Debbie followed Lucinda’s call into the CEO’s office and stopped dead when she saw the impossible object counting serenely down on the holographic glass.
“Luce, tell me that isn’t what I think it is.” The other woman shrugged.
“I didn’t want to touch it, but the bastard left a note.” Lucinda handed it to her superior.
“Good luck?” She read. “For fuck’s sake. I’d better radio it in. Best case scenario, maybe we’ll just make fools of ourselves.” She opened her comm channel.
“I’m going to need an immediate evac of the building. There’s a bomb sitting on Sizemore’s desk.”
The City: 065: Lucinda
December 26, 2014
Free Fiction, The City 140 Characters, Deborah, Drabble, Lucinda, Midas Corp, The City Leave a comment
The City: 064: Kumar
December 25, 2014
Free Fiction, The City 140 Characters, Bob, CPD, Drabble, Kumar, Midas Corp, The City Leave a comment
On The City’s streets, The Midas Corp. Limousine led a dozen patrol cars on a merry chase. No matter how they diverted traffic, finally easing after a morning of unprecedented congestion, the luxury car was one step ahead.
“Who the hell is driving that thing?” Patrolman Kumar cursed.
“I heard that Bob Tolstoy was Sizemore’s driver. Might be him.” His partner said.
“The king of the racing underground? When’d he turn Citizen?”
“A few years back. Everybody’s got to eat.” The limo made a sudden u-turn, slipping through a gap in three lanes of traffic and disappearing towards the bay.
The City: 063: Deborah
December 24, 2014
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Deborah’s team was the one that got the short straw: The CEO’s top-floor office. She took point, her stunner and boot gun out. The palatial offices of Midas management were deserted. All they found were empty rooms. The digital marble echoed with her simulated footfalls. She shivered, forgetting she was in an Arizona office park.
She went to a filing cabinet and opened it. It was entirely empty. So was the next one. Every bit of information in the office was gone. It wasn’t possible. “Deb, you’ll want to take a look at this,” someone called from the inner office.
The City: 062: Miles
December 23, 2014
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Miles closed the cuff on the last lobby guard and gave the commissioner a thumbs up. The cops dug in and relieved the guards of any stunners they still had in their inventories. While they waited for the cops to recover from stuns, Jenkins dug in and gave orders.
“We go floor by floor. We don’t know what we’re looking for, so report anything suspicious. If any remaining security resist, stun and cuff them.” In the parking garage below them, the stretch limousine formerly belonging to Augustus Sizemore revved its engines, and burst like a thoroughbred out of the gate.
The City: 061: Georgia
December 22, 2014
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In the lobby of Midas Corporate Tower, the tide was turning in the Police’s favor. Sgt. Georgia Ramirez remarked that it was a very strange sort of assault, as neither side could physically harm the other, and the primary weapons of each side, the boot gun, was useless. The cops has their cuffs, which immobilized a target, but were difficult to use. Midas Security had stunners, which were easier to use, but wore off quickly. In the end, it came down to numbers. Moving in tight circles, Georgia and the other officers circled around the guards, tackled, and cuffed them.
Hugh Likes Video Games: Bravely Default
December 19, 2014
Hugh Likes Video Games, Review 3DS, Bravely Default, HLV, Hugh Likes Video Games, JRPGs, Nintendo, review, Square Enix Leave a comment
Hugh Likes Video Games: Bravely Default
Published by Square Enix
Nintendo 3DS
Bravely Default is a Playstation One or Super Nintendo era RPG that didn’t exist before. It’s old school in all the right ways, with suprisingly deft use of 3DS features.
Why this wasn’t released as “Final Fantasy” is a mystery to me, because it is a beautiful love letter to the series.
“Bravely Default” is a fantasy role playing game following the journey of a sheltered, yet self-composed priestess and her friends. Their goal is to reignite the power of four elemental crystals, saving them from the machinations of an evil empire bent on using they crystals to its own ends. Along the way, they’ll fight enemies by changing classes, transforming from anything to black mages to spear-wielding fighters capable of jumping high into the air. Let me know when it starts feeling familiar.
With absolutely gorgeous designs by Akihiko Yoshida and an engine clearly updated from the DS ports of Final Fantasy III and IV, It certainly belongs in that venerable pantheon of titles. But as closely as it resembles Final Fantasy, there are also touches of Enix’s beloved franchise, “Dragon Warrior.” Much like the Super Nintendo classic “Chrono Trigger,” it is a triumph greater than the sum of its parts, if they’re the sort of thing you’re into, of course.
As old-school as “Bravely Default” is, it incorporates a lot of neat touches that take advantage of the 3DS’s standby and Streetpass functions. At the beginning of the game, one of the main characters’ village is destroyed. By passing other players when your 3DS is in standby, and spending money on work orders, you can rebuild the town, which serves as an investment that really pays off as the game progresses. The shops in the town will create special items that you can buy from traders throughout the game, and will send you free samples based when you rest the game. There are even hidden bosses that can be exchanged and fought via Streetpass. Players can also register friends to assist in battle or give characters bonuses.
The classic style of the game isn’t all great news, though. The game is old-school tough, with lots of grinding and collecting to be done, even with the help of friends and townsfolk. It’s also a very long game, so be prepared to invest some serious hours if you’re hoping to see the end credits.
“Bravely Default” is a master class in classic JRPG design and construction. If you’re a long-time fan of the genre, or you were afraid that Square Enix had lost their touch, this is the game for you. “Bravely Default” is available for the 3DS.
The City: 060: Douglas
December 19, 2014
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“Let’s bring in our Tech Corespondent on this point. Douglas, could a train in The City kill a person?” Douglas pushed the glasses up on his nose.
“Well, it isn’t a real train, but ‘deaths’ in The City are often traumatic. Video of the accident has been streaming all over Youtube, and the lines were completely shut down. As for how it happened, some users are reporting suspicious malware disguised as a firmware update causing glitches. She may have downloaded a virus.”
“We’ll take a closer look at the causes of Boot Syndrome after a pause for local news updates.”
The City: 059: Starla
December 18, 2014
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“If I may,” said the American woman live on feed from Virginia.
“Yes, Ms. Roberts, Go ahead.”
“I’m at the home of Sandra Davis, a City user who was discovered dead early this morning. Investigations are still ongoing, and the CPD and Midas Corp have not commented, but reports indicate she was struck by a commuter train in The City itself. Ms. Davis was already in frail health after a car accident last year, and the trauma gave her a heart attack.”
Jonathan cut her off. “The only way for that to happen is if she illegally modded her system.”
Hugh Likes Comics: Sex Criminals
December 17, 2014
Hugh Likes Comics, Review Brimping, Chip Zdarski, Comics, HLC, Hughl Likes Comics, Matt Fraction, review, Sex Criminals Leave a comment
Sex Criminals: One Weird Trick
Written by Matt Fraction
Drawn by Chip Zdarski
Published by Image Comics
“Sex Criminals” is my jam. A heady combination of character study, an intriguing high-concept premise, and dick jokes, it is one of those books that feels like it was written just for me.
It is the story of Suzie and Jon, two people with the rare ability to stop time when they have sex. Each believing themselves to be unique, they meet each other at a party. As their relationship develops, and they find themselves in a world inhabited only by themselves, they do what comes naturally in a budding relationship: They rob banks. Specifically, one bank. The bank which is foreclosing on the library where Suzie works, which is the same one where Jon works a depressing 9 to 5 job he hates, which is also the place where Suzie’s father died in a random shooting when she was just a girl. So there’s a lot going on there. As they plan their heist, however, they learn they aren’t the only ones with this ability after all, and someone is on to them.
“Sex Criminals” is a beautiful, funny, and especially dirty look at the awkward, sad, and joyous paths of self-discovery. It is also a uniquely affecting look at the early stages of a relationship, filtered through a surprisingly poignant sex comedy. Moving back-and-forth through time and featuring a plethora of ingenious sight gags, this is a comic that rewards careful re-reading.
Zdarski’s art is great, and The Quiet has a beautiful, unearthly look that is fantastic. It works in perfect concert with Fraction’s script, delivering every awkward teenage gut-punch and nonsensical sex joke to life with aplomb. My absolute favorite gag is a fourth wall breaking sequence in a pool hall where a spontaneous dance to “Fat Bottomed Girls” starts up, while the text apologetically explains that they could not secure the rights to the lyrics.
This is a magical, rare comic, which, like a great lover, challenges and moves the reader, but still can make you laugh when you least expect it. “Sex Criminals” is available from Amazon, Comixology, or your local comics shop.
The City: 058: Jonathan
December 17, 2014
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Jonathan scoffed. “A few cases, Doctor? The City has a user base of over a billion people! It has been running for over five years, and since the beginning, proper use of Logout Housing has effectively proven that the technology running The City is safe and reliable. There are even safeguards for interrupted connections and power outages with the latest updates. The City is perfectly safe!” He slammed his fist on the table for emphasis. He was a paltry stockholder in Midas Corp, but even his few shares had made him a rich man. He planned on staying that way.
Hugh J. O'Donnell 