BlueBattler

So I'm watching the Walking Dead Marathon-- first time I've ever seen the show.

Are there any white guys who speak with a Southern accent who AREN'T racists, wife beaters, or wife beating racists?

Up until Crisis on Infinite Earths, Superman's hair only grew under a red sun, so not only didn't he have to get his haircut he didn't even shave.

The Captain Marvel series rocks.

Have you seen the Phantom one?

Saw the movie yesterday and loved it.

Today I went to Wal-Mart and guess what I saw?

A Rock'em Sock'em Robot set ... based on Real Steel!

Desdemona the Glint and Desdemona the Demon Mastermind.

Penelope Yin and Penny Preston, and isn't there a NPC Villainous named Bad Penny?


Romulus the Warshade and Romulus the Nictus ... which Manti INSISTED were not the same person. Apparently, "Romulus" is the equivalent of "Bob" in Nictese.

I remember that scene never rang true to me. Q, being Q, should have vaporized Sisko for that.

Another good entry!

So in your universe, what happens when a city zone is restored? Is there a new spirit?

“Marcus Cole has always been my hero.”

Her eyes roll slightly as he says this. He imagines that she has heard that said countless times in her life. She takes a sip of the wine—REAL wine that he obtained just for this special occasion—and says, “He’s still your hero?”

“Yes.” It’s the sort of confession that Neuron would laugh at him for. “Megan—may I call you Megan?”

“Here. But only here.” There’s an implied threat in her words. “Never in public, Anti-Matter.”

“Please call me Raymond.” He had ran from that name all his life—Raymond Keyes was nothing, no one—Anti-Matter was a hero, a genius, a man of power and vision who had earned his right to stand at the right hand of Emperor Cole himself.

But he had always wanted to hear her voice say Raymond.

“Raymond.” She takes another slip of the wine for lack of anything else to do. “You say he’s still your hero? After he stripped away your Praetorship? After he spurned you for Neuron?”

He’s not used to seeing her face without a mask on it. It’s almost erotic. It entrances him, but it adds an element of unreality to the evening. “The Emperor has many concerns.” Her lips are so very red. “He thinks that Neuron will help him save the world—save all worlds. In time he will recognize Neuron’s deficiencies.” He steeples his fingers because he cannot drink wine with his helmet on.

He can’t quite read her eyes—is that disgust or pity? Perhaps even faint amusement?

This is madness. He knows this is madness. He knows it is madness, but he cannot help himself. Her eyes hold him.

The dress flatters her every curve. The rubies around her neck are as red as blood. As red as her lips …

“Dinner. And a dance. And perhaps—perhaps--something more.”

She should be in his power. With a word he could bring down the full wrath of the Praetorian government upon her. Not even she would be safe.

But he can’t.

Emperor Cole would have to make an example of her—especially of her.

He can’t bear the thought of harm coming to her.

She owns him—and she knows it. Her own peril is a weapon against him.

“You’re not eating.”

“I can only consume solid food in private.” For once, he’s grateful for his armor. She can’t see how his eyes devour her. Sensors are recording her every word, her every gesture. He’s even captured air samples so he can experience first hand what her perfume smells like later.

“That’s a shame. Nothing enhances conversation like a good meal.” She delicately takes a bite of her steak—something else that had required a great deal of effort for him to acquire. Her teeth are so very white … “Don’t you agree, Raymond?”

He hates the mockery in her voice.

“Yes, Megan.” He almost whimpers. “Yes.”

“You’re all alone here, Raymond.”

“Yes.”

“No assistants. No friends?”

“I have no friends.” It hurts because he once had. It’s hard to remember the time when Steven Berry had not been Neuron—when he had been his friend. Steven had always envied his genius—oh Steven had been intelligent before, but certainly no match for Anti-Matter’s intellect. Raymond had trusted him …then. “I have my Clockwork.”

“Yes. Your impressive Clockwork. It’s really the foundation of Tyr—of Emperor Cole’s army.” She brings her fingers to her lips and then lets them trail down her neck.

“Megan. Please.”

“Please what, Raymond?”

“Don’t.”

“Don’t what, Raymond? Don’t ask you for what we both know I want—the only reason that I agreed to come here tonight? Don’t sit here and be a woman—a woman you can never have because your touch is poisonous? The only way you could have me—could have any woman-- would kill me.” She smiles, and this time he’s sure there’s pity in her eyes. “And you won’t do that because there are lines you won’t cross.”

He buries his face in his hands and cries out in anguish.

She pulls him to her, into her arms and holds him. “It’s all right, Raymond. It’s all right.”

But it’s not all right. He can’t feel her arms around him. He can never touch her. He can want, but he can never have.

She pulls him to her feet and they begin to dance. He’s never been a good dancer—when he was young—in the first days of Emperor Cole’s reign—just surviving was a constant struggle and no one had time to teach him. Now his armor harnesses his power, makes it safe for him, for the world, but it does not give him grace.

She dances.

He lumbers about like a robotic Frankenstein.

“Megan,” he whispers finally. “Have pity on me.”

“You know what I need, Raymond. The plans. Give them to me.” Her hands slide up to his helmet and she brings her mouth up to where his would be if he were free. “Now, Raymond. Now.”

Fumbling hands go to his belt and he hands her the oversized USB Drive. “Take it and go! Leave me alone! Please!”

She takes the drive and lets him go. The pity on her face is worse than her earlier scorn. “I am sorry, Raymond. This is war.”

“You’re just like her, you know.” It’s only the last shreds of his self-respect that keep him from crying in front of her now. “You’re just like Dominatrix.”

Ms. Liberty flinches. “I’ll be back, Raymond.”

He’s not sure if it’s meant to be a threat or a promise. “I know.”

He turns away as she summons the portal that will take her back home—back to her world where the man he could have been—the man he should have been is free from the living death of eternal confinement. He doesn’t see her leave.

She will be back.

So he waits.

He waits because he has nothing left.

The main thing I don't like about the Praetorian Content is the lack of once I leave Praetoria.

I've taken toons back to Praetoria and they aren't recognized by old contacts or trainers. Tina MacIntyre doesn't think to ask me what I know about Praetoria as a native or-- to my knowledge-- even recognize that's where I'm from.

If I were a thug in Gotham I would be doing my best to move to Central City. The Flash Rogues aren't quite so bloodthirsty there.

I miss the days when bad guys mostly wanted money ....

I've been reading this with interest. I do have a couple questions though.

What's the terrain like in Ancient Rome? Yeah, the Romans were master road builders, but would their bridges be able to support the weight of modern military weapons?

Given the military's propensity for fighting the last war, are we going to be sending heavy fuel hog machines when something lighter and faster and more fuel efficient would probably do the job better?

How much maintenance do today's weapons require? And how much of modern military action depends on things like GPS, the internet, and satellite communication that won't be available in the past?


I don't honestly know. I'm just curious.

I can't believe I'm about to say this, but that outfit has too much blue.

I can see getting rid of the trunks, but it needs some more red highlights. Make those funky sleeves red. Put side stripes on it.

I need a primary set to go with energy aura.

Any suggestions as to what will go well with it post revamp?

I've decided I'm going to do a Patron Arc ... more so to get the respec than to get access to a particular patron pool on my Widow. She's got Night Widow on her alt build but I don't like playing it.

I've already done every Patron Arc at least once.

So I guess what I'm asking now is which Patron is going to cause me the least amount of hassle when I go in to beat them up?

IMO, the main problem with Swan's outfit is that it needs more contrast.

Black Swan used to have the same outfit with just a darker look, and I thought it looked MUCH better.

If I were in charge, I'd darken her bodysuit in some fashion and essentially leave the rest as is. (I really dig that wing shawl.)

Statesman's outfit works for him ... though I do think either a full helmet or more armor pieces would make it look better.

Ghost Widow is probably the best designed NPC in the game IMO.

Nemesis is a close second, though.

Forgive me if this has been asked before, but will all the purchases be account wide rather than character specific?

For example if I buy the rocket board or ninja run is it going to be available to every toon on my account?

I hold out hope that someday we get helicopter packs. My gadgeteers would love those!

That's pretty much what I figured.

I wish they'd replace it with something different. Gun Drone would be nice, but I'd settle for smoke grenade or the PPD's glue bomb ...SOMETHING worth taking.