. Quantum physics by Leonard Schiff. The school had such wonderful courses available for the students. Clementine glanced up as her parents entered the room and shut her book so she could hurry over and hug them. "Mama! Papa! Hiiiii!"

"Hello Clementine. Sorry we kept you waiting. We wanted to be dressed for the occasion. You alright kiddo?" Jon asked while holding his daughter.

"Like a million dollars, papa. Sorry about all of this."

"Don't worry about it, Clemmie, we'll have a long talk about it on the way home. Right now, we're just happy to see you honey buns." Marie assured her while they hugged.

"Don't worry about me mom. I didn't get a scratch."

"We know you wouldn't." She assured her. "But we're still going to need to have a conversation about this later."

"Right. I know." She stepped back and sat back down. "Thank for coming though."

"Of course sweetie." Marie smiled and walked into the office. "Hello sir." She greeted Featherstonehaugh.

"Gentlemen." Jon greeted.

"Ahhh! The Guests Of Honor arrive at last!" Colten stood up and began eagerly shaking their hands. "Quite a pleasure to see you here! Quite a pleasure! My humblest apologies for all of the trouble Caleb caused! Very sorry indeed!" Colten was a large man in his own right. As tall as John and slightly less wide while still being clearly muscular and handsome with a voice that sounded like a mixture of an old time radio host and a used car salesman. He has a penchant for fine suits, namely red ones, such as the Burgundy Three-Piece Suit he was currently wearing. His hair was worn in a pompadour haircut with wave styling and he has an elaborate corporate beard on his face. A well-shaped, full, and nicely trimmed corporate style that added to his sophisticated and refined image. Colten Chambers was the kind of man who has what you need, as long as you don't care too much where or how he got it.

"You have my sincerest apologies for his actions. Caleb was completely out of line." Colton continued. He let go of their hands and put one in his pocket and pinched his nose while closing his eyes and sighing. "I'm just glad none of those kids were hurt. I mean, sure, Caleb was, but judging by the footage I'd say he brought it on himself." He raised his hand back up into the air with a finger pointed up. "That's Karma for you!"

Last Edit: Oct 20, 2020 20:47:46 GMT by SuperKamiGuy1

SuperKamiGuy1
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I Live In A World Made Of Cardboard Oct 22, 2020 22:02:27 GMT SuperKamiGuy1 likes this

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Post by SuperKamiGuy1 on Oct 22, 2020 22:02:27 GMT

Oct 20, 2020 18:57:19 GMT SuperKamiGuy1 said:

Oct 17, 2020 21:45:14 GMT SuperKamiGuy1 said:

The Kanes arrived at the school after dressing up for the occasion. Colten Chambers, Jordan Bertille and Anton Franco were already inside of the office by the time they arrived and they walked in on Colten cracking up at the video footage. "Okay, I knoooow that I'm supposed to be on my son's side but come on this is just hilarious! It's right out of a comedy movie!" He laughed.

"You know that's your kid right?" Anton asked him.

"I know! That's what makes it so funny!"

"Well I'm glad you're having fun at least." Jordan grumbled.

The kids of course were still sitting outside of the office. Caleb looked dead inside, Adam looked mortified and Dru looked like he would rather be anywhere other than where he was at the moment. Clementine on the other hand was casually reading her textbook. Quantum physics by Leonard Schiff. The school had such wonderful courses available for the students. Clementine glanced up as her parents entered the room and shut her book so she could hurry over and hug them. "Mama! Papa! Hiiiii!"

"Hello Clementine. Sorry we kept you waiting. We wanted to be dressed for the occasion. You alright kiddo?" Jon asked while holding his daughter.

"Like a million dollars, papa. Sorry about all of this."

"Don't worry about it, Clemmie, we'll have a long talk about it on the way home. Right now, we're just happy to see you honey buns." Marie assured her while they hugged.

"Don't worry about me mom. I didn't get a scratch."

"We know you wouldn't." She assured her. "But we're still going to need to have a conversation about this later."

"Right. I know." She stepped back and sat back down. "Thank for coming though."

"Of course sweetie." Marie smiled and walked into the office. "Hello sir." She greeted Featherstonehaugh.

"Gentlemen." Jon greeted.

"Ahhh! The Guests Of Honor arrive at last!" Colten stood up and began eagerly shaking their hands. "Quite a pleasure to see you here! Quite a pleasure! My humblest apologies for all of the trouble Caleb caused! Very sorry indeed!" Colten was a large man in his own right. As tall as John and slightly less wide while still being clearly muscular and handsome with a voice that sounded like a mixture of an old time radio host and a used car salesman. He has a penchant for fine suits, namely red ones, such as the Burgundy Three-Piece Suit he was currently wearing. His hair was worn in a pompadour haircut with wave styling and he has an elaborate corporate beard on his face. A well-shaped, full, and nicely trimmed corporate style that added to his sophisticated and refined image. Colten Chambers was the kind of man who has what you need, as long as you don't care too much where or how he got it.

"You have my sincerest apologies for his actions. Caleb was completely out of line." Colton continued. He let go of their hands and put one in his pocket and pinched his nose while closing his eyes and sighing. "I'm just glad none of those kids were hurt. I mean, sure, Caleb was, but judging by the footage I'd say he brought it on himself." He raised his hand back up into the air with a finger pointed up. "That's Karma for you!"

"Okaaaay sooo...are you...I mean, are you just okay with this?" Marie asked. "Because rest assured, we will be talking to Clementine about her behavior as well. That threat to that boy was just uncalled for."

"Well okay yes that part was a bit disturbing but this whole situation was clearly Caleb's fault. Plus, Clementine didn't threaten the Principal. Caleb did. Rest assured he will face severe penalties when this is over."

"The kid did what now?" Justin asked.

Featherstonehaugh took out a small recorder and hit play on it.

Mr. Chambers I would advise you not to lie to me. I heard your screaming and swearing on the way to the lunchroom. It certainly sounded like you and your friends were the aggressors there. Furthermore, everyone politely recorded the fight. Is this you and your friend trying to hit Miss Kane with a tray and a punch?"

"W-well, yes but I-"

"And is this your friend throwing a chair at Miss Kane?"

"Okay I tried to stop that-"

"Yes or no Mister Chambers?"

"Yes sir."

"Uh huh. Sounds like this is all the evidence I need. Now why don't you tell me the truth and why you did it?"

"The truth...well, you see, the truth is...it feels good to establish a hierarchy. I'm at the top and the losers and nerds are at the bottom. It feels good to put them in their place. It feels good to smack them around and watch them cry. I threw the football and that nerd because I find it funny. I take pleasure from things like that. Fuck you!" Caleb Chambers snapped at him in confession. "Happy now, Featherweight? I'm the Alpha here and I can do whatever I want to these losers."

"Wow."

"Talk about inappropriate."

"Pathetic." Colten sighed. "Like a two year old. You have my sincerest apologies for his behavior, Feathers."

"Thank you, Colten. So here's the plan regarding him. Caleb is planned to be suspended for 10 days at the very least and he is not to set foot on school grounds until that time is up. The same will go for his two friends. Upon returning they will serve one week in school detention. They will also be losing their positions on the team. After these punishments are served, depending on their behavior, we can work on reintegrating them into the school. However, if they ever repeat their behavior, there will be harsher consequences." Featherstonehaugh explained. "Regarding Miss Kane however, while I am letting her off light, she is still going to be need to write me a seven page essay in MLA Format on conflict resolution. I want this essay laminated and on my desk by Friday for review. In addition I would like her to speak to a school counselor about what happened today every day after school for about a week. Once the counselor gives her a clean bill and the essay passes my standards, she'll be free to go so long as she never threatens another student again."

"Completely understandable Feathers. We are of course still deeply sorry for what happened."

"It's a shame this whole thing had to happen in the first place really."

"So what? I won't deny my boy made mistakes there but that girl still threatened him with death and a beating and you're just letting her off with a warning?" Jordan asked impatiently. "If my boy is being punished than so should she!"

"I'm not denying that she made her share of mistakes but your son and his friends were clearly antagonizing her and the other students. That fight they started could have easily resulted in someone being hurt. Including her if she wasn't so good at dodging and evading. Furthermore." He knelt down behind the desk and pulled out a file from his desk and placed it on top of it and opened it up. "We've received complaints about the behavior of him and his friends in the past."

Anton sighed and placed his hat over his heart. "Oh Lord, give me strength. I need to get that boy into therapy at this point."

Jordan opened his mouth to talk but he wisely shut it.

Colten shook his head. "Very well. Lets hear it. What did he do?"

"You might want to sit down." Featherstonehaugh informed them and began reading from the files a list of complaints and bullying actions taken by the trio against various students including: Kicking, hitting, shoving, punching, taunting, teasing, racial slurs, verbal harassment, namecalling, telling mean jokes, offensive and threatening language, and insults.

By the end of it, Colten, Anton and the Kanes were fuming while Jordan looked like he was about ready to snap.

Featherstonehaugh closed the files and placed his hands on it with his fingers laced together. "So then. Any other questions Mr. Bertille? Any other questions, Gentlemen?"

"....No. No further questions." Jordan sighed defeated.

"None." Anton replied.

"None." Colten grimaced.

"Good. Mr and Mrs. Kane, Clementine is free to go." Feathers returned the headphones to Marie." Remember what we said here today though. I do not want a repeat of today's outburst. I'll have her teachers E-Mail Clementine her homework assignments."

"Of course Featherstonehaugh. Thank you."

"Thank you again. We'll be sure to talk to her about this."

Justin and Marie shook his hand and stepped out of the room.

"Ready to go home Clementine?" Marie asked her daughter.

"More than ready mom." She hugged her parents and walked away with them, not paying the trio a second thought. Even when she heard Caleb getting up to try and say something she ignored him. Justin Kane however silenced him with a frigid glare that sent a chill down the bullies spines and made Caleb sit right back down.

They stepped out of the office to be greeted by Clementine's friends right outside.

"Hey everyone! How was lunch?" Clementine asked casually. "Mama, Papa, I would like to introduce my new friends: Jasmine, Misty, Brian, Ada and Jack."

"Hello again Mr. and Mrs. Kane." Jasmine greeted them. "We made it our mission today to drag Clementine out of her shell but we certainly didn't expect this." She giggled. "The fight in the cafeteria was certainly an event but-"

"I'm sorry!" Jack interrupted. "I'm sorry! It was my fault! She got into that fight to protect me! I accept responsibility!"

"Oh don't worry about it Jack. I didn't get into that much trouble." Clementine assured him. "Besides, everyone had a good laugh over it and nobody got hurt. I do have a few things to do but nothing too bad. I'll be fine. Really. I'm just glad you're okay. You seem like a nice kid and all."

"You can just relax young man." Justin assured him. "Rest assured, those three punks are the ones in trouble here. We do need to have a word with our daughter but you and her didn't cause any real trouble."

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Post by SuperKamiGuy1 on Nov 4, 2020 23:42:39 GMT

Oct 22, 2020 22:02:27 GMT SuperKamiGuy1 said:

Oct 20, 2020 18:57:19 GMT SuperKamiGuy1 said:

The Kanes arrived at the school after dressing up for the occasion. Colten Chambers, Jordan Bertille and Anton Franco were already inside of the office by the time they arrived and they walked in on Colten cracking up at the video footage. "Okay, I knoooow that I'm supposed to be on my son's side but come on this is just hilarious! It's right out of a comedy movie!" He laughed.

"You know that's your kid right?" Anton asked him.

"I know! That's what makes it so funny!"

"Well I'm glad you're having fun at least." Jordan grumbled.

The kids of course were still sitting outside of the office. Caleb looked dead inside, Adam looked mortified and Dru looked like he would rather be anywhere other than where he was at the moment. Clementine on the other hand was casually reading her textbook. Quantum physics by Leonard Schiff. The school had such wonderful courses available for the students. Clementine glanced up as her parents entered the room and shut her book so she could hurry over and hug them. "Mama! Papa! Hiiiii!"

"Hello Clementine. Sorry we kept you waiting. We wanted to be dressed for the occasion. You alright kiddo?" Jon asked while holding his daughter.

"Like a million dollars, papa. Sorry about all of this."

"Don't worry about it, Clemmie, we'll have a long talk about it on the way home. Right now, we're just happy to see you honey buns." Marie assured her while they hugged.

"Don't worry about me mom. I didn't get a scratch."

"We know you wouldn't." She assured her. "But we're still going to need to have a conversation about this later."

"Right. I know." She stepped back and sat back down. "Thank for coming though."

"Of course sweetie." Marie smiled and walked into the office. "Hello sir." She greeted Featherstonehaugh.

"Gentlemen." Jon greeted.

"Ahhh! The Guests Of Honor arrive at last!" Colten stood up and began eagerly shaking their hands. "Quite a pleasure to see you here! Quite a pleasure! My humblest apologies for all of the trouble Caleb caused! Very sorry indeed!" Colten was a large man in his own right. As tall as John and slightly less wide while still being clearly muscular and handsome with a voice that sounded like a mixture of an old time radio host and a used car salesman. He has a penchant for fine suits, namely red ones, such as the Burgundy Three-Piece Suit he was currently wearing. His hair was worn in a pompadour haircut with wave styling and he has an elaborate corporate beard on his face. A well-shaped, full, and nicely trimmed corporate style that added to his sophisticated and refined image. Colten Chambers was the kind of man who has what you need, as long as you don't care too much where or how he got it.

"You have my sincerest apologies for his actions. Caleb was completely out of line." Colton continued. He let go of their hands and put one in his pocket and pinched his nose while closing his eyes and sighing. "I'm just glad none of those kids were hurt. I mean, sure, Caleb was, but judging by the footage I'd say he brought it on himself." He raised his hand back up into the air with a finger pointed up. "That's Karma for you!"

"Okaaaay sooo...are you...I mean, are you just okay with this?" Marie asked. "Because rest assured, we will be talking to Clementine about her behavior as well. That threat to that boy was just uncalled for."

"Well okay yes that part was a bit disturbing but this whole situation was clearly Caleb's fault. Plus, Clementine didn't threaten the Principal. Caleb did. Rest assured he will face severe penalties when this is over."

"The kid did what now?" Justin asked.

Featherstonehaugh took out a small recorder and hit play on it.

Mr. Chambers I would advise you not to lie to me. I heard your screaming and swearing on the way to the lunchroom. It certainly sounded like you and your friends were the aggressors there. Furthermore, everyone politely recorded the fight. Is this you and your friend trying to hit Miss Kane with a tray and a punch?"

"W-well, yes but I-"

"And is this your friend throwing a chair at Miss Kane?"

"Okay I tried to stop that-"

"Yes or no Mister Chambers?"

"Yes sir."

"Uh huh. Sounds like this is all the evidence I need. Now why don't you tell me the truth and why you did it?"

"The truth...well, you see, the truth is...it feels good to establish a hierarchy. I'm at the top and the losers and nerds are at the bottom. It feels good to put them in their place. It feels good to smack them around and watch them cry. I threw the football and that nerd because I find it funny. I take pleasure from things like that. Fuck you!" Caleb Chambers snapped at him in confession. "Happy now, Featherweight? I'm the Alpha here and I can do whatever I want to these losers."

"Wow."

"Talk about inappropriate."

"Pathetic." Colten sighed. "Like a two year old. You have my sincerest apologies for his behavior, Feathers."

"Thank you, Colten. So here's the plan regarding him. Caleb is planned to be suspended for 10 days at the very least and he is not to set foot on school grounds until that time is up. The same will go for his two friends. Upon returning they will serve one week in school detention. They will also be losing their positions on the team. After these punishments are served, depending on their behavior, we can work on reintegrating them into the school. However, if they ever repeat their behavior, there will be harsher consequences." Featherstonehaugh explained. "Regarding Miss Kane however, while I am letting her off light, she is still going to be need to write me a seven page essay in MLA Format on conflict resolution. I want this essay laminated and on my desk by Friday for review. In addition I would like her to speak to a school counselor about what happened today every day after school for about a week. Once the counselor gives her a clean bill and the essay passes my standards, she'll be free to go so long as she never threatens another student again."

"Completely understandable Feathers. We are of course still deeply sorry for what happened."

"It's a shame this whole thing had to happen in the first place really."

"So what? I won't deny my boy made mistakes there but that girl still threatened him with death and a beating and you're just letting her off with a warning?" Jordan asked impatiently. "If my boy is being punished than so should she!"

"I'm not denying that she made her share of mistakes but your son and his friends were clearly antagonizing her and the other students. That fight they started could have easily resulted in someone being hurt. Including her if she wasn't so good at dodging and evading. Furthermore." He knelt down behind the desk and pulled out a file from his desk and placed it on top of it and opened it up. "We've received complaints about the behavior of him and his friends in the past."

Anton sighed and placed his hat over his heart. "Oh Lord, give me strength. I need to get that boy into therapy at this point."

Jordan opened his mouth to talk but he wisely shut it.

Colten shook his head. "Very well. Lets hear it. What did he do?"

"You might want to sit down." Featherstonehaugh informed them and began reading from the files a list of complaints and bullying actions taken by the trio against various students including: Kicking, hitting, shoving, punching, taunting, teasing, racial slurs, verbal harassment, namecalling, telling mean jokes, offensive and threatening language, and insults.

By the end of it, Colten, Anton and the Kanes were fuming while Jordan looked like he was about ready to snap.

Featherstonehaugh closed the files and placed his hands on it with his fingers laced together. "So then. Any other questions Mr. Bertille? Any other questions, Gentlemen?"

"....No. No further questions." Jordan sighed defeated.

"None." Anton replied.

"None." Colten grimaced.

"Good. Mr and Mrs. Kane, Clementine is free to go." Feathers returned the headphones to Marie." Remember what we said here today though. I do not want a repeat of today's outburst. I'll have her teachers E-Mail Clementine her homework assignments."

"Of course Featherstonehaugh. Thank you."

"Thank you again. We'll be sure to talk to her about this."

Justin and Marie shook his hand and stepped out of the room.

"Ready to go home Clementine?" Marie asked her daughter.

"More than ready mom." She hugged her parents and walked away with them, not paying the trio a second thought. Even when she heard Caleb getting up to try and say something she ignored him. Justin Kane however silenced him with a frigid glare that sent a chill down the bullies spines and made Caleb sit right back down.

They stepped out of the office to be greeted by Clementine's friends right outside.

"Hey everyone! How was lunch?" Clementine asked casually. "Mama, Papa, I would like to introduce my new friends: Jasmine, Misty, Brian, Ada and Jack."

"Hello again Mr. and Mrs. Kane." Jasmine greeted them. "We made it our mission today to drag Clementine out of her shell but we certainly didn't expect this." She giggled. "The fight in the cafeteria was certainly an event but-"

"I'm sorry!" Jack interrupted. "I'm sorry! It was my fault! She got into that fight to protect me! I accept responsibility!"

"Oh don't worry about it Jack. I didn't get into that much trouble." Clementine assured him. "Besides, everyone had a good laugh over it and nobody got hurt. I do have a few things to do but nothing too bad. I'll be fine. Really. I'm just glad you're okay. You seem like a nice kid and all."

"You can just relax young man." Justin assured him. "Rest assured, those three punks are the ones in trouble here. We do need to have a word with our daughter but you and her didn't cause any real trouble."

"All the same sir, we're glad she's okay and that nobody got hurt."

"You are okay right?" Misty asked her.

"Just fine."

"Awesome. Glad to hear it."

"Hey Clementine." Jack stepped forward while rubbing the back of his head. "Thanks again for looking out for me. That could've gone bad."

"You're welcome Jack. You don't have worry about those jokers anymore but be careful all the same. Be sure to make plenty of friends alright? You've got a good group right behind you already after all." She winked.

"I noticed. They're a wild bunch but they're cool. And you too."

"Clementine you have got to teach us those moves some time!"

"Get home safe now!"

"Stay out of trouble girl!"

Clementine laughed and waved to her new friends. "Catch you soon, guys."

"You've found a nice group of friends honey." Her mother complimented them. "Thank you all for helping our little girl out of her shell. We appreciate everything you did for her today. We have to take our little girl home right now but feel free to swing by the farm! Goodbye! See you soon!"

The Kanes waved and exited the school while her new friends cheered her on from behind.

Caleb glared at them through the window.

Clementine continued waving to the school and her friends as her dad drove away. The Silver Mercedes-Benz G Class pulling away from the school. Once the school was out of sight she turned around and relaxed in her seat. They sat in silence listening to the car radio until Clementine broke the silence and spoke up. "You know I can run us home faster than the car, right?" She joked.

Justin turned down the radio. "Clementine, what were you thinking? We talked about this. You're way too powerful to picking fights with other kids. You know they're no match for you! If a truck can't hurt you, other kids certainly can't!"

"I still don't know what you were thinking during Spring Break!" Marie shook her head. "You don't just let a truck hit you! Much less an 18 Wheeler!"

"That wasn't....it wasn't much of a fight dad. I was just playing around." Clementine insisted. "The literal definition of a fight is to, and I quote, take part in a violent struggle involving the exchange of physical blows or the use of weapons. I did not exchange blows with anybody. I dodged around them and they hit each other. Nor did I use any weapons aside from maybe the chair at the end."

"Okay, technically, you're right. Technically." Marie agreed. "But you can't do that! Your vigilante activities during Spring Break were morally ambiguous enough already. But you have no reason to be using your powers against a couple of kids. Regardless of how dumb they were acting."

"It wasn't just today though!" Clementine replied.

"Those guys were bullies mom! They've been beating up and hurting other kids all the time and I've been sitting in class and the halls listening to it! I listened to what you said and stayed out of trouble all this time while they kept hurting people! I admit, I got a little carried away, and the threat at the end was wrong of me, I'm sorry about that, but those guys had that coming for a long time." She explained.

"I'm sorry I upset you guys. I'm sorry I scared you. I'm sorry I threatened the kid like that. I'm sorry I kicked the chair at him. But I'm not sorry about standing up to them. I'm not going to turn a blind eye to it anymore. If I see a situation heading South, I'm going to say something. Superheroes stand up to bullies! That's why they're heroes!" The young girl said to her parents. She sank into her seat and sighed.

"I've got....a lot of powers. I don't understand them completely. I know how careful I have to be when I do anything. Even if it's something as simple as touching another person's hand lest I shatter everything like glass. I have to concentrate and focus on what's going on right in front of me or everything starts moving in slow motion or I start hearing every little thing around me. From miles away. I tried to follow the rules, I did everything you said, and I heard people getting hurt and crying. The teachers and faculty did their best but they couldn't be everywhere at once."

She closed her eyes. "I could hear people crying for help for years and I didn't do anything. On my Spring Break trip, I saw maniacs trying to kill innocent people and I stepped in and saved them and it felt great. Those people get to home to their families thanks to me! When I saw people who needed help, I flew into help and I saved them. So...what I'm trying to say here is...I'm sorry mom. I'm sorry dad. But I am not going to keep turning a blind eye. Not anymore. If I see or hear about someone getting hurt by bullies, I'm going to step in."

Last Edit: Nov 6, 2020 1:48:02 GMT by SuperKamiGuy1

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I Live In A World Made Of Cardboard Nov 7, 2020 2:43:10 GMT SuperKamiGuy1 likes this

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Post by SuperKamiGuy1 on Nov 7, 2020 2:43:10 GMT

Nov 4, 2020 23:42:39 GMT SuperKamiGuy1 said:

Oct 22, 2020 22:02:27 GMT SuperKamiGuy1 said:

"Okaaaay sooo...are you...I mean, are you just okay with this?" Marie asked. "Because rest assured, we will be talking to Clementine about her behavior as well. That threat to that boy was just uncalled for."

"Well okay yes that part was a bit disturbing but this whole situation was clearly Caleb's fault. Plus, Clementine didn't threaten the Principal. Caleb did. Rest assured he will face severe penalties when this is over."

"The kid did what now?" Justin asked.

Featherstonehaugh took out a small recorder and hit play on it.

Mr. Chambers I would advise you not to lie to me. I heard your screaming and swearing on the way to the lunchroom. It certainly sounded like you and your friends were the aggressors there. Furthermore, everyone politely recorded the fight. Is this you and your friend trying to hit Miss Kane with a tray and a punch?"

"W-well, yes but I-"

"And is this your friend throwing a chair at Miss Kane?"

"Okay I tried to stop that-"

"Yes or no Mister Chambers?"

"Yes sir."

"Uh huh. Sounds like this is all the evidence I need. Now why don't you tell me the truth and why you did it?"

"The truth...well, you see, the truth is...it feels good to establish a hierarchy. I'm at the top and the losers and nerds are at the bottom. It feels good to put them in their place. It feels good to smack them around and watch them cry. I threw the football and that nerd because I find it funny. I take pleasure from things like that. Fuck you!" Caleb Chambers snapped at him in confession. "Happy now, Featherweight? I'm the Alpha here and I can do whatever I want to these losers."

"Wow."

"Talk about inappropriate."

"Pathetic." Colten sighed. "Like a two year old. You have my sincerest apologies for his behavior, Feathers."

"Thank you, Colten. So here's the plan regarding him. Caleb is planned to be suspended for 10 days at the very least and he is not to set foot on school grounds until that time is up. The same will go for his two friends. Upon returning they will serve one week in school detention. They will also be losing their positions on the team. After these punishments are served, depending on their behavior, we can work on reintegrating them into the school. However, if they ever repeat their behavior, there will be harsher consequences." Featherstonehaugh explained. "Regarding Miss Kane however, while I am letting her off light, she is still going to be need to write me a seven page essay in MLA Format on conflict resolution. I want this essay laminated and on my desk by Friday for review. In addition I would like her to speak to a school counselor about what happened today every day after school for about a week. Once the counselor gives her a clean bill and the essay passes my standards, she'll be free to go so long as she never threatens another student again."

"Completely understandable Feathers. We are of course still deeply sorry for what happened."

"It's a shame this whole thing had to happen in the first place really."

"So what? I won't deny my boy made mistakes there but that girl still threatened him with death and a beating and you're just letting her off with a warning?" Jordan asked impatiently. "If my boy is being punished than so should she!"

"I'm not denying that she made her share of mistakes but your son and his friends were clearly antagonizing her and the other students. That fight they started could have easily resulted in someone being hurt. Including her if she wasn't so good at dodging and evading. Furthermore." He knelt down behind the desk and pulled out a file from his desk and placed it on top of it and opened it up. "We've received complaints about the behavior of him and his friends in the past."

Anton sighed and placed his hat over his heart. "Oh Lord, give me strength. I need to get that boy into therapy at this point."

Jordan opened his mouth to talk but he wisely shut it.

Colten shook his head. "Very well. Lets hear it. What did he do?"

"You might want to sit down." Featherstonehaugh informed them and began reading from the files a list of complaints and bullying actions taken by the trio against various students including: Kicking, hitting, shoving, punching, taunting, teasing, racial slurs, verbal harassment, namecalling, telling mean jokes, offensive and threatening language, and insults.

By the end of it, Colten, Anton and the Kanes were fuming while Jordan looked like he was about ready to snap.

Featherstonehaugh closed the files and placed his hands on it with his fingers laced together. "So then. Any other questions Mr. Bertille? Any other questions, Gentlemen?"

"....No. No further questions." Jordan sighed defeated.

"None." Anton replied.

"None." Colten grimaced.

"Good. Mr and Mrs. Kane, Clementine is free to go." Feathers returned the headphones to Marie." Remember what we said here today though. I do not want a repeat of today's outburst. I'll have her teachers E-Mail Clementine her homework assignments."

"Of course Featherstonehaugh. Thank you."

"Thank you again. We'll be sure to talk to her about this."

Justin and Marie shook his hand and stepped out of the room.

"Ready to go home Clementine?" Marie asked her daughter.

"More than ready mom." She hugged her parents and walked away with them, not paying the trio a second thought. Even when she heard Caleb getting up to try and say something she ignored him. Justin Kane however silenced him with a frigid glare that sent a chill down the bullies spines and made Caleb sit right back down.

They stepped out of the office to be greeted by Clementine's friends right outside.

"Hey everyone! How was lunch?" Clementine asked casually. "Mama, Papa, I would like to introduce my new friends: Jasmine, Misty, Brian, Ada and Jack."

"Hello again Mr. and Mrs. Kane." Jasmine greeted them. "We made it our mission today to drag Clementine out of her shell but we certainly didn't expect this." She giggled. "The fight in the cafeteria was certainly an event but-"

"I'm sorry!" Jack interrupted. "I'm sorry! It was my fault! She got into that fight to protect me! I accept responsibility!"

"Oh don't worry about it Jack. I didn't get into that much trouble." Clementine assured him. "Besides, everyone had a good laugh over it and nobody got hurt. I do have a few things to do but nothing too bad. I'll be fine. Really. I'm just glad you're okay. You seem like a nice kid and all."

"You can just relax young man." Justin assured him. "Rest assured, those three punks are the ones in trouble here. We do need to have a word with our daughter but you and her didn't cause any real trouble."

"All the same sir, we're glad she's okay and that nobody got hurt."

"You are okay right?" Misty asked her.

"Just fine."

"Awesome. Glad to hear it."

"Hey Clementine." Jack stepped forward while rubbing the back of his head. "Thanks again for looking out for me. That could've gone bad."

"You're welcome Jack. You don't have worry about those jokers anymore but be careful all the same. Be sure to make plenty of friends alright? You've got a good group right behind you already after all." She winked.

"I noticed. They're a wild bunch but they're cool. And you too."

"Clementine you have got to teach us those moves some time!"

"Get home safe now!"

"Stay out of trouble girl!"

Clementine laughed and waved to her new friends. "Catch you soon, guys."

"You've found a nice group of friends honey." Her mother complimented them. "Thank you all for helping our little girl out of her shell. We appreciate everything you did for her today. We have to take our little girl home right now but feel free to swing by the farm! Goodbye! See you soon!"

The Kanes waved and exited the school while her new friends cheered her on from behind.

Caleb glared at them through the window.

Clementine continued waving to the school and her friends as her dad drove away. The Silver Mercedes-Benz G Class pulling away from the school. Once the school was out of sight she turned around and relaxed in her seat. They sat in silence listening to the car radio until Clementine broke the silence and spoke up. "You know I can run us home faster than the car, right?" She joked.

Justin turned down the radio. "Clementine, what were you thinking? We talked about this. You're way too powerful to picking fights with other kids. You know they're no match for you! If a truck can't hurt you, other kids certainly can't!"

"I still don't know what you were thinking during Spring Break!" Marie shook her head. "You don't just let a truck hit you! Much less an 18 Wheeler!"

"That wasn't....it wasn't much of a fight dad. I was just playing around." Clementine insisted. "The literal definition of a fight is to, and I quote, take part in a violent struggle involving the exchange of physical blows or the use of weapons. I did not exchange blows with anybody. I dodged around them and they hit each other. Nor did I use any weapons aside from maybe the chair at the end."

"Okay, technically, you're right. Technically." Marie agreed. "But you can't do that! Your vigilante activities during Spring Break were morally ambiguous enough already. But you have no reason to be using your powers against a couple of kids. Regardless of how dumb they were acting."

"It wasn't just today though!" Clementine replied.

"Those guys were bullies mom! They've been beating up and hurting other kids all the time and I've been sitting in class and the halls listening to it! I listened to what you said and stayed out of trouble all this time while they kept hurting people! I admit, I got a little carried away, and the threat at the end was wrong of me, I'm sorry about that, but those guys had that coming for a long time." She explained.

"I'm sorry I upset you guys. I'm sorry I scared you. I'm sorry I threatened the kid like that. I'm sorry I kicked the chair at him. But I'm not sorry about standing up to them. I'm not going to turn a blind eye to it anymore. If I see a situation heading South, I'm going to say something. Superheroes stand up to bullies! That's why they're heroes!" The young girl said to her parents. She sank into her seat and sighed.

"I've got....a lot of powers. I don't understand them completely. I know how careful I have to be when I do anything. Even if it's something as simple as touching another person's hand lest I shatter everything like glass. I have to concentrate and focus on what's going on right in front of me or everything starts moving in slow motion or I start hearing every little thing around me. From miles away. I tried to follow the rules, I did everything you said, and I heard people getting hurt and crying. The teachers and faculty did their best but they couldn't be everywhere at once."

She closed her eyes. "I could hear people crying for help for years and I didn't do anything. On my Spring Break trip, I saw maniacs trying to kill innocent people and I stepped in and saved them and it felt great. Those people get to home to their families thanks to me! When I saw people who needed help, I flew into help and I saved them. So...what I'm trying to say here is...I'm sorry mom. I'm sorry dad. But I am not going to keep turning a blind eye. Not anymore. If I see or hear about someone getting hurt by bullies, I'm going to step in."

"We...we understand honey. We're sorry if you felt like we were suffocating you and forcing you to listen to people in trouble." Justin apologized. "We were just trying to be careful and look out for you. You know you have to watch your strength around other kids."

"I know dad. I'm sorry. And thanks."

"You know it's just because we love you right?"

"I know mom."

"Alright. Just as long as that's clear."

"There is something else though honey." Justin said to his daughter. "Your vigilante antics were still illegal when you think about it. Lacking proper legal authority or oversight."

"Yeaaaahh....I knooooow." Clementine confessed as she pouted.

Marie giggled at the sight. "We know you meant well, honey, we know it was all benevolent, and we know it was for the best. We know you saved a lot of people, and we're proud of you for it. But it was still illegal to do so. So, for right now, we're going to need you to stay in town until the heat dies down. After that, we can discuss further superheroics. In the meantime, you are to keep your head down and stay out of trouble. That goes double for school. No more fighting okay? Promise us."

"Okay mom, I promise. You've got it. You have my word I will stay in town and stay out of trouble."

"Alright then! Thank you honey!"

"We'll hold you to that kiddo." Justin told his daughter in a cheerful tone with a smile on his face while pulling up to a Drive Thru.

"Roadside-Burgerverse?"

"A little something to take the edge off. Now, we already know you had Lunch, but we're going to get you a little something anyway. How about a Shake?"

There was a pause before she spoke up. "Can I have an Oreo Cookie Shake?"

"So long as you swear up and down that you will never make a death threat like that to another student."

"I swear it mom!"

"We'll hold you to that. It's Shake Time!"

They waited in the Drive Thru until it was their chance to pull up.

A cheerful energetic voice greeted them. "HELLO THERE! Welcome To The Roadside-Burgerverse! How May We Serve You Today?"

"Hi there! We would like three small milkshakes: One Plain Vanilla, one Banana Pudding Milkshake and one Oreo Cookie Milkshake."

The screen showcased their orders and the price for them. $8.00 for all three. "Three small milkshakes: One Plain Vanilla, one Banana Pudding Milkshake and one Oreo Cookie Milkshake. Do we have your order correct?"

"That's right."

"Will there be anything else?"

"No thanks."

"That'll be $8.00. We'll see you at the window. Have an awesome day!"

"You too."

They drove on around the restaurant and to the window where they paid for their shakes and Justin distributed them around. Plain for him, Banana for Marie and Oreo for Clementine. Justin gave the kid at the window a tip and bid him good day and they drove away.

Once Clementine was sure they were out of the view of normal people, aside from the people who would be focusing just on driving and not looking at their backseat, she stuck out her tongue towards the shake. Her tongue slid out of her mouth and stretched out to unnatural lengths while the first half of it wriggled around and soon separated into writhing wriggling black tentacles that slithered around her straw, the shake and the Oreos before retreating back into her mouth briefly and then slid out around her lips. She opened her mouth again and the tentacles came back together as a single tongue. "Ohhhh maaan this is going to be so goood!"

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I Live In A World Made Of Cardboard Nov 8, 2020 1:04:39 GMT SuperKamiGuy1 likes this

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Post by SuperKamiGuy1 on Nov 8, 2020 1:04:39 GMT

Nov 7, 2020 2:43:10 GMT SuperKamiGuy1 said:

Nov 4, 2020 23:42:39 GMT SuperKamiGuy1 said:

"All the same sir, we're glad she's okay and that nobody got hurt."

"You are okay right?" Misty asked her.

"Just fine."

"Awesome. Glad to hear it."

"Hey Clementine." Jack stepped forward while rubbing the back of his head. "Thanks again for looking out for me. That could've gone bad."

"You're welcome Jack. You don't have worry about those jokers anymore but be careful all the same. Be sure to make plenty of friends alright? You've got a good group right behind you already after all." She winked.

"I noticed. They're a wild bunch but they're cool. And you too."

"Clementine you have got to teach us those moves some time!"

"Get home safe now!"

"Stay out of trouble girl!"

Clementine laughed and waved to her new friends. "Catch you soon, guys."

"You've found a nice group of friends honey." Her mother complimented them. "Thank you all for helping our little girl out of her shell. We appreciate everything you did for her today. We have to take our little girl home right now but feel free to swing by the farm! Goodbye! See you soon!"

The Kanes waved and exited the school while her new friends cheered her on from behind.

Caleb glared at them through the window.

Clementine continued waving to the school and her friends as her dad drove away. The Silver Mercedes-Benz G Class pulling away from the school. Once the school was out of sight she turned around and relaxed in her seat. They sat in silence listening to the car radio until Clementine broke the silence and spoke up. "You know I can run us home faster than the car, right?" She joked.

Justin turned down the radio. "Clementine, what were you thinking? We talked about this. You're way too powerful to picking fights with other kids. You know they're no match for you! If a truck can't hurt you, other kids certainly can't!"

"I still don't know what you were thinking during Spring Break!" Marie shook her head. "You don't just let a truck hit you! Much less an 18 Wheeler!"

"That wasn't....it wasn't much of a fight dad. I was just playing around." Clementine insisted. "The literal definition of a fight is to, and I quote, take part in a violent struggle involving the exchange of physical blows or the use of weapons. I did not exchange blows with anybody. I dodged around them and they hit each other. Nor did I use any weapons aside from maybe the chair at the end."

"Okay, technically, you're right. Technically." Marie agreed. "But you can't do that! Your vigilante activities during Spring Break were morally ambiguous enough already. But you have no reason to be using your powers against a couple of kids. Regardless of how dumb they were acting."

"It wasn't just today though!" Clementine replied.

"Those guys were bullies mom! They've been beating up and hurting other kids all the time and I've been sitting in class and the halls listening to it! I listened to what you said and stayed out of trouble all this time while they kept hurting people! I admit, I got a little carried away, and the threat at the end was wrong of me, I'm sorry about that, but those guys had that coming for a long time." She explained.

"I'm sorry I upset you guys. I'm sorry I scared you. I'm sorry I threatened the kid like that. I'm sorry I kicked the chair at him. But I'm not sorry about standing up to them. I'm not going to turn a blind eye to it anymore. If I see a situation heading South, I'm going to say something. Superheroes stand up to bullies! That's why they're heroes!" The young girl said to her parents. She sank into her seat and sighed.

"I've got....a lot of powers. I don't understand them completely. I know how careful I have to be when I do anything. Even if it's something as simple as touching another person's hand lest I shatter everything like glass. I have to concentrate and focus on what's going on right in front of me or everything starts moving in slow motion or I start hearing every little thing around me. From miles away. I tried to follow the rules, I did everything you said, and I heard people getting hurt and crying. The teachers and faculty did their best but they couldn't be everywhere at once."

She closed her eyes. "I could hear people crying for help for years and I didn't do anything. On my Spring Break trip, I saw maniacs trying to kill innocent people and I stepped in and saved them and it felt great. Those people get to home to their families thanks to me! When I saw people who needed help, I flew into help and I saved them. So...what I'm trying to say here is...I'm sorry mom. I'm sorry dad. But I am not going to keep turning a blind eye. Not anymore. If I see or hear about someone getting hurt by bullies, I'm going to step in."

"We...we understand honey. We're sorry if you felt like we were suffocating you and forcing you to listen to people in trouble." Justin apologized. "We were just trying to be careful and look out for you. You know you have to watch your strength around other kids."

"I know dad. I'm sorry. And thanks."

"You know it's just because we love you right?"

"I know mom."

"Alright. Just as long as that's clear."

"There is something else though honey." Justin said to his daughter. "Your vigilante antics were still illegal when you think about it. Lacking proper legal authority or oversight."

"Yeaaaahh....I knooooow." Clementine confessed as she pouted.

Marie giggled at the sight. "We know you meant well, honey, we know it was all benevolent, and we know it was for the best. We know you saved a lot of people, and we're proud of you for it. But it was still illegal to do so. So, for right now, we're going to need you to stay in town until the heat dies down. After that, we can discuss further superheroics. In the meantime, you are to keep your head down and stay out of trouble. That goes double for school. No more fighting okay? Promise us."

"Okay mom, I promise. You've got it. You have my word I will stay in town and stay out of trouble."

"Alright then! Thank you honey!"

"We'll hold you to that kiddo." Justin told his daughter in a cheerful tone with a smile on his face while pulling up to a Drive Thru.

"Roadside-Burgerverse?"

"A little something to take the edge off. Now, we already know you had Lunch, but we're going to get you a little something anyway. How about a Shake?"

There was a pause before she spoke up. "Can I have an Oreo Cookie Shake?"

"So long as you swear up and down that you will never make a death threat like that to another student."

"I swear it mom!"

"We'll hold you to that. It's Shake Time!"

They waited in the Drive Thru until it was their chance to pull up.

A cheerful energetic voice greeted them. "HELLO THERE! Welcome To The Roadside-Burgerverse! How May We Serve You Today?"

"Hi there! We would like three small milkshakes: One Plain Vanilla, one Banana Pudding Milkshake and one Oreo Cookie Milkshake."

The screen showcased their orders and the price for them. $8.00 for all three. "Three small milkshakes: One Plain Vanilla, one Banana Pudding Milkshake and one Oreo Cookie Milkshake. Do we have your order correct?"

"That's right."

"Will there be anything else?"

"No thanks."

"That'll be $8.00. We'll see you at the window. Have an awesome day!"

"You too."

They drove on around the restaurant and to the window where they paid for their shakes and Justin distributed them around. Plain for him, Banana for Marie and Oreo for Clementine. Justin gave the kid at the window a tip and bid him good day and they drove away.

Once Clementine was sure they were out of the view of normal people, aside from the people who would be focusing just on driving and not looking at their backseat, she stuck out her tongue towards the shake. Her tongue slid out of her mouth and stretched out to unnatural lengths while the first half of it wriggled around and soon separated into writhing wriggling black tentacles that slithered around her straw, the shake and the Oreos before retreating back into her mouth briefly and then slid out around her lips. She opened her mouth again and the tentacles came back together as a single tongue. "Ohhhh maaan this is going to be so goood!"

"Breaking out the tentacles already honey?" Marie joked.

"What can I say mom? I haven't had a shake in forever." She replied and sipped the shake. "Mmmmmmmmm."

"Well honey be sure to enjoy it. After the Spring Break you had, you deserve to treat yourself."

"Having said that, we do still have some questions."

"Like what?"

"First of all, what were you thinking standing in front of a speeding truck?!" Her mother exclaimed.

"What? It's not like anything else has hurt me." Clementine shrugged. "Retrieving something from the garbage disposal? Not a scratch. Walk through fire? Not a scratch. Accidentally fell from the barn? Not a scratch. That incident with the lawnmower? Not a scratch. Those falls from all the time when I was figuring out flying? Not a scratch. So, I figured, if nothing had hurt me up until that point, why would a truck? She sipped her shake before continuing. "I have to admit, I was a little scared, but, I mean, if my body is strong enough to bare the weight of cars and other things I've lifted without hurting itself, then shouldn't it be durable enough to handle this?" She reasoned. "For example, if my super-muscles were anchored by normal bones, the bones would repeatedly be broken apart by the muscles' exertions. Furthermore, I'm able to withstand the massive G-Forces my body would experience via my rapid accel and deceleration when I'm utilizing my super speed, both internally and externally, otherwise my organs would probably just liquify and ooze out of my pores at extremely high speeds or fly out of my body when stopping on a dime." Clementine explained logically. "I don't know the specifics of it all, but at the very least, we can reasonably assume that my body-tissue, skin, muscles, bones, etc. are extremely dense and solid, allowing them to withstand harmful forces on the body such as crushing weights, impacts, pressures, changes in temperature, etc."

"But, wait, shouldn't you be a lot heavier?" Her mother pointed out.

"I know right? Maybe it's tied to my flying powers, some kind of weight control or something like that."

"Okay, but how does that explain your tonguetacles?" Her father asked.

"I got nothing. Same shapeshifting trick that lets me change to and from my real form I guess." She suggested and resumed enjoying her milkshake. "When you look at it like that though, it's a reasonable assumption that I could handle a truck impact. The sound of the crash was loud as heck though. And this was during a thunderstorm! It was like an explosion going on all around me. But hey, I taught that drunk a lesson he won't ever forget and everyone was fine, so it all turned out alright."

Marie enjoyed her shake while she listened to all of this before she responded. "Be that as it may, you still shouldn't be letting trucks hit you. It's dangerous for the drivers too you know."

"...I know. I'm sorry mom."

"Just be careful in the future okay honey?"

"I will. I promise."

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I Live In A World Made Of Cardboard Nov 13, 2020 4:09:25 GMT SuperKamiGuy1 likes this

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Post by SuperKamiGuy1 on Nov 13, 2020 4:09:25 GMT

Nov 8, 2020 1:04:39 GMT SuperKamiGuy1 said:

Nov 7, 2020 2:43:10 GMT SuperKamiGuy1 said:

"We...we understand honey. We're sorry if you felt like we were suffocating you and forcing you to listen to people in trouble." Justin apologized. "We were just trying to be careful and look out for you. You know you have to watch your strength around other kids."

"I know dad. I'm sorry. And thanks."

"You know it's just because we love you right?"

"I know mom."

"Alright. Just as long as that's clear."

"There is something else though honey." Justin said to his daughter. "Your vigilante antics were still illegal when you think about it. Lacking proper legal authority or oversight."

"Yeaaaahh....I knooooow." Clementine confessed as she pouted.

Marie giggled at the sight. "We know you meant well, honey, we know it was all benevolent, and we know it was for the best. We know you saved a lot of people, and we're proud of you for it. But it was still illegal to do so. So, for right now, we're going to need you to stay in town until the heat dies down. After that, we can discuss further superheroics. In the meantime, you are to keep your head down and stay out of trouble. That goes double for school. No more fighting okay? Promise us."

"Okay mom, I promise. You've got it. You have my word I will stay in town and stay out of trouble."

"Alright then! Thank you honey!"

"We'll hold you to that kiddo." Justin told his daughter in a cheerful tone with a smile on his face while pulling up to a Drive Thru.

"Roadside-Burgerverse?"

"A little something to take the edge off. Now, we already know you had Lunch, but we're going to get you a little something anyway. How about a Shake?"

There was a pause before she spoke up. "Can I have an Oreo Cookie Shake?"

"So long as you swear up and down that you will never make a death threat like that to another student."

"I swear it mom!"

"We'll hold you to that. It's Shake Time!"

They waited in the Drive Thru until it was their chance to pull up.

A cheerful energetic voice greeted them. "HELLO THERE! Welcome To The Roadside-Burgerverse! How May We Serve You Today?"

"Hi there! We would like three small milkshakes: One Plain Vanilla, one Banana Pudding Milkshake and one Oreo Cookie Milkshake."

The screen showcased their orders and the price for them. $8.00 for all three. "Three small milkshakes: One Plain Vanilla, one Banana Pudding Milkshake and one Oreo Cookie Milkshake. Do we have your order correct?"

"That's right."

"Will there be anything else?"

"No thanks."

"That'll be $8.00. We'll see you at the window. Have an awesome day!"

"You too."

They drove on around the restaurant and to the window where they paid for their shakes and Justin distributed them around. Plain for him, Banana for Marie and Oreo for Clementine. Justin gave the kid at the window a tip and bid him good day and they drove away.

Once Clementine was sure they were out of the view of normal people, aside from the people who would be focusing just on driving and not looking at their backseat, she stuck out her tongue towards the shake. Her tongue slid out of her mouth and stretched out to unnatural lengths while the first half of it wriggled around and soon separated into writhing wriggling black tentacles that slithered around her straw, the shake and the Oreos before retreating back into her mouth briefly and then slid out around her lips. She opened her mouth again and the tentacles came back together as a single tongue. "Ohhhh maaan this is going to be so goood!"

"Breaking out the tentacles already honey?" Marie joked.

"What can I say mom? I haven't had a shake in forever." She replied and sipped the shake. "Mmmmmmmmm."

"Well honey be sure to enjoy it. After the Spring Break you had, you deserve to treat yourself."

"Having said that, we do still have some questions."

"Like what?"

"First of all, what were you thinking standing in front of a speeding truck?!" Her mother exclaimed.

"What? It's not like anything else has hurt me." Clementine shrugged. "Retrieving something from the garbage disposal? Not a scratch. Walk through fire? Not a scratch. Accidentally fell from the barn? Not a scratch. That incident with the lawnmower? Not a scratch. Those falls from all the time when I was figuring out flying? Not a scratch. So, I figured, if nothing had hurt me up until that point, why would a truck? She sipped her shake before continuing. "I have to admit, I was a little scared, but, I mean, if my body is strong enough to bare the weight of cars and other things I've lifted without hurting itself, then shouldn't it be durable enough to handle this?" She reasoned. "For example, if my super-muscles were anchored by normal bones, the bones would repeatedly be broken apart by the muscles' exertions. Furthermore, I'm able to withstand the massive G-Forces my body would experience via my rapid accel and deceleration when I'm utilizing my super speed, both internally and externally, otherwise my organs would probably just liquify and ooze out of my pores at extremely high speeds or fly out of my body when stopping on a dime." Clementine explained logically. "I don't know the specifics of it all, but at the very least, we can reasonably assume that my body-tissue, skin, muscles, bones, etc. are extremely dense and solid, allowing them to withstand harmful forces on the body such as crushing weights, impacts, pressures, changes in temperature, etc."

"But, wait, shouldn't you be a lot heavier?" Her mother pointed out.

"I know right? Maybe it's tied to my flying powers, some kind of weight control or something like that."

"Okay, but how does that explain your tonguetacles?" Her father asked.

"I got nothing. Same shapeshifting trick that lets me change to and from my real form I guess." She suggested and resumed enjoying her milkshake. "When you look at it like that though, it's a reasonable assumption that I could handle a truck impact. The sound of the crash was loud as heck though. And this was during a thunderstorm! It was like an explosion going on all around me. But hey, I taught that drunk a lesson he won't ever forget and everyone was fine, so it all turned out alright."

Marie enjoyed her shake while she listened to all of this before she responded. "Be that as it may, you still shouldn't be letting trucks hit you. It's dangerous for the drivers too you know."

"...I know. I'm sorry mom."

"Just be careful in the future okay honey?"

"I will. I promise."

"One more question."

"I'm still not entirely sure how I fly, dad." She joked. "I have theories but nothing concrete yet."

"Oh really? Well we'd certainly be happy to hear those! No, uh, my question is: What was with the symbols you left at all of the crime scenes?"

"Ahhhh! Those! χῖ and ϰ. Well, those are actually the Greek Letters for Chi and Kappa. C and K. C.K. Clementine Kane." She giggled. "Clever right? Even if anybody gets the joke, I'm covered. I did the research. There's at least two thousand three hundred and two people with the initials of C and K. Alright? That's famous people. That's not even counting normal every day people. Plus, there are at least 16 Public Schools in the country that offer Ancient Greek and 70 Private Schools that offer the same. Statically speaking, there would be several students and or faculty with those sorts of initials. Trust me, nobody would come looking here for a mystery superhero. I signed the scenes, sure, but not in a way that would point to me directly." She explained her reasoning proudly. "That was only half of my reasoning though. The other half was a beacon. A signal. A message. To them."

"Them? Them who?"

"Them! Them mom! They! Them! The Others! Whoever they are! The Other Supers! Logically speaking, there have to be others out there! Look, look, look. I know it sounds crazy, but so would everything I can do but you know what I can do, you've seen what I can do, it's crazy but it's real. I'm real. So, logically speaking, there would be other Superhumans out there, right?" She gently unzipped her backpack and searched around until she found a comic book, a copy of Marvel Comics Avengers #188 and handed it off to her mom. "See this? See this? That's a whole team of guys! All of them with different skills and powers! It might sound crazy but so do my powers and I'm real! If I'm real, then logically speaking, other Supers should be real! I can't be the only one! I had to come from somewhere! And if there are more of ME, of my kind, whatever they are, out there, then logically speaking, why wouldn't there be Superhumans around the world? Maybe they're in hiding and wondering the exact kind of thing that I am!" She resumed enjoying her shake before continuing.

"I'm not the only one, guys. I can't be. Even if nobody can trace the markings back to me specifically, they would have to catch onto what I did. Word is going to get around and the other Superhumans will know that they aren't alone and that they can come out of the shadows."

"Yes, perhaps, but are you sure that's a good idea? We don't know how powerful these Others could be." Her father pointed out to her.

"Mmmmmm." She wiggled her hand. "Okay, so, yeah, there would be some pros and cons to this when they reveal themselves, sure but I'm sure the majority of them will be good. Even if Villains start rising up to try and hurt people with their powers, I'm positive that there will be Heroes who rise up to stop them with superpowers of their own."

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Post by SuperKamiGuy1 on Nov 16, 2020 2:53:14 GMT

Nov 13, 2020 4:09:25 GMT SuperKamiGuy1 said:

Nov 8, 2020 1:04:39 GMT SuperKamiGuy1 said:

"Breaking out the tentacles already honey?" Marie joked.

"What can I say mom? I haven't had a shake in forever." She replied and sipped the shake. "Mmmmmmmmm."

"Well honey be sure to enjoy it. After the Spring Break you had, you deserve to treat yourself."

"Having said that, we do still have some questions."

"Like what?"

"First of all, what were you thinking standing in front of a speeding truck?!" Her mother exclaimed.

"What? It's not like anything else has hurt me." Clementine shrugged. "Retrieving something from the garbage disposal? Not a scratch. Walk through fire? Not a scratch. Accidentally fell from the barn? Not a scratch. That incident with the lawnmower? Not a scratch. Those falls from all the time when I was figuring out flying? Not a scratch. So, I figured, if nothing had hurt me up until that point, why would a truck? She sipped her shake before continuing. "I have to admit, I was a little scared, but, I mean, if my body is strong enough to bare the weight of cars and other things I've lifted without hurting itself, then shouldn't it be durable enough to handle this?" She reasoned. "For example, if my super-muscles were anchored by normal bones, the bones would repeatedly be broken apart by the muscles' exertions. Furthermore, I'm able to withstand the massive G-Forces my body would experience via my rapid accel and deceleration when I'm utilizing my super speed, both internally and externally, otherwise my organs would probably just liquify and ooze out of my pores at extremely high speeds or fly out of my body when stopping on a dime." Clementine explained logically. "I don't know the specifics of it all, but at the very least, we can reasonably assume that my body-tissue, skin, muscles, bones, etc. are extremely dense and solid, allowing them to withstand harmful forces on the body such as crushing weights, impacts, pressures, changes in temperature, etc."

"But, wait, shouldn't you be a lot heavier?" Her mother pointed out.

"I know right? Maybe it's tied to my flying powers, some kind of weight control or something like that."

"Okay, but how does that explain your tonguetacles?" Her father asked.

"I got nothing. Same shapeshifting trick that lets me change to and from my real form I guess." She suggested and resumed enjoying her milkshake. "When you look at it like that though, it's a reasonable assumption that I could handle a truck impact. The sound of the crash was loud as heck though. And this was during a thunderstorm! It was like an explosion going on all around me. But hey, I taught that drunk a lesson he won't ever forget and everyone was fine, so it all turned out alright."

Marie enjoyed her shake while she listened to all of this before she responded. "Be that as it may, you still shouldn't be letting trucks hit you. It's dangerous for the drivers too you know."

"...I know. I'm sorry mom."

"Just be careful in the future okay honey?"

"I will. I promise."

"One more question."

"I'm still not entirely sure how I fly, dad." She joked. "I have theories but nothing concrete yet."

"Oh really? Well we'd certainly be happy to hear those! No, uh, my question is: What was with the symbols you left at all of the crime scenes?"

"Ahhhh! Those! χῖ and ϰ. Well, those are actually the Greek Letters for Chi and Kappa. C and K. C.K. Clementine Kane." She giggled. "Clever right? Even if anybody gets the joke, I'm covered. I did the research. There's at least two thousand three hundred and two people with the initials of C and K. Alright? That's famous people. That's not even counting normal every day people. Plus, there are at least 16 Public Schools in the country that offer Ancient Greek and 70 Private Schools that offer the same. Statically speaking, there would be several students and or faculty with those sorts of initials. Trust me, nobody would come looking here for a mystery superhero. I signed the scenes, sure, but not in a way that would point to me directly." She explained her reasoning proudly. "That was only half of my reasoning though. The other half was a beacon. A signal. A message. To them."

"Them? Them who?"

"Them! Them mom! They! Them! The Others! Whoever they are! The Other Supers! Logically speaking, there have to be others out there! Look, look, look. I know it sounds crazy, but so would everything I can do but you know what I can do, you've seen what I can do, it's crazy but it's real. I'm real. So, logically speaking, there would be other Superhumans out there, right?" She gently unzipped her backpack and searched around until she found a comic book, a copy of Marvel Comics Avengers #188 and handed it off to her mom. "See this? See this? That's a whole team of guys! All of them with different skills and powers! It might sound crazy but so do my powers and I'm real! If I'm real, then logically speaking, other Supers should be real! I can't be the only one! I had to come from somewhere! And if there are more of ME, of my kind, whatever they are, out there, then logically speaking, why wouldn't there be Superhumans around the world? Maybe they're in hiding and wondering the exact kind of thing that I am!" She resumed enjoying her shake before continuing.

"I'm not the only one, guys. I can't be. Even if nobody can trace the markings back to me specifically, they would have to catch onto what I did. Word is going to get around and the other Superhumans will know that they aren't alone and that they can come out of the shadows."

"Yes, perhaps, but are you sure that's a good idea? We don't know how powerful these Others could be." Her father pointed out to her.

"Mmmmmm." She wiggled her hand. "Okay, so, yeah, there would be some pros and cons to this when they reveal themselves, sure but I'm sure the majority of them will be good. Even if Villains start rising up to try and hurt people with their powers, I'm positive that there will be Heroes who rise up to stop them with superpowers of their own."

"Well honey if they're all as good as you, I'm sure it'll be smooth sailing." Her father complimented her. "And if not? We've got our Super Daughter to show them the way."

"I'll do my best dad but the first step of course is finding them."

"Do you think there will be others looking for them?" Marie asked.

"Maybe? There's Billions of people around the world mom. Statistically speaking, if I'm looking for others like me, there's a good chance that there are other powered people looking for others like them." She reasoned with simple logic.

"Huh. I guess that makes sense. Although, I have to wonder...if they're all out there, wouldn't there have been Super Fights by now?"

"Logically speaking, yes, but like I said, they're all probably still in hiding and just haven't found each other yet. Supers started off as rather rare in comic books before they all started meeting up." Clementine enjoyed her shake. "We just have to keep our eyes glued to the news. We sent out the lure. Now we just have to see who bites."

They continued driving around until they finally arrived back at the farm.

The farm grew up out of the pale green hills as if it had always been part of the scenery. The house itself was a beautiful brick, the colors being the hues of the land herself, rustic brown striations on grey rock. Upon the rolling fields grew potatoes, turnips and all the root vegetables they loved to roast in the autumn. The farm was every kid's dream. The house was cozy, warmed by an aga, and the kitchen had the aroma of baking every day of the year. Mama loved to cook, Papa always made a seeded loaf on a Sunday. The hills were a safe place to play, to explore, to create new stories and live their dreams to the full. Clementine was never happier than with muddy boots and the wind tousling her hair. Freedom. Of course there were the chores, but that's how she got to feel important and know she was needed. There was time for work and time for play, a perfect balance.

Justin parked the car and the girls hopped out. Clementine gently closed the door waited for her dad to pull into the garage.

"Alright now Clementine. You can finish your shake in the kitchen but after that I want you to wash your hands and go upstairs to get started on the homework you know you have and keep checking your E-Mails for your future homework assignments. I also want you to get started on the roughdraft of your Essay. Finally, show me your homework assignments you still need to turn in and we'll scan them and E-Mail them to your teachers along with apologies for not being able to make it to class today. Understood?"

"Crystal clear mom. You got it." She smiled and covered her drink before zipping away into the kitchen in a sudden blur of speed, causing a sudden gust of wind in the house. Her power causing her to generate a thin transparent aura in the colors of her skin and clothing, leaving behind a trail of what they'd dubbed as aura mist, a sort of speed trail that faded away behind her as she ran.

Marie was used to this by now, mostly, so she had simply covered up her own drink in anticipation of this. "Mind your speed honey!" She called after her daughter.

"Sorry mom!" Clementine called back from the kitchen.

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Post by SuperKamiGuy1 on Nov 18, 2020 4:50:52 GMT

Nov 16, 2020 2:53:14 GMT SuperKamiGuy1 said:

Nov 13, 2020 4:09:25 GMT SuperKamiGuy1 said:

"One more question."

"I'm still not entirely sure how I fly, dad." She joked. "I have theories but nothing concrete yet."

"Oh really? Well we'd certainly be happy to hear those! No, uh, my question is: What was with the symbols you left at all of the crime scenes?"

"Ahhhh! Those! χῖ and ϰ. Well, those are actually the Greek Letters for Chi and Kappa. C and K. C.K. Clementine Kane." She giggled. "Clever right? Even if anybody gets the joke, I'm covered. I did the research. There's at least two thousand three hundred and two people with the initials of C and K. Alright? That's famous people. That's not even counting normal every day people. Plus, there are at least 16 Public Schools in the country that offer Ancient Greek and 70 Private Schools that offer the same. Statically speaking, there would be several students and or faculty with those sorts of initials. Trust me, nobody would come looking here for a mystery superhero. I signed the scenes, sure, but not in a way that would point to me directly." She explained her reasoning proudly. "That was only half of my reasoning though. The other half was a beacon. A signal. A message. To them."

"Them? Them who?"

"Them! Them mom! They! Them! The Others! Whoever they are! The Other Supers! Logically speaking, there have to be others out there! Look, look, look. I know it sounds crazy, but so would everything I can do but you know what I can do, you've seen what I can do, it's crazy but it's real. I'm real. So, logically speaking, there would be other Superhumans out there, right?" She gently unzipped her backpack and searched around until she found a comic book, a copy of Marvel Comics Avengers #188 and handed it off to her mom. "See this? See this? That's a whole team of guys! All of them with different skills and powers! It might sound crazy but so do my powers and I'm real! If I'm real, then logically speaking, other Supers should be real! I can't be the only one! I had to come from somewhere! And if there are more of ME, of my kind, whatever they are, out there, then logically speaking, why wouldn't there be Superhumans around the world? Maybe they're in hiding and wondering the exact kind of thing that I am!" She resumed enjoying her shake before continuing.

"I'm not the only one, guys. I can't be. Even if nobody can trace the markings back to me specifically, they would have to catch onto what I did. Word is going to get around and the other Superhumans will know that they aren't alone and that they can come out of the shadows."

"Yes, perhaps, but are you sure that's a good idea? We don't know how powerful these Others could be." Her father pointed out to her.

"Mmmmmm." She wiggled her hand. "Okay, so, yeah, there would be some pros and cons to this when they reveal themselves, sure but I'm sure the majority of them will be good. Even if Villains start rising up to try and hurt people with their powers, I'm positive that there will be Heroes who rise up to stop them with superpowers of their own."

"Well honey if they're all as good as you, I'm sure it'll be smooth sailing." Her father complimented her. "And if not? We've got our Super Daughter to show them the way."

"I'll do my best dad but the first step of course is finding them."

"Do you think there will be others looking for them?" Marie asked.

"Maybe? There's Billions of people around the world mom. Statistically speaking, if I'm looking for others like me, there's a good chance that there are other powered people looking for others like them." She reasoned with simple logic.

"Huh. I guess that makes sense. Although, I have to wonder...if they're all out there, wouldn't there have been Super Fights by now?"

"Logically speaking, yes, but like I said, they're all probably still in hiding and just haven't found each other yet. Supers started off as rather rare in comic books before they all started meeting up." Clementine enjoyed her shake. "We just have to keep our eyes glued to the news. We sent out the lure. Now we just have to see who bites."

They continued driving around until they finally arrived back at the farm.

The farm grew up out of the pale green hills as if it had always been part of the scenery. The house itself was a beautiful brick, the colors being the hues of the land herself, rustic brown striations on grey rock. Upon the rolling fields grew potatoes, turnips and all the root vegetables they loved to roast in the autumn. The farm was every kid's dream. The house was cozy, warmed by an aga, and the kitchen had the aroma of baking every day of the year. Mama loved to cook, Papa always made a seeded loaf on a Sunday. The hills were a safe place to play, to explore, to create new stories and live their dreams to the full. Clementine was never happier than with muddy boots and the wind tousling her hair. Freedom. Of course there were the chores, but that's how she got to feel important and know she was needed. There was time for work and time for play, a perfect balance.

Justin parked the car and the girls hopped out. Clementine gently closed the door waited for her dad to pull into the garage.

"Alright now Clementine. You can finish your shake in the kitchen but after that I want you to wash your hands and go upstairs to get started on the homework you know you have and keep checking your E-Mails for your future homework assignments. I also want you to get started on the roughdraft of your Essay. Finally, show me your homework assignments you still need to turn in and we'll scan them and E-Mail them to your teachers along with apologies for not being able to make it to class today. Understood?"

"Crystal clear mom. You got it." She smiled and covered her drink before zipping away into the kitchen in a sudden blur of speed, causing a sudden gust of wind in the house. Her power causing her to generate a thin transparent aura in the colors of her skin and clothing, leaving behind a trail of what they'd dubbed as aura mist, a sort of speed trail that faded away behind her as she ran.

Marie was used to this by now, mostly, so she had simply covered up her own drink in anticipation of this. "Mind your speed honey!" She called after her daughter.

"Sorry mom!" Clementine called back from the kitchen.

Justin entered the house soon after them. "We've got a good kid."

"Yeah we do. She's our super powered space angel." Marie agreed. "I was a little worried when I heard about the fight but I'm glad it was for nothing. She's too good of a kid to abuse her gifts."

"She's a good kid." Justin repeated and put an arm around his wife. "We're raising her right. Sure, the vigilantism was a little much." He admitted. "But, come on, she has the power to save the world and billions of lives. Nothing wrong with getting a little practice in for that. She just has to be careful in how she does it."

"You're right, Justin. We just have to do our best to guide her."

"That's all any parent can do, Marie. Don't worry about it though. She's on the right track."

Clementine listened to her parents talk from across the house while she sipped her shake and contemplated the previous week she'd had. (...Okay, so, in hindsight, I miiiight've gone a bit overboard in a few places. But in my defense, this was literally my first week on the job. I'm still learning the ropes you know?) She mused internally while the tentacles slid out of her mouth again and slithered around the milkshake. She relaxed in this manner while her mind drifted back to her adventures.

OOC!
In The Next Update!

We'll see The Raincoat's Spring Break Adventures from Clementine's perspective!

Valhalla Erikson Administrator Posts: 1,645	I Live In A World Made Of Cardboard Nov 21, 2020 19:55:03 GMT SuperKamiGuy1 likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Valhalla Erikson on Nov 21, 2020 19:55:03 GMT You could really feel the loneliness in Clementine's situation here. Even if they're not alien connected she so desperately wants to be associated with powered beings like her.

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I Live In A World Made Of Cardboard Nov 21, 2020 20:55:57 GMT

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Post by SuperKamiGuy1 on Nov 21, 2020 20:55:57 GMT

Nov 21, 2020 19:55:03 GMT Valhalla Erikson said:

You could really feel the loneliness in Clementine's situation here. Even if they're not alien connected she so desperately wants to be associated with powered beings like her.

You know it man! Obviously somewhat inspired by MoS, I wanted to show the kind of loneliness and longing to find others like yourself out there, without being quote as mopey as Clark was in that movie. Suffice to say, finally finding other Supers is going to be a huge relief for her.

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I Live In A World Made Of Cardboard Nov 28, 2020 2:16:19 GMT SuperKamiGuy1 likes this

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Post by SuperKamiGuy1 on Nov 28, 2020 2:16:19 GMT

Nov 18, 2020 4:50:52 GMT SuperKamiGuy1 said:

Nov 16, 2020 2:53:14 GMT SuperKamiGuy1 said:

"Well honey if they're all as good as you, I'm sure it'll be smooth sailing." Her father complimented her. "And if not? We've got our Super Daughter to show them the way."

"I'll do my best dad but the first step of course is finding them."

"Do you think there will be others looking for them?" Marie asked.

"Maybe? There's Billions of people around the world mom. Statistically speaking, if I'm looking for others like me, there's a good chance that there are other powered people looking for others like them." She reasoned with simple logic.

"Huh. I guess that makes sense. Although, I have to wonder...if they're all out there, wouldn't there have been Super Fights by now?"

"Logically speaking, yes, but like I said, they're all probably still in hiding and just haven't found each other yet. Supers started off as rather rare in comic books before they all started meeting up." Clementine enjoyed her shake. "We just have to keep our eyes glued to the news. We sent out the lure. Now we just have to see who bites."

They continued driving around until they finally arrived back at the farm.

The farm grew up out of the pale green hills as if it had always been part of the scenery. The house itself was a beautiful brick, the colors being the hues of the land herself, rustic brown striations on grey rock. Upon the rolling fields grew potatoes, turnips and all the root vegetables they loved to roast in the autumn. The farm was every kid's dream. The house was cozy, warmed by an aga, and the kitchen had the aroma of baking every day of the year. Mama loved to cook, Papa always made a seeded loaf on a Sunday. The hills were a safe place to play, to explore, to create new stories and live their dreams to the full. Clementine was never happier than with muddy boots and the wind tousling her hair. Freedom. Of course there were the chores, but that's how she got to feel important and know she was needed. There was time for work and time for play, a perfect balance.

Justin parked the car and the girls hopped out. Clementine gently closed the door waited for her dad to pull into the garage.

"Alright now Clementine. You can finish your shake in the kitchen but after that I want you to wash your hands and go upstairs to get started on the homework you know you have and keep checking your E-Mails for your future homework assignments. I also want you to get started on the roughdraft of your Essay. Finally, show me your homework assignments you still need to turn in and we'll scan them and E-Mail them to your teachers along with apologies for not being able to make it to class today. Understood?"

"Crystal clear mom. You got it." She smiled and covered her drink before zipping away into the kitchen in a sudden blur of speed, causing a sudden gust of wind in the house. Her power causing her to generate a thin transparent aura in the colors of her skin and clothing, leaving behind a trail of what they'd dubbed as aura mist, a sort of speed trail that faded away behind her as she ran.

Marie was used to this by now, mostly, so she had simply covered up her own drink in anticipation of this. "Mind your speed honey!" She called after her daughter.

"Sorry mom!" Clementine called back from the kitchen.

Justin entered the house soon after them. "We've got a good kid."

"Yeah we do. She's our super powered space angel." Marie agreed. "I was a little worried when I heard about the fight but I'm glad it was for nothing. She's too good of a kid to abuse her gifts."

"She's a good kid." Justin repeated and put an arm around his wife. "We're raising her right. Sure, the vigilantism was a little much." He admitted. "But, come on, she has the power to save the world and billions of lives. Nothing wrong with getting a little practice in for that. She just has to be careful in how she does it."

"You're right, Justin. We just have to do our best to guide her."

"That's all any parent can do, Marie. Don't worry about it though. She's on the right track."

Clementine listened to her parents talk from across the house while she sipped her shake and contemplated the previous week she'd had. (...Okay, so, in hindsight, I miiiight've gone a bit overboard in a few places. But in my defense, this was literally my first week on the job. I'm still learning the ropes you know?) She mused internally while the tentacles slid out of her mouth again and slithered around the milkshake. She relaxed in this manner while her mind drifted back to her adventures.

OOC!
In The Next Update!

We'll see The Raincoat's Spring Break Adventures from Clementine's perspective!

YOU ARE NOW ENTERING SILVER-BOULDER!

WELCOME TO THE MOST SHINING SHIMMERING SPLENDID ROCKING TOWN IN MONTOHOMA!

"This might sound weird for an alien to say, but oh thank God I've found it! Man oh man I got lost there for a bit." She rubbed the back of her head. Clementine had assumed it would be a quick and easy flight from Rockwick to Silver but she ended up taking a wrong turn and got lost. It took her awhile to get back on track and find her way here to Silver Boulder. "Note to self: Bring a map next time." She joked and turned on her heel. "Right then! No time to worry. I'm here now and it's time to get down to business. I'm gonna get that autograph." There was a superstar doctor working at a hospital here in Silver Boulder named Shane Spellman who was famous for his miraculous surgeries saving patients from anything, treating patients with illness as minor as fever to performing complex surgeries such as neuroendoscopy and all manner of various surgeries in between, including doing it in the dark! His surgical skills were said to be on the same level as Luna Lazarus! Clementine couldn't be sure if he was powered or not but either way she wanted to meet him and get his autograph. Hopefully she could add in a little adventure while she was here. Clementine sped through Silver Boulder towards the hospital so fast that if anybody could see her they'd only see a vague blur of motion. If even that considering how dark it was tonight! Clementine's super speed also extended to her perception. Her brain was able to process information at such high speeds that time appears to have slowed down, allowing her to perceive what would normally be moving too fast to see and respond accordingly. In this particular case, she was able to easily zip through and around traffic while avoiding them expertly with everything around her slowed down to a crawl! This enabled her to quickly traverse the city until she finally found her way to the hospital and stopped behind a pillar. She adjusted her clothes as she pondered the mechanics of her speed. (You know, logically speaking, my organs should be really messed up after running like that speed and suddenly stopping but I'm completely fine. I guess it's because I'm an alien, sure, but I would like to know the exact mechanics of my powers sometime. Ah well, autograph time!) She stepped out from behind the pillar, adjusted her baseball cap and walked to the hospital.

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Post by SuperKamiGuy1 on Dec 1, 2020 22:52:24 GMT

Nov 28, 2020 2:16:19 GMT SuperKamiGuy1 said:

Nov 18, 2020 4:50:52 GMT SuperKamiGuy1 said:

Justin entered the house soon after them. "We've got a good kid."

"Yeah we do. She's our super powered space angel." Marie agreed. "I was a little worried when I heard about the fight but I'm glad it was for nothing. She's too good of a kid to abuse her gifts."

"She's a good kid." Justin repeated and put an arm around his wife. "We're raising her right. Sure, the vigilantism was a little much." He admitted. "But, come on, she has the power to save the world and billions of lives. Nothing wrong with getting a little practice in for that. She just has to be careful in how she does it."

"You're right, Justin. We just have to do our best to guide her."

"That's all any parent can do, Marie. Don't worry about it though. She's on the right track."

Clementine listened to her parents talk from across the house while she sipped her shake and contemplated the previous week she'd had. (...Okay, so, in hindsight, I miiiight've gone a bit overboard in a few places. But in my defense, this was literally my first week on the job. I'm still learning the ropes you know?) She mused internally while the tentacles slid out of her mouth again and slithered around the milkshake. She relaxed in this manner while her mind drifted back to her adventures.

OOC!
In The Next Update!

We'll see The Raincoat's Spring Break Adventures from Clementine's perspective!

YOU ARE NOW ENTERING SILVER-BOULDER!

WELCOME TO THE MOST SHINING SHIMMERING SPLENDID ROCKING TOWN IN MONTOHOMA!

"This might sound weird for an alien to say, but oh thank God I've found it! Man oh man I got lost there for a bit." She rubbed the back of her head. Clementine had assumed it would be a quick and easy flight from Rockwick to Silver but she ended up taking a wrong turn and got lost. It took her awhile to get back on track and find her way here to Silver Boulder. "Note to self: Bring a map next time." She joked and turned on her heel. "Right then! No time to worry. I'm here now and it's time to get down to business. I'm gonna get that autograph." There was a superstar doctor working at a hospital here in Silver Boulder named Shane Spellman who was famous for his miraculous surgeries saving patients from anything, treating patients with illness as minor as fever to performing complex surgeries such as neuroendoscopy and all manner of various surgeries in between, including doing it in the dark! His surgical skills were said to be on the same level as Luna Lazarus! Clementine couldn't be sure if he was powered or not but either way she wanted to meet him and get his autograph. Hopefully she could add in a little adventure while she was here. Clementine sped through Silver Boulder towards the hospital so fast that if anybody could see her they'd only see a vague blur of motion. If even that considering how dark it was tonight! Clementine's super speed also extended to her perception. Her brain was able to process information at such high speeds that time appears to have slowed down, allowing her to perceive what would normally be moving too fast to see and respond accordingly. In this particular case, she was able to easily zip through and around traffic while avoiding them expertly with everything around her slowed down to a crawl! This enabled her to quickly traverse the city until she finally found her way to the hospital and stopped behind a pillar. She adjusted her clothes as she pondered the mechanics of her speed. (You know, logically speaking, my organs should be really messed up after running like that speed and suddenly stopping but I'm completely fine. I guess it's because I'm an alien, sure, but I would like to know the exact mechanics of my powers sometime. Ah well, autograph time!) She stepped out from behind the pillar, adjusted her baseball cap and walked to the hospital.

As Clementine approached the hospital she slowly exhaled as she focused her hearing to block out the cacophony of noise around the city. The cars, the honking, the people yelling, people running, people chattering, music blaring, tires screeching and squealing, birds flying, dogs barking, rain pouring down, thunder booming overhead, all mixed with the noise blaring out of the hospital. From the chatter of everyone inside, the crunching of food, the crush of ice, the shipping of drinks, the various machines beeping, wheezing and breathing while cheerful music played overhead. All of it mixed together at once and crashed over her like a tidal wave of NOISE!

By using the ambient vibrations that resulted from the sound waves around her, Clementine was able to locate and identify them, perceiving them as precisely as normal sight with greater clarity, picking up on things that were far outside of her line of sight and even walls were rendered ineffective against her super senses, same with the ground beneath her feet. Unfortunately it was all coming at her in all caps all at once so it was like trying to go about your day while everyone and everything around you, even inanimate objects and the Earth beneath your feet, are screaming their lungs out at you.

Clementine focused as she entered the hospital and she squeezed her eyes shut as she gradually focused her hearing down so she would only hear what was going on around her and not EVERYTHING all at once!

(Headphones. I definitely should've brought my headphones.) She noted internally. (Live and learn.) Clementine dialed down her super senses to a roughly human level, or as close as she could get, and she took off her raincoat and tied it around her waist as she approached the front desk. "Hiya!"

"Well hello! How can I help you?" The lady behind the desk asked.

"This might sound a bit weird but is Doctor Spellman in? I'm a huge fan of his work and I was hoping to get an autograph."

There was a brief pause before she cracked up and stifled a laugh. "Ahahahahaha! I-I'm sorry! Sorry. Ahhh, it's just that's the most random request we've had all day. Yes, yes, he's in. I'm sure he'll be honored to meet a fan. Shane's up on the fourth floor right now. Please sign in here and I'll see if I can wave someone down to escort you. Don't be surprised if he's pre-occupied though. It's been a busy few days."

"I understand. Thank you ma'am." Clementine gently signed in her 'name' on the paper with the pen: Minnie Kanye.

"Alright thank you Miss Kanye. Please take a seat and I'll see if I can find someone who can help you."

"Thank you!" She replied cheerfully and skipped over to a chair and took a seat.

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Post by SuperKamiGuy1 on Jan 4, 2021 4:31:24 GMT

Dec 1, 2020 22:52:24 GMT SuperKamiGuy1 said:

Nov 28, 2020 2:16:19 GMT SuperKamiGuy1 said:

"This might sound weird for an alien to say, but oh thank God I've found it! Man oh man I got lost there for a bit." She rubbed the back of her head. Clementine had assumed it would be a quick and easy flight from Rockwick to Silver but she ended up taking a wrong turn and got lost. It took her awhile to get back on track and find her way here to Silver Boulder. "Note to self: Bring a map next time." She joked and turned on her heel. "Right then! No time to worry. I'm here now and it's time to get down to business. I'm gonna get that autograph." There was a superstar doctor working at a hospital here in Silver Boulder named Shane Spellman who was famous for his miraculous surgeries saving patients from anything, treating patients with illness as minor as fever to performing complex surgeries such as neuroendoscopy and all manner of various surgeries in between, including doing it in the dark! His surgical skills were said to be on the same level as Luna Lazarus! Clementine couldn't be sure if he was powered or not but either way she wanted to meet him and get his autograph. Hopefully she could add in a little adventure while she was here. Clementine sped through Silver Boulder towards the hospital so fast that if anybody could see her they'd only see a vague blur of motion. If even that considering how dark it was tonight! Clementine's super speed also extended to her perception. Her brain was able to process information at such high speeds that time appears to have slowed down, allowing her to perceive what would normally be moving too fast to see and respond accordingly. In this particular case, she was able to easily zip through and around traffic while avoiding them expertly with everything around her slowed down to a crawl! This enabled her to quickly traverse the city until she finally found her way to the hospital and stopped behind a pillar. She adjusted her clothes as she pondered the mechanics of her speed. (You know, logically speaking, my organs should be really messed up after running like that speed and suddenly stopping but I'm completely fine. I guess it's because I'm an alien, sure, but I would like to know the exact mechanics of my powers sometime. Ah well, autograph time!) She stepped out from behind the pillar, adjusted her baseball cap and walked to the hospital.

As Clementine approached the hospital she slowly exhaled as she focused her hearing to block out the cacophony of noise around the city. The cars, the honking, the people yelling, people running, people chattering, music blaring, tires screeching and squealing, birds flying, dogs barking, rain pouring down, thunder booming overhead, all mixed with the noise blaring out of the hospital. From the chatter of everyone inside, the crunching of food, the crush of ice, the shipping of drinks, the various machines beeping, wheezing and breathing while cheerful music played overhead. All of it mixed together at once and crashed over her like a tidal wave of NOISE!

By using the ambient vibrations that resulted from the sound waves around her, Clementine was able to locate and identify them, perceiving them as precisely as normal sight with greater clarity, picking up on things that were far outside of her line of sight and even walls were rendered ineffective against her super senses, same with the ground beneath her feet. Unfortunately it was all coming at her in all caps all at once so it was like trying to go about your day while everyone and everything around you, even inanimate objects and the Earth beneath your feet, are screaming their lungs out at you.

Clementine focused as she entered the hospital and she squeezed her eyes shut as she gradually focused her hearing down so she would only hear what was going on around her and not EVERYTHING all at once!

(Headphones. I definitely should've brought my headphones.) She noted internally. (Live and learn.) Clementine dialed down her super senses to a roughly human level, or as close as she could get, and she took off her raincoat and tied it around her waist as she approached the front desk. "Hiya!"

"Well hello! How can I help you?" The lady behind the desk asked.

"This might sound a bit weird but is Doctor Spellman in? I'm a huge fan of his work and I was hoping to get an autograph."

There was a brief pause before she cracked up and stifled a laugh. "Ahahahahaha! I-I'm sorry! Sorry. Ahhh, it's just that's the most random request we've had all day. Yes, yes, he's in. I'm sure he'll be honored to meet a fan. Shane's up on the fourth floor right now. Please sign in here and I'll see if I can wave someone down to escort you. Don't be surprised if he's pre-occupied though. It's been a busy few days."

"I understand. Thank you ma'am." Clementine gently signed in her 'name' on the paper with the pen: Minnie Kanye.

"Alright thank you Miss Kanye. Please take a seat and I'll see if I can find someone who can help you."

"Thank you!" She replied cheerfully and skipped over to a chair and took a seat.

Sweat dripped down Doctor Shane Spellman's face despite the nurse dabbing at it with a rag. His eyes were blurry from exhaustion and his body wanted to collapse on the spot. He was running on pure willpower right now but even that was quickly fading. Soon he would only have the last dying embers of his will to keep him going. Embers that he was desperately trying to keep alive with gasoline that he didn't have. It didn't matter. He didn't matter. He could collapse on the ground at any minute but he would not allow himself to do so. Not until his patient was safe. Shane had no idea how long he'd been working lately but all he could remember lately was that he'd been cutting people open and putting them back together. They, them, all of them were blurring together so fast. He couldn't keep their faces straight. Sleep. He needed sleep. So bad. NO! NO TIME! Don't think like that! He had to save his patient! She was the only thing that mattered! Not him. Not his health. His patient. Screw exhaustion. Screw the pain. Screw the sweat. He had to keep going. He had to save his patient.

Because he was Doctor Shane Spellman and his steady hands and keen understanding of human anatomy allowed him to perform operation procedures that even machines would struggle to keep up with. Even in this tired, crushed, exhausted state, he was equal to an entire team of surgeons.

So he worked and worked and worked until he was tightening the last stitch over the patient's skull. "Done." He smiled behind his mask as his tools clattered to the ground from his hands. His gloves lightly dropped onto the shoulders of his patient. "Ohhhhh Goooood....Dooooone." He wheezed. "You're safe now...you're safe."

"Doctor? Doctor are you okay?" A nurse asked him.

"Y-yeaaah...j-just give a minute. A minute and some water." He nodded and stepped back. "Ellis? Can you clean and bandage this for me?" He asked.

"Sure thing Doctor."

"You're the best." He replied sincerely and sat down to remove his gloves and mask and get some water.

Unnoticed by Doctor Spellman however, the patient's cell division began to accelerate, which further accelerated the process by which the patient's organic material healed, therefore inducing regeneration in the patient.

By the time Ellis had finished bandaging the patient her eyes had snapped open. "Huuuuuuh?"

"WHAAAAAA?!" They screamed in disbelief of the patient waking up this early.

The patient looked around rapidly in confusion as her body seemed to actively fight against the anesthesia being delivered through the mask.

Doctor Shane Spellman stared in amazement. "A-am I hallucinating or did she just wake up? D-did we turn off the anesthetic?"

"No it's...it's still going Doctor."

"Huh...alright let's uh...lets get her off of that and check her out."

"What's going on? Am I better now?"

"It's alright now, Sylvia. We got it out." Assured her with a tired thumbs up.

"Thank you. Thank you."

"All in a days work." A nurse handed him a large cup of water and helped him hold it with his shaking hands and he desperately chugged it down. "Ohhhh I needed that. Okay. Give me a minute here and we'll check her over to make sure she's okay."

"Yes sir!"

Valhalla Erikson Administrator Posts: 1,645	I Live In A World Made Of Cardboard Jan 6, 2021 6:31:16 GMT SuperKamiGuy1 likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Valhalla Erikson on Jan 6, 2021 6:31:16 GMT Oh man I like this guy! Gonna be the kind of regular that'll make an impact in future story arcs

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I Live In A World Made Of Cardboard Jan 9, 2021 1:06:21 GMT

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Post by SuperKamiGuy1 on Jan 9, 2021 1:06:21 GMT

Jan 6, 2021 6:31:16 GMT Valhalla Erikson said:

Oh man I like this guy! Gonna be the kind of regular that'll make an impact in future story arcs

Ohh yeah! Especially once he starts figuring out his powers!

Hell of a first reaction to them though that's for sure.

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I Live In A World Made Of Cardboard Jan 9, 2021 2:07:55 GMT SuperKamiGuy1 likes this

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Post by SuperKamiGuy1 on Jan 9, 2021 2:07:55 GMT

Jan 4, 2021 4:31:24 GMT SuperKamiGuy1 said:

Dec 1, 2020 22:52:24 GMT SuperKamiGuy1 said:

As Clementine approached the hospital she slowly exhaled as she focused her hearing to block out the cacophony of noise around the city. The cars, the honking, the people yelling, people running, people chattering, music blaring, tires screeching and squealing, birds flying, dogs barking, rain pouring down, thunder booming overhead, all mixed with the noise blaring out of the hospital. From the chatter of everyone inside, the crunching of food, the crush of ice, the shipping of drinks, the various machines beeping, wheezing and breathing while cheerful music played overhead. All of it mixed together at once and crashed over her like a tidal wave of NOISE!

By using the ambient vibrations that resulted from the sound waves around her, Clementine was able to locate and identify them, perceiving them as precisely as normal sight with greater clarity, picking up on things that were far outside of her line of sight and even walls were rendered ineffective against her super senses, same with the ground beneath her feet. Unfortunately it was all coming at her in all caps all at once so it was like trying to go about your day while everyone and everything around you, even inanimate objects and the Earth beneath your feet, are screaming their lungs out at you.

Clementine focused as she entered the hospital and she squeezed her eyes shut as she gradually focused her hearing down so she would only hear what was going on around her and not EVERYTHING all at once!

(Headphones. I definitely should've brought my headphones.) She noted internally. (Live and learn.) Clementine dialed down her super senses to a roughly human level, or as close as she could get, and she took off her raincoat and tied it around her waist as she approached the front desk. "Hiya!"

"Well hello! How can I help you?" The lady behind the desk asked.

"This might sound a bit weird but is Doctor Spellman in? I'm a huge fan of his work and I was hoping to get an autograph."

There was a brief pause before she cracked up and stifled a laugh. "Ahahahahaha! I-I'm sorry! Sorry. Ahhh, it's just that's the most random request we've had all day. Yes, yes, he's in. I'm sure he'll be honored to meet a fan. Shane's up on the fourth floor right now. Please sign in here and I'll see if I can wave someone down to escort you. Don't be surprised if he's pre-occupied though. It's been a busy few days."

"I understand. Thank you ma'am." Clementine gently signed in her 'name' on the paper with the pen: Minnie Kanye.

"Alright thank you Miss Kanye. Please take a seat and I'll see if I can find someone who can help you."

"Thank you!" She replied cheerfully and skipped over to a chair and took a seat.

Sweat dripped down Doctor Shane Spellman's face despite the nurse dabbing at it with a rag. His eyes were blurry from exhaustion and his body wanted to collapse on the spot. He was running on pure willpower right now but even that was quickly fading. Soon he would only have the last dying embers of his will to keep him going. Embers that he was desperately trying to keep alive with gasoline that he didn't have. It didn't matter. He didn't matter. He could collapse on the ground at any minute but he would not allow himself to do so. Not until his patient was safe. Shane had no idea how long he'd been working lately but all he could remember lately was that he'd been cutting people open and putting them back together. They, them, all of them were blurring together so fast. He couldn't keep their faces straight. Sleep. He needed sleep. So bad. NO! NO TIME! Don't think like that! He had to save his patient! She was the only thing that mattered! Not him. Not his health. His patient. Screw exhaustion. Screw the pain. Screw the sweat. He had to keep going. He had to save his patient.

Because he was Doctor Shane Spellman and his steady hands and keen understanding of human anatomy allowed him to perform operation procedures that even machines would struggle to keep up with. Even in this tired, crushed, exhausted state, he was equal to an entire team of surgeons.

So he worked and worked and worked until he was tightening the last stitch over the patient's skull. "Done." He smiled behind his mask as his tools clattered to the ground from his hands. His gloves lightly dropped onto the shoulders of his patient. "Ohhhhh Goooood....Dooooone." He wheezed. "You're safe now...you're safe."

"Doctor? Doctor are you okay?" A nurse asked him.

"Y-yeaaah...j-just give a minute. A minute and some water." He nodded and stepped back. "Ellis? Can you clean and bandage this for me?" He asked.

"Sure thing Doctor."

"You're the best." He replied sincerely and sat down to remove his gloves and mask and get some water.

Unnoticed by Doctor Spellman however, the patient's cell division began to accelerate, which further accelerated the process by which the patient's organic material healed, therefore inducing regeneration in the patient.

By the time Ellis had finished bandaging the patient her eyes had snapped open. "Huuuuuuh?"

"WHAAAAAA?!" They screamed in disbelief of the patient waking up this early.

The patient looked around rapidly in confusion as her body seemed to actively fight against the anesthesia being delivered through the mask.

Doctor Shane Spellman stared in amazement. "A-am I hallucinating or did she just wake up? D-did we turn off the anesthetic?"

"No it's...it's still going Doctor."

"Huh...alright let's uh...lets get her off of that and check her out."

"What's going on? Am I better now?"

"It's alright now, Sylvia. We got it out." Assured her with a tired thumbs up.

"Thank you. Thank you."

"All in a days work." A nurse handed him a large cup of water and helped him hold it with his shaking hands and he desperately chugged it down. "Ohhhh I needed that. Okay. Give me a minute here and we'll check her over to make sure she's okay."

"Yes sir!"

After he took a breather and recovered, they gave her a lookover and by all indication she was in perfect health. So eventually they decided to have the patient moved to a normal room and watched over the course of the night.

Doctor Spellman meanwhile was downing another glass of water. "Ahhh ice water. What would I be without you?"

"Shane, are you sure you're feeling okay? You were sweating like a pig in there. You nearly fell apart on us."

"Don't worry about me, Ellis. Really. I'm fine. Look at me. Picture of health." He insisted.

Shane's normally well combed dirty blonde hair was currently a mess hanging down his face and damp with sweat. His deep brown eyes normally so bright with life and intelligence were drowsy and half-open with heavy bags under them. There was a noticeable stubble around his face with bristles sticking out in all directions.

"Oh yeah, I mean, what was I thinking?" Nancy Ellis asked him. "I mean, clearly, you're doing great."

"I just got finished saving a patient and I did such a good job I cured her of anesthetic. Even her head was back together. I'm a miracle worker. I'm celebrating."

"I'm not saying you didn't do a good job, you did an awesome one, a superb, amazing job but that doesn't change the fact that you nearly collapsed in there. You could barely stand. You know how irresponsible that is. What if you slipped?" She asked. "You could've killed the patient or caused irreparable damage."

"But I didn't. I don't slip. I don't do damage. I save my patients and that's what matters."

"When was the last time you slept?"

"I'm fine." He insisted.

"Shane, come on, you're falling apart at the seams." She insisted. "You know it. I know it. We know it. Take a nice long break. Rest up. Recover. Drink your fluids. Get a snack. When you're done resting, you can drive home. If you feel you are not up to it, we can call you a cab or have someone drive you home. But you need your rest. Understood?"

"But I-"

"Doctor's orders. Come on, get some rest, you've earned it."

"..Yes Ma'am." He smiled.

"Thanks Shane. Come on now, get some rest. You'll feel better after you do."

"You're the best, Nancy!"

"You are. And that's why we need you at your best." She waved and returned to work.

Shane took a breather and leisurely finished his drink. He looked at his hands. (How in the hell did I do that? Did I really even do anything?)

"Excuse me, Doctor Spellman?" He looked up to see one of the other nurses approaching him with a little girl in tow. "Yes Amanda? Is there a problem?"

"Oh no, no problem at all. Quite the opposite in fact. A little something to perk your spirits up. This young lady's name is Minnie Kanye and..."

"I would like your autograph sir. Please. If you wouldn't mind." Clementine smiled.

Shane looked at the kid in surprise. "Uhhhh....my autograph?" He asked in confusion.

"Yes, sir. I came a long way to see you."

He looked around and pointed at himself. She nodded again.

"Did...did I become a movie star when I wasn't looking?"

"Nah, movie stars are fun, but their exploits in movies are fake. Your awesomeness is real."

"Well okay then. Do you have paper?"

She took a pen and paper out of her vest and handed it to him. He nodded and signed the paper on the pad with his name.

𝓣𝓸 𝓜𝔂 𝓑𝓲𝓰𝓰𝓮𝓼𝓽 𝓕𝓪𝓷, 𝓜𝓲𝓷𝓷𝓲𝓮 𝓚𝓪𝓷𝔂𝓮.

𝓣𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓴 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓹𝓮𝓻𝓴𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓾𝓹 𝓶𝔂 𝓼𝓹𝓲𝓻𝓲𝓽𝓼. 𝓘𝓽 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓳𝓾𝓼𝓽 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓘 𝓷𝓮𝓮𝓭𝓮𝓭 𝓽𝓸𝓭𝓪𝔂. 𝓢𝓽𝓪𝔂 𝓱𝓮𝓪𝓵𝓽𝓱𝔂 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓼𝓽𝓪𝔂 𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓹𝔂. 𝓔𝓪𝓽 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓰𝓻𝓮𝓮𝓷𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓻𝓮𝓶𝓮𝓶𝓫𝓮𝓻, 𝓪𝓷 𝓪𝓹𝓹𝓵𝓮 𝓪 𝓭𝓪𝔂 𝓴𝓮𝓮𝓹𝓼 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓭𝓸𝓬𝓽𝓸𝓻 𝓪𝔀𝓪𝔂!

𝓢𝓲𝓷𝓬𝓮𝓻𝓮𝓵𝔂,

𝓓𝓸𝓬𝓽𝓸𝓻 𝓢𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓮 𝓢𝓹𝓮𝓵𝓵𝓶𝓪𝓷.

"Oh man you're the best! Thank you so much Doc! You're the best!"

"As I have often been told. I'm just a hardworker really." He assured her. (At least...I think.)

"You're a miracle worker, Doctor Spellman and don't let anybody tell you different."

He high-fived her and the girl walked away, practically skipping as she did.

Despite his exhaustion, Shane laughed. "Oh God, I needed that. Thanks, Amanda."

"You're welcome, Shane. Trust me, you earned that, you miracle worker." She patted him on the shoulder. "You're our hero, Shane. And that's exactly why you need to rest. You can't save patients if you can't stand up right."

"...Yeah, I know. Thank you."

"We all have to do our part, Shane. No man is an island and no one doctor is a hospital. Get some rest."

"Yeah, I will. After I get some food in me. I'm gonna treat myself. Meatball Sub. Yum."

"That's the spirit." They high-fived.

"Hey give the others my best, will you?"

"Always, Shane. Always." She waved goodbye and got back to work while Shane continued his break. Now with a smile on his face.

Clementine relaxed against a wall while she held the autographed paper pad in her hands. (I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! THAT ACTUALLY WORKED! HOLY SHOOT! THIS IS UNREAL! HA! HOW ABOUT THAT HUH? LET EVERYONE ELSE GET THEIR AUTOGRAPHS FROM BIG TIME CELEBS! I GOT AN AUTOGRAPH FROM A SUPER DOC!) She kissed it and put it back in her shirt. (Having said that....he looked exhausted. Completely exhausted. Like he was barely hanging on.) She looked out the window. (In that case...I should stick around for a bit. Just long enough to make sure he gets home safe. This is definitely isn't safe weather.)

I Live In A World Made Of Cardboard

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