Author: TJ Edwards

Unbiased Law: Episode 22

Episode Twenty One Recap: As Veronica pulls the trigger on her own father, it’s the killer robot who finishes him off. After tossing Magnus the gun he lost to the water under the bridge a few episodes back, Magnus is left standing over the body with the murder weapon and covered with the victim’s blood! As He makes his escape, Veronica flips back to his side and just in time to escape. However Magnus is through playing games, it’s time for answers. Now. Will he like what he has to hear? Read below to find out (or head back to Episode One or Episode Twenty One)!

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“I need to know what ever it is that made you want to kill him. I also need to know about the killer robot. I need everything. Now.” Magnus’ gun doesn’t waiver. Even if Veronica flinched the new prototype body is so fast he could block anything she could throw at him. She resigns to her captor. “Fine. I’ll give you everything. Just remember, you asked for it.” She begins by explaining what her Father did to her to keep her sister alive. This is when I remember that there are two women inside this body, and I’m listening to Ronnie, the robot half. She details how her body was fed flesh far from her sister, so the nanites could process it and then return it to its new owner. She never was loved by her father, as she was always just a robot to him. I mention about how he referred to both of his girls while he was in prison. She wipes away a tear and smiles. “I was his other daughter, I had my uses so I supposed I had to be acknowledged at some point.”
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As the conversation glides along effortlessly, I learn of how she was scolded for her sister’s failures and even beaten as she was just a robot anyway. Suddenly I am granted a view into Veronica’s life with her father. Her father loved her so much, that he would never let anything bad befall her. In fact, he would barely let anything happen to her at all. After her mother left them, her father became overly protective and because of her illness she was never yelled at. She watched however as her robot sister was beaten, chastised and even punished for the things Veronica did. I stifled back tears as I realized that despite one being loved and the other being hated by the same man, they both felt equally wronged by him. Veronica finished it off with, “As my father wouldn’t let me have any friends, Ronnie was all I had left.” I knew right then, they both pulled the trigger.
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Somehow merging the two sisters had made them see their faults and understand why the other did what they did over the years. But I had to press further. “So what deal did your father make with the discards?” I watched as Veronica’s eyes widened. The content lead me to believe Ronnie was talking, although I was having a lot of trouble keeping up as it seemed the two were becoming one. “My father needed more and more nanites. He kept making trips to the discard graveyard for parts and drained nanites. It was here he was approached by your so called, Killer Robot, with a deal. The robot would provide nanites, so long as my father would help him with his own repairs. As the two got close, they discussed a plan to frame my father for murder and throw the judicial system into question.” She paused only for a moment to ponder that and continued. “It’s strange how a man who hated robots, worked with a robot to cause chaos. I suppose it’s because they both agreed that the robots in the courthouse were incompetent. All you need is one link, and it starts a chain reaction.”
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Veronica sighed as she released the weight of all of that off her shoulders. I felt the urge to let her know the bad news. “Veronica, I’m sorry. You’re still a felon you know. You should leave the country today if you can.” She looked at me and surprisingly smiled. “I know Magnus. I’m sorry for everything I personally have put you through this week.” I nodded. “I accept, but I will be keeping my car now. You’ll have twenty four hours before I call the police.” She rose from the car and looked back in through the window. “Magnus?” I turned back to her and saw the look in her eyes. “Yeah Veronica?” She paused for what seemed like an eternity and then said something I wasn’t expecting to hear. “The Killer Robot with the limp? He’s actually some old police droid. Goes by the name of Glenie. Hope that helps.” I stop and stare into the distance as I hear Veronica’s footsteps disappear into the distance. Glenie? 6L3-N13? Commissioner Alpha 6L3-N13 who granted me permission to become a private eye back in the beginning? No. It couldn’t be… could it?
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Magnus is now faced with an old boss as his biggest enemy yet, but now he must figure out just how and where he can find him and stop him. Also, why would a robot have a limp? Why is he starting a war with the humans? Why was Glenie discarded? Only Episode Twenty Three could have your answers… or can it? Find out! Two days time!

Heroisms: Immortality

It’s something we all crave, deep within. Whether it’s fifteen minutes of fame, or infinite praise. Think of the Bible. If a person could leave a such a legacy today, that would be immortality. As we have discovered, no one lives forever. People die everyday, doesn’t matter who they are or what they’ve done in this life. Some great people pass on, while some terrible ones survive and vice versa. But heroes, heroes live on in legend. People whisper the exploits of Saint George and his fierce battle against the dragon. Beowulf tempted certain death in his fight with Grendel. Even King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, faced many exploits, however these could all be fairy tales and nothing more.

Today our heroes are spread throughout the world, battling atrocities abroad and crime in our streets. But what about those unsung heroes? What about those spies who manage valuable information? What about the super special operatives who aren’t in the books and are only represented by dollar signs and then an eventual replacement? What about the people with enhanced abilities that the government hides from us? Despite their best efforts, that is all about to change.

The term “Super Hero” can only be traced as far back as the early nineteen hundreds, however heroes themselves can be traced back far beyond that. Originally thought to be children of the gods, the Greeks wrote of Heracles and Achilles two of the original super heroes. Heracles has tremendous strength and was tougher than any mortal before him while Achilles had only one weak spot, aside from that the man could not be harmed. After many centuries we arrive to the modern day where the government has employed these types of beings and keep them from the public eye. Some are kept in local public service if their abilities are not government threatening or they have already begun families. These people are called public defenders by the government. They must still register, check in and be examined annually to ensure proper procedure is being followed.

The first year anyone in the super hero community heard about the death of a hero related to the government, was a fire fighter by the name of James “Blaze” Anderson. He got the nickname because he was the fastest guy on the squad and to his team mates, he seemed just to never feel the heat. The government knew the truth. James was actually impervious to flame. They had tested his resistance to the lengths of dousing him in lava, and merrily watched him swim in it. However, he was soon to take a turn for the worst. James was cocky, arrogant and despite his enjoyment for saving people, he loathed the government that employed him. After two years of refusing to check up, the government warned that if he was unable to show up for a third year, there would be dire consequences. Thinking himself above these mere mortals, James promised them he would not show. So he didn’t. Then suddenly an apartment building was on fire and a girl was trapped on the eighth floor. James left his team behind and rushed in warning them not to follow.

The squad members were unaware of the government’s threat of dire consequences, but even they recognized a building imploding when they saw one. James was buried under twelve floors of concrete and steel. When they found him, he was mostly crushed and pin cushioned. They felt terrible for him. The super hero community shuddered. Outrage poured into conference rooms, the super heroes pushed the government to agree no more heroes would die at their hand. They feigned ignorance and soon everything settled down. But this left a bad taste in the mouths of any and all super heroes. It was a definite sign, a slap in the face to anyone who would dare defy them. Power or no power, they had them right where they wanted them. They knew all of the weaknesses. They knew all of the addresses. They knew all of the extended family.

Now as James is laid to rest, the media reports of a fire fighter with a heart of gold. He had saved over four hundred and thirty people. As super heroes file in to pay their respects, a small trio remains outside and far enough from ear shot to discuss the damage. An average man of average build fixes his tie and ensures no one is approaching them as the conversation continues. “Do you think they really did this? Killed him as a response to his blatant lack of respect for authority?” His head turns back to the conversation, and to the raven haired girl asking the question. “Alison, I believe the government is a fan of keeping order. Sadly he was extremely disobedient.” Alison stomps her foot in protest and stares him down. “You don’t think he deserved it did you?” Her voice raises a bit too much for their discussion and a broad shouldered man with salt and pepper hair stands between them. “Alison, he doesn’t mean that. Do you Alex?” Still fixing his tie, Alex looks to Alison and then at his feet. “No, no. I just mean… they ask a lot from us, but the least we can do is go in. It’s as much for our sake as it is theirs.”

Alison storms off and adds herself to the ever growing queue of people paying their respects. Alex looks to the man standing before him. “Jason, what do you think?” Jason turns his gaze from watching Alison to make direct eye contact with Alex. “What do I think? I think he needed to be taught a lesson, but not like this. I think this is a definite warning from our own government. Do as you’re told, or else.” After he watches his words sink into his young protégée, he slides an arm around him and pulls him close to his side. “What do you say we go wish an old friend farewell, shall we?” As the two walk to add themselves to the queue, they don’t notice the figure standing in the shadows, mere feet away from their discussion.

Unbiased Law: Episode 21

Episode Twenty Recap: Returning to an old friend, Magnus finds himself a new ally in the fight against crime. However his new alliance is short lived as his old Captain wants no part of the coming war. Granted a new prototype droid’s body, Magnus is released back into the world with better armor and better reaction times. These reactions come in handy when he discovers he is being tracked by the mysterious killer robot. After a near death experience once again, Magnus finds himself heading to city hall. Today apparently is the release of Veronica’s father and she is already there to meet him. As Magnus and Veronica catch up, her father makes his way toward them. She raises a gun as if to kill him, but her father calls her bluff. Sadly the odds weren’t stacked in his favour. Now faced with a potential murder and an old friend, what is Magnus’ next move? Only today’s episode will tell you (or head back to Episode One or Episode Twenty)!

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As Mr. Radlem reels in pain, I find myself stuck in this strange haze. What do I do? He’s bleeding out, but she’s escaping. A sudden scream snaps me out of it long enough to notice Veronica is rushing down the stairs with guards hot on her heels. I don’t think she’ll escape. I rush to Radlem’s side and the wound is pretty bad. He is screaming something about his legs and all I can focus on is the amount of blood pouring over my hands. I call to someone but I feel like my voice falls on deaf ears. Suddenly I see a robot limping its way through the crowd. Hell no. Not now, not this time. I look down to Radlem who is screaming in agony and back to the killer robot advancing on me. I can’t just sit here, but if I pull my hand away Radlem will possibly bleed out. The droid pushes people out of the way and aims a gun at Radlem and says something like “The deal’s off.” He pulls the trigger and I try to shield Radlem. My sensors are fast enough to watch the bullet, but where the spirit was willing, the body is not. The bullet hits Radlem square in the forehead and he drops. The robot tosses me the gun and disappears into the crowd.
I sit, baffled at the turn of events here. Deal’s off? What deal had they struck up? I stand up, holding a gun and with blood all over my hands. A dead man rests at my feet. Suddenly I feel like the entire crowd just noticed what was going on. But someone saw the killer robot right? As I look around the question repeats in my head. Right? Before I can realize what’s going on I realize that I’ve been set up once again. Ironically in the same way Radlem probably was. I stand here, holding the murder weapon, covered in blood and standing over the murder victim. Hmm. Well this can’t be good.
The crowd turns on me in a vicious fashion. I shove my way through and lucky for me sticks and stones don’t break my bones and names will never hurt me. I hear calls for my parts, people screaming at the dead man in the pool of blood and I hear police sirens wailing over the crowd. I think to myself the number of times I’ve seen the killer robot, and he’s always been alone. I narrowly avoid a rather large rock tossed in my direction as I consider what could be going on. Perhaps he is still sitting upon his throne in the discard’s graveyard? Only one way to find out! I break from the crowd and rush into the street. As I look up, a car is hurdling toward me and slams on its brakes a moment short of soon enough. I leap and find myself sprawled on the hood. The hood of my car. I look up into the window and Veronica shrugs and then she peels off with my holding on for dear life.
As we work our way from city hall I realize I didn’t get to protect the Mayor, but he should be safe for now. He will be heavily guarded until the dangers pass. I’ve probably got another twenty four hours to save him. I work my way up the hood and finally into the window of my car. I look across to Veronica and she smiles awkwardly at me. “Sorry for that.” I stare at her. “You’re sorry? You just attempted murder!” She slams the brakes on and I feel my circuits rattle as my head bounces off the dashboard. When I look back to her she’s as white as a ghost. “He didn’t die?” I feel rage increasing my core temperature and my cooling systems kick in. “No, he didn’t die you crazy son of a… but someone else killed him.” I watch as color returns to her face and she breathes a sigh of relief. My rage is beyond the point of return and I’ve had enough. This week has been absolute bullshit. I bring my gun out and point it at her. “We need to talk. I’ll ask the questions and you’ll provide the answers okay?” I see her considering her options. I slam the car into park and remove the keys from the ignition. “We’re not going anywhere.” She busts out her hand cannon and I toss the keys to my feet and slam her hand hard off the steering wheel and her gun drops out the window. “No. I want answers. Now.”
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Magnus has finally lost his patience. Will Veronica end up with a bullet? Or will she give him the answers he’s looking for? What deal had her father made with the killer robot? Still, who is the killer robot? Could he be from the discards? Or is his evil from somewhere else altogether? Two days time, episode twenty two! Be there!

The Fourth Dimension

As 3D becomes more prevalent within our media, we start to wonder, what’s next? But for me, I have been more fascinated with the theories of the Fourth Dimension. The fourth dimension is sometimes referred to as time, but when you begin to look at why, it gets extremely scientific. As interesting as it might be to me, it would prove boring to the average person. I have always considered the fourth dimension would have to be visible to the eye, much like the other dimensions before it. This has sparked many a creative idea for me to implement into stories. First I will talk about my concept of the fourth dimension, then on to travelling in the fourth dimension, seeing the fourth dimension and ending off with a few implementations of my ideas in story arcs.

The fourth dimension to me is indeed based around the concept of time. As all other dimensions make use of a coordinate system, I would imagine that the fourth dimension would require a set as well. Making use of the scale of time in which we measure would work as we make an effort to keep it consistent, however in practical application this is inaccurate as we try and figure out leap years and day light savings time. So if a three dimensional object is made up of points on it’s surface as well as within it’s volume, then the fourth dimension would measure the points involved on a three dimensional object, however throughout time. For example: If we were tracking my heart as a singular point, and mark it as (0,0,0) of my body at the moment I was formed, then it would exist from an estimated nine months before my birth on May 4, 1985. If we could figure out the exact moment my heart came into being, we would call that the origin of my existence. From there, my body would be able to be tracked within the confines of our infinite universe from that point to anywhere in time using my global position, the position of our planet in the universe and the distance between my origin and my current location. If you tried to track my origin before I was born, it should return null before I was born and after my death.

So with that crazy concept in mind, lets look at travelling through time. Time travel is always touchy. They say if you go back and affect even the tiniest detail, you could upset the balance completely. As time travel is one of those highly debated topics among nerd groups, many theories have come into play. Here’s my idea. Everything in the past has happened already, so you cannot change it at all. Going back to kill Hitler would be a futile attempt, so clear that off your list of things to do. As soon as you move your coordinate beyond either of your existing points of origin, you would become null. You cannot exist beyond your own point of existence.

A number line continues on to infinity, while our lives are short pieces of a time line. But since two points cannot be completely identical on a timeline, you wouldn’t be able to travel on your own timeline either. This sadly rules out the concept of time travel. If you were able to create a fully working copy of yourself in history, then that being would effectively have their origin set to that point and when they cease to exist on that time line they would gain another end to their existence. Hard to take in, but consider this: I would be ending my existence here if i wanted to travel through time, to recreate myself in a new era. Even if I could change to a new era, or return to an exact point in history, it would not be the same as my previous existence. It wouldn’t be so much time travel as alternate reality hopping. I would never be able to return to the same point in time. If we wanted to actually time travel there is probably an infinite number of coordinates we would need to go back and forth with no changes.

Okay, even my mind is hurting after reading that so I’ll do my attempt at explaining how I imagine seeing the fourth dimension. If we had a tool like glasses, that could see the fourth dimension, you would see everything that has happened in relation to your position within the universe throughout time ad infinitum. You probably wouldn’t be able to see anything, because so much has happened in the universe. Think of it like this. If you sat in a park, things happen around you. Dogs run by, people walk by, the sun rises and sets, clouds, weather, and many other possibilities. Now picture that for every nanosecond that the dog is moving, he is travelling and his points move through the dimensions. If you were to examine his path in the universe, it would be a dog shaped squiggle from his conception to the moment he dies. Every point within his volume (including fur attached to him) would have coordinates involving his position in the universe and the time stamp if we were to measure it. Things can nestle within him, such as tape worms, fleas, and many other parasites and various other objects, but most of those would either modify the actual points around it or replace points within him. So being able to see the fourth dimension would involve every thing that has existed at that point in the universe for all of time as far back and as far forward as possible.

Now that I’ve offloaded my concepts of the fourth dimension, I will toss out some of the ways I would love to incorporate the fourth dimension into a story. I would leave out some things because as I am no scientist, I know for a fact I am not correct, it is entirely implausible.

Story Concept One: So imagine a man normal as can be, gets himself into an accident set in the modern day. As he emerges from the wreckage of his car, he finds that the world is completely filled with light and he is standing within it. He believes he is dead and in Heaven and his story is over. But his eyes are drawn to a car from the 1920’s and it is hurdling toward him, seemingly unaware of his existence. As is impulse, he leaps from it’s path and finds the light is gone and he is back on the road he crashed on. As he turns to examine the wreckage of his vehicle, he finds it no where to be found. Suddenly another vehicle pulls up and a group of men grab him and take him into the city. As he is interrogated, he finds out that throughout all of history there has been a secret society protecting the past for the future. These people are highly trained and decide that since he is an unauthorized citizen in a different time he cannot be returned to his own future. They attempt to destroy him, but he manages to escape and begins his efforts trying to return to his own time. As it is near impossible to focus on just one thing that may be in your time, he finds himself destroying both past and future and becoming a fugitive of the self proclaimed protectors of time.

Story Concept Two: A bit tamer, but doesn’t link to time travel. A woman psychologist is brought in to talk to a man who says he can see everything that has happened in time where he is. He can see dinosaurs, and the end of the world, the evolution of species and the extinction of humans. As the psychologist begins to believe in his rantings, she finds herself attempting to abuse the man’s gifts for her own gains. As she helps him escape the psych ward, they manage to stay two steps ahead of the authorities as she fights to discover what really happened between her mother and father and discover where her family truly came from.

Story Concept Three: A woman grows up told that she has multiple personality disorder. As she begins to discuss this with her other self, she realizes that they are two beings travelling the exact same paths in existence. As the two attempt to figure out a way to separate she finds herself trying a governmental test project to separate multiple personalities from their hosts. When the project seemingly fails, both girls find themselves removed from their body but seemingly stuck in a limbo where time stands still. As the two explore and fight to return to the world they are both familiar with, they must overcome their differences and learn to live with each other if they have any hopes of surviving.

So I hope you’ve enjoyed the concepts I tossed out here, if you stopped by for the theory or are here for the stories, I hope you’ll kindly leave a comment below. Or feel free to email me! Thanks for reading once again and have a good one!

Unbiased Law: Episode 20

Episode Ninteen Recap: Determined to survive, Magnus manages to escape the taxi to his doom by shooting out a window and leaping from the car as it dropped to the water below. Damaged and nearly beaten, he decides to head to the home of his former Captain in the Police Force. Thought to have been sunk with the taxi, Magnus is reported as dead by the robot lead Police Force and must now try and solve his case through covert means. Will he manage to survive today and will he be able to start getting ahead? Read below to find out (or head back to Episode One or Episode Nineteen)!

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I share a laugh with my old Captain as if no time has passed. I decide to try and enlist his help. “Hey Cap, I know we haven’t spoken in a long time but I need some help, now more than ever.” As he scratches his chin, I can see the lines of deep thought forming on his forehead. “Yeah I’d really love to, but I’ve got this thing.” I can feel my hypothetical jaw drop. “Not even a little?” I ask, hoping he’ll reconsider. He looks me up and down and sighs. “I will help you with a new body, but nothing else. You’re on your own in this one.” He takes me down to the basement and there before me stands a Police Droid Prototype I have never seen before. As he blows the dust off, he sounds a bit sad. “I’m not sure if this will work with that old face of yours, but sometimes you’ve just got to let things go before you can adapt to the future.” He lays me on the table beside the Prototype and I look at him. “Thanks Cap.” He smiles and looks between the Prototype and me. “Don’t thank me yet.”
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I look at the prototype. Shiny, new. Is that a stronger armor? What kind of gadgets will I have to play- And just like that, I awake in my new body. It’s always disorientating at first. You get so used to looking at yourself in one body that when you switch, it almost sparks an identity crisis. “Cap, how am I doing?” He turns to me and shrugs. “You took to it super easily. Least problematic transfer I’ve ever seen. As I examine the room, I notice my memory core is sitting off to the side. “I guess I should probably destroy this.” I say as I pick it up. Suddenly he turns to me and reaches for it. “I don’t think so, those cost a fortune.” I nod to agree and then decide to perform an electric format. As I supercharge the memory core, I feel confident that I have corrupted it. Handing it over causes Cap to feel a short shock, but he will suspect nothing of it. “Thanks for everything Cap, but I’ve got to run.” He smiles and nods. “Just remember Magnus, we’re even.”
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As I leave his house, the last words Cap left me with echo on for awhile. I had saved his life when I first became a droid, and I suppose he felt as though he owed me ever since. I shrug it off and consider what I should do now. I dial a cab and find myself  rethinking the option. As I decide to walk away, the cab pulls up but to a phantom caller. I watch as it slows down, passing by me. It makes it just around the corner when suddenly I hear tires screeching. Just as quickly as it turned the corner, the cab is now racing in my general direction. I grab for my gun and realize two things; One I lost my gun and two I’m in a new tin can. I look back up and dive to the side just as the cab is about to run me down. It strikes a tree and I watch the robot driver rocket out and into the bushes. I rush over not to make sure he’s okay, but to get some answers. When I make it to him, he is already up and limping away. Limping. Robot. My mind flashes back to all the limping robots I’ve seen lately and how they have mostly tried to kill me. I run and tackle this cab driver to the ground and find that my new body is way stronger than the previous one. Now it’s question and answer time.
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As I flip the cab driver over and pin him, I come face to face with no one I have met. However the body is unlike the mind, and the mind speaks. “Well I’ll be damned Magnus. If you’re not the hardest son of a bitch to kill, then I don’t know what is.” I stare him down and scan to see if the cab driver is being remote controlled or if I’ve got a genuine problem here. “Yeah I get that a lot. but how did you know it was me?” The driver laughs and my results come back with nothing. “How did I know? We’ve been tracking your mind and keeping it off the network as best we could. When you switched bodies, we noticed.” “So why did you try to kill me?” I ask while keeping control over him. He looks around and I can hear mechanical laughter beneath his words. “Which time, in the alley? Here? Farley? Police Station? Pick one.” I suddenly get the feeling this is indeed a killer robot. ” I am unimpressed by your efforts. However, your methods I will question.” Suddenly the crazed robot leans up almost close enough to kiss me, if it had lips. “A war has begun, I have made copies of myself and robots are taking over humans as we speak. Soon it will only be a matter of time before even the mayor is involved.” I stop and think back to the day I saw the mayor, surrounded by robot guards. Shit. This is not good.
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I leap off the robot and sever his energy connection permanently. As he lay motionless I contemplate what to do next. Killer robots are hijacking human bodies, the mayor is in danger and I’m miles from city hall. I look around and spot a beautiful car parked on the side of the road. I walk over and find that this new body has some of my accessories. Oh Cap, really you shouldn’t have. My lock picks pop out and I get into the car. A few seconds later, I’ve stolen a vehicle and am headed straight toward the police station on my way to city hall. Worst case ever, working for the government absolutely sucks and it reminds me why I got out in the first place. As I pull up to the front steps to city hall, I notice guards are everywhere. Damn. This sucks. I drive around to the side of the building and step into an alleyway. I look around for a side entrance or low window, with no such luck. This just isn’t my day. Suddenly, I decide to see what this new body has to offer. As I cycle down the list, I find a few entries that blow my mind. Camouflage? Holographic projection? Ha ha ha, now we’re talking.
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I walk around the front trying out this “Holographic Projection” thing. I will probably still be recognized as a robot, but this should make it a little more difficult. As I walk toward the front door, neither guard notices me. Excellent. As I wander in, I look around. No sign of the mayor anywhere, he is priority number one. I need to- and then I run into her. Or them. Or those. My eyes flash back up from her chest and I am staring at the lovely Miss Radlem, Miss Del Mar or Veronica. Which ever one, they’re all the same. The look of utter disgust on her face warms my core with joy as she doesn’t recognize me. My mind is thankful, and then does something completely stupid. “Veronica Radlem. Nice to see you again.” She looks at me with a funny look. “Do I know you or something?” I look around and then lean in as if to whisper. “I’m still on the case aren’t I?” The look of surprise on her face makes me realize that she thought I was dead. “Magnus?! What the hell is going on? Aren’t you dead?” I consider her words for a moment before I am able to reply. “Nope, but then again… it’s been awhile since I was really alive.”
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Strangely enough it’s great to see a familiar face. Even if it is one I associate with a rather large gun and my face. She looks around cautiously. “Today my Dad is getting out of prison. That’s why I’m here.” Then I say something to try and determine which Veronica I am talking to. “Doesn’t he not like you?” She gives me a quick look and I know who I’m talking to before she speaks. “It doesn’t matter.” As Ronnie is sharing her sister’s body, I try and figure out how she has so much control to shut her sister away for the meantime. Then I get a certain feeling, a feeling of impending doom. It’s not until I realize her father is being released now, and is walking towards her that I know what’s about to happen. Ronnie doesn’t want his love, not any more. As she raises the gun, I feel myself reacting and am in between her and her father. I can see the look on her face. “Get out of the way Magnus! He’s going to pay for what he did to me… what he did to us!” I am prepared to die for this man, even though this is a new body.
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She stares me down as the crowd gasps and backs off, however her father continues walking toward us. “Everything will be okay sweetheart.” He says that rather calmly. As he pushes on me to move, I decide to give him his chance. If anyone can get through to her or maybe give her sister the strength to wrestle control from her, it might be him. He stands in front of her, a free man. A man who using his daughters and their loyalty, put all robot-kind into question. As he embraces her, I can hear her sobbing into his chest. Everyone around realizes this moment is for them, and them alone. As things begin to calm down, and get back to normal, suddenly a loud bang rings out over the crowd. I spin, expecting to see a dead body but it seems no one has been hurt. No one that is until Mr. Radlem stumbles backward and blood begins seeping from his abdomen.
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The double episode is over, but what will happen to Veronica? Will her father make it? How long before Magnus makes some headway in solving the case for the judge? And just how will he manage to help the human hijackings? Tune in for episode twenty one in two days time!

The Choice: My Writing ADD

Something happened tonight that made me realize that my Super Zero story was becoming a chore. I put off writing it all day and thought about other projects. As I rethink my approach to the topic of school and being a kid again, I’ve come to the conclusion I would like to start up a couple other ideas in episodic form. Episodic has been helping me write these blog posts and today is no exception. Sometimes when things get tired, you simply have to put them to bed for a bit before they can come back well rested. You haven’t heard the last of Super Zero, but for a little bit, he is definitely tucked in.

I am always concerned with my writing, does it sound well written? Is it accurate to the age group I am trying to portray. After rereading my stories for Super Zero thus far, the boy sounds extremely well spoken for his age. This isn’t unheard of, but still, I find myself stretching to write the posts. Perhaps I write too much detail into his life and need to dial it back, but either way it will be revived later. I had some great ideas! If you’d like me to continue it sooner, rather than later, feel free to comment or email me. I know I’d love some feedback from the world beyond the screen.

Lately I’ve been considering writing my actual Superhero drama and another story about my take on the Fourth Dimension. Tomorrow’s post will be Unbiased Law for another episode, and then the next day I am going to attempt my hand at a thought provoking article about my ideas behind what the Fourth Dimension is, how it can be seen and how it relates to time travel. Some people just shuttered, and I respect that. Often times, Time Travel is a subject that can ruin an otherwise seamless world. Think about Harry Potter and how they spent one arc travelling back and fixing some issues from their recent past. It always leaves holes as to why that wasn’t used to save Dumbledore or Snape, or just simply go back and stop the revival of Voldemort.

Either way, I’ll give you the brief idea behind each story today and I’d love to hear some comments below on either one or both. I love feedback of any sort, so please, feel free!

“Unnamed Superhero Story” – A not so secret chapter of the military has brought together a rag tag group of ex criminals and heroes alike in the hopes they can stop crimes around the world. As pasts come to light, some heroes have darker sides and criminal backgrounds. Fighting to stop international crime, the group suddenly becomes torn when one hero’s drinking problem catches up with him and he accidentally puts one of the other heroes into a coma. The group divided and trying hard to stick together, the villains end up forging a shaky alliance to break the group up once and for all.

“Dimentia” – A psychologist travels to a psych ward to interview one of the patients who claims to see things far into the future and far into the past. Upon realizing this man can perfectly see everything from his perspective throughout history, she takes him into her care to find out more about her own past as well as help him cope with his issues. As the man attempts to focus solely on his psychologist’s past, he finds himself actually travelling through time depending on what he is focused on. Unnerved and lost, the man must somehow find his way back to the present and avoid damaging the past.

Those are the two ideas I have been tossing around in my head. With the superheroes I would love to explore issues with them such as how a hero would deal with poverty, failure, depression, injury and many other bigger issues that I would love to see normal comic books tackle. Some already have been, but not too in depth. Also with Dimensia that is not a typo, the spelling is a play on dementia and dimension, and I like to think of it as a rather unique title. I would love to have a secret society throughout history devoted to its preservation, but I’m not sure if it will fit in too much. In fact, I could probably cut the time travel out completely and still make for a good story between a psychologist and her patient.

For now I’d love to hear from you and what your opinions are on these two ideas and the fact I’m putting Super Zero on hiatus. I will probably alternate these two ideas in Super Zero’s slot as I have found Unbiased Law has actually become quite the hit bringing in my busier days while Super Zero almost drives traffic away. Take care and thanks for visiting!

Unbiased Law: Episode 19

Episode Eighteen Recap: Forced into killing an old friend being controlled by an invisible enemy, Magnus finds himself soaring through the air in a taxi.  Headed towards the water under a bridge, will our Detective escape his near certain fate? What could possibly save him in this instance? The answer lies in the words below! (or head back to Episode One or Episode Eighteen)!

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Well. When I recharged earlier in the week, if you’d have told me I’d be soaring through the air in a taxi, I may have laughed at you. If you had asked me two days ago, I’d have dismissed it but still considered it. Today, I find that nothing is impossible. Killer robots, Body Hijacking, A girl with a second personality that is a robot and a looming war between humans and robots. Only I am on the case, and I am headed toward certain doom. Doom. Goddamnit. I’m not about to die. Not in a taxi. I push my feet straight against the roof and thrust my back against the seats. Gun aimed at the back wind shield, I plow as many bullets through it as I possibly can and watch it disintegrate. I grab the edge and pull myself to spite Death yet again. Screw you, I won’t roll over. Not today,  not ever.
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I can feel Death’s grasp slide off as I pull myself through the back window of the taxi and assess my situation. I find the car in a crazy spin and I leap toward the underside of the bridge. I miss the support bars and fall clanging through lower supports. As I tumble, I feel bits of me falling off as I play a quick game of ricochet among the bars. My gun disappears as my hand obliterates off iron girders, and as my head connects with a different support I lose the ability to see out of my left side. Enraged, I thrust my hand out and feel myself immediately stop plummeting. I look up and my arm is up to the elbow in cobblestone. Dear God, will today just end? Thanks. Sincerely Magnus.
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After a brief, yet difficult climb I find myself standing on the roadside. The cab is long since gone. I say a few words for Farley and then I keep moving. I’ve got to get somewhere, somewhere I’ve got friends. Now where the hell is that? Then an idea pops into my head, it’s a long shot but I’m running out of friends and ideas.
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I march up the stairs to the beautiful split entry home, pillars on the deck and a golden retriever at the doormat. He sniffs me and then rolls over for a belly rub. I glance back to the Beware of Dog sign and laugh to myself. “Guard dog huh?” I scratch his belly and push the doorbell. When the door opens, a man stares at me completely bewildered by my appearance. “What are you doing here?” I stare at him for a few moments before deciding I really do have no other options. “Hey Cap, long time no see.” As I stare at the man with silver hair, he looks me up and down. “What’s wrong Magnus?” My former boss, Captain Steven Gates, knows right away I need help. “How’d you know Cap?” He points to my mangled hand and tucks my “eye” back in its socket. “A damn hunch you foolish robot. Come in before I’m arrested for harbouring a dead man.”
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As I walk into his home, I take a look around. Nothing has changed except the faces in the pictures. Everyone is older, but it doesn’t feel like it’s been that long. “Cap… what do you mean harbouring a dead man?” He grins and swipes his television remote. As he turns the volume up, I realize I can only hear out one side of my head, but it’s more than enough. “Tonight a Taxi plunged off the Silver River Bridge, taking two robots with it to the bottom. As rescue attempts were made, there were no survivors. Salvaging and collection will begin in two days and police advise all river users to take the detour through the other side to the old draw bridge in…” the voice slowly fades out as I watch the volume decrease. I look to the Captain as he shrugs. “So you died?” I look him straight in the eye and as serious as I can, manage one line. “Well I got better.”
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A narrow escape! A new ally? Where’s the Veronicas? Only Episode 20 could answer these questions, maybe, but the only way to find out is to tune in! Two Days Time! Big Episode Twenty! Double Feature! BE THERE!

A Brief Interlude: The Fiftieth Post

As a guy struggling to work his way into the world of writing, maintaining consistency is just about the hardest thing in the world. With work, games, food and the many other distractions of daily life; I’m impressed I have maintained an average of a blog post per day on this blog since I started up again just last month. All things considered, it has felt very good to get back into the swing of writing and even reading. You don’t know how much you miss something until you A) Lose it or B) Get back to it with fresh eyes. Normally I would lose interest or even start to slow my pace. We all make excuses, no matter what the activity. “‘I’m too tired”, “Can’t focus”, and just plain “I’ll do it later” are all reasons I’ve used in the past. Cracking the whip on others is so much easier than doing it to yourself.

First off, I’d like to thank anyone out there reading for passing by and stopping a moment. It means a lot to me to see the view counter go up, as if to say “Look, your hard work isn’t going unnoticed.” I’d also like to thank my girlfriend for being the most supportive person in the world, and also the most patient. I don’t know how many times I thought she lost interest in the crazy stories I came up with and bounce off her, but she proves herself every time. As for my friends and family, you have all been great. Passing the word of mouth, reading and commenting here and there. I love the fact I have such a great support system! Also I’d like to thank WordPress for having a totally sweet set up here, it’s been one of the things that has kept me coming back as well. After failing at making a blogger page, I thought I’d give a different blog site a try and I am glad I did!

I have been toying with an idea for awhile which I may write on the side either as a series of short stories, or even as an episodic content blog. The idea surrounds a group of Superheroes who band together to fight crime. The main draw is that this series would be dark and explore many facets of being a Superhero that may not have been previously discussed. I also wanted something more realistic, so keeping their powers simple would not only allow you to still relate to them, but wouldn’t overpower the group. When I talk about this group I almost think of the Justice League in their type of simplicity, but when a Superhero dies that would be it. None of them would be invincible, and no one would be entirely safe. They would be Government funded employees, but not run. As they face the normal challenges of everyday life, you would get to see how a superhero would deal with murder, rape, and many other crimes. I had some ideas but I will save them for the actual story.

I bring this up because I have been considering the grand finale to Unbiased Law, which is coming down the road. I’m not sure if I should replace him with an “Episodic Season” of this story. No matter what though, I have to say I’m beyond thrilled that this blog has managed to get over 580 views since I started it last month. I had some good weeks and some bad weeks, but over all it’s been a great run thus far! In August I had an average of eight views per day, and in September I’ve managed to up it to twelve views per day! Not exactly superstar status, but it’s a start! Although with an average of five hundred words per post, and fifty posts here and forty three on IGN… that makes for ninety three by five hundred… totalling forty-six and a half thousand words. Damn. I’ve written enough words to fill over half of the first Harry Potter book. Now if only I could use these powers for good…

Anyway to make a long post even longer, thanks again everyone out there in reader land. Please keep on reading and feel free to email me or comment here! I accept any and all feedback! Tune in tomorrow for a new Unbiased Law as I skip today’s Super Zero to plan a bit better! Take care!

Unbiased Law: Episode 18

Episode Sixteen Recap:  Magnus and his quick thinking manage to save Ronnie from bleeding out in Veronica’s body. After a short moment of relief, Ronnie wishes for him to swap them back. Being new to the procedure, Magnus makes a critical error and creates two girls exactly the same in mind. As Veronica, now back in her body, seemingly pulls the trigger on her sister for all the meddling Ronnie did in her life, Magnus is left with some final words that seem all too familiar. As Veronica pulls away, Magnus realizes he just left two minds in one body, he forgot to overwrite the memories as data transferred. Now that he has put both of his enemies in one body, will she be twice as deadly? Or will she tear herself apart? Perhaps you will find out below (or head back to Episode One or Episode Seventeen)!

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I march down the sidewalk in silence. Two girls, one robot and one human. I’ve trapped them in the same fleshy cage and I can only hope that the girls will play nice. As of this moment, it may be the only way they can survive. I walk until I finally make my way to a busy main street. As taxis fly by, I realize this week has been the worst week in recent memory, but most likely ever. I stand staring at nothing when suddenly I realize a taxi has stopped and is honking it’s horn at me. I make my way into the back seat and tell the driver where I’m going. Strangely enough, I don’t know what I tell him, I’m too distracted by my own thoughts. Suddenly, my name being called snaps me out of my stupor. “Magnus! Goddamnit man what’s wrong with you?” I look up and see Farley, much to my surprise.
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“Farley, what the hell are you doing here and how did you escape the cell?” I manage to trip over every second word. If a robot could grin, he would be right now. “No time to talk boss.  You’ve got a date with destiny. Lucky I found you here!” I sit back and relax for a moment before his words sink in. Date? With Destiny? I lean forward to ensure I’m heard correctly. “Date with Destiny? Are you setting me up with a car or something because I’m not into that kind of stuff.” I can hear his mechanical laughter from the front seat. “No way man, better plans for you. You’ve got a date with the Commissioner.” As soon as I hear the word Commissioner, my hand shoots to the door handle but I find it already locked. “Farley, Please don’t do this. That robot will kill me.” Farley shakes his head in response to my pleading. “Sorry man, but he gave me my options and I had to take it.”
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I don’t know what a robot could have to lose aside from his life, but I decide I can’t just sit back and take this. I try and hack into his mind and see if I can change it manually. Suddenly, I am shocked to find he has been infected with some virus. As it directs itself toward the open connection, I escape just in time. He looks back into the rear view and I can tell he is genuinely sorry. “I can’t help it man. They got to me.” I slide my hand into my jacket and feel my gun. The bulletproof glass between us is thick enough to stop a bullet, but I must do what I need to. That’s when I realize that the glass only goes so far down. I notice a small gap in between the floor and the glass, enough to clean out underneath the seats. I take one last look into the mirror at one of the few robot friends I had made as of late. “Sorry Farley.” I slide my hand underneath the seat and twist my wrist to point the gun directly at the bottom of the driver seat. A few bullets later and I score a hit.
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As the bullet rips through Farley’s memory unit, he spins and I see the energy draining from his circuits. “Thank… you… I’m no… puppet…” The energy cuts. Final last words, not just for humans. Sadly we’re doing about ninety miles an hour, and I can see a bridge approaching. No hands on the wheel, a steel foot on the accelerator, this isn’t looking good. Suddenly everything is in slow motion. The car heads straight for the sidewalk and unfortunately the bridge edge. As the car catches the corner of the cobblestone pillar of the bridge it flips and spins through the air. No seatbelt on, I find myself crashing to the roof and the seats and back again. Bullet casings clang off my body and I watch through a side window as the car heads upside down past the bridge. I could try to login in, back up my memory again, but I know that this is all happening in fractions of a second. It only feels slow because I am most likely about to plummet to my doom. Not only have I killed a friend, but the Commissioner will still win and I will be a thing of the past. Damnit, I hate Wednesdays.
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With our robot hero trapped within the confines of a taxi in mid air, the question is how will he survive? Will he solve the case or will he find himself trapped at the bottom of a body of water? Tune in once again in two days time!

Super Zero: Return of the Phantom in the Closet

A broken, dejected James mopes through the door to his home. His mother looks to him and motions for him to come to the table. As he slides himself out of his sneakers, his eyes never leave the floor. His father takes a note of this and decides to bring it up. “How did the cape go at school? We heard some stories and were wondering if they were true!” James dragged his feet past as his father watched him slowly making his way to the table. “It was okay.” James slid into a chair and stared straight ahead, unblinking and deep in thought. His mother and father exchanged some glances but decided not to press it.

The food was extremely delicious, and James expected no less. He stared at his plate and fiddled with his veggies until finally his mother decided she couldn’t take it any more. “James honey, what’s wrong?” Without looking up from the peas skewered on his fork he muttered words almost inaudible to anyone. “Nothing’s wrong. I’m okay.” His father stopped eating and stared at his tiny offspring. “Son, the stories we heard from school sounded like you had a mostly good day, but here we are and you seem entirely somewhere else.” James shifted his eyes in his father’s direction for only a moment before rolling them quickly back to his fork. His father shook his head with dissatisfaction and withdrew from the table, taking all cleared plates with him. As he stood at the sink rinsing them off, his wife joined him. “What do we do Will?” She asked with the genuine concern of a mother for her first-born. James’ father met her eyes with his. “I’m not sure. We should probably just leave him alone for tonight.” As he finished up cleaning he turned back to her with a question in his eyes and suddenly on his lips. “Did you want to put him to bed early Emily?” She nodded, “It has been a long day for him.”

As she carried James up the stairs, Emily was beginning to feel like there was nothing either of them could do. As she laid him into bed, she whispered softly in his ear about getting up early for a bath. James hated bathing, but more than that he hated getting up early. As she pulled his blankets up James scowled at her. “I don’t want to get up early. It’s not fair!” He crossed his arms and stared at her defiantly. She crossed her arms and stared back equally as defiant. “Well young man, perhaps you should have been more sociable tonight. Instead you’ve been cranky. Good night, sleep tight.” She kissed his forehead and began to leave the room. Just as she turned out the lights and the remaining rays leaked in from the hallway, James could make out two glowing red dots in his closet. Before he could call for her, his mother had left him in the room… the room with the Phantom in the Closet.

He had told his parents about the phantom before and they never believed him, as parents never do. He had woken up many times to see the Phantom sneaking away from his bed, or peering at him from the shadows or even from the closet. After confronting a bully, what was a Phantom going to do that the bully couldn’t? As he pretended to sleep, James laid still with one eye slightly open. As the glowing eyes emerged from the closet, he watched as they slid within the confines of the shadows, up walls and across the ceiling. Finally James opened his eyes and waited for them to adjust. He could only see the two extremely confused looking red eyes staring back at him, as if that’s all the Phantom was, just a pair of eyes. He decided to break the ice. “Hi, I am James. What or who are you?” After a few minutes of silence, James noticed the eyes had yet to blink. “Are you okay?” As he moved from the bed he heard the closet door slam, upon his inspection of the ceiling, the beast was gone. So much for that idea, but then again, he probably isn’t used to people talking to him. As he turned around to get into bed, he noticed a rather large lump already under his sheets, with two red eyes glowing through them. It had been a trap, and now James was separated from his bed.